King Kamehameha III’s ‘queer love and resistance’ at Palikū Theatre

Alten Keoki Ken Kiakona and Corin Kumakani Medeiros in Aloha Kaua at Palikū Theatre

Alten Keoki Ken Kiakona, Corin Kumakani Medeiros, and Leleaʻe "Buffy" Kahalepuna-Wong

Corin Kumakani Medeiros and Alten Keoki Ken Kiakona in Aloha Kaua at Palikū Theatre

Leleaʻe "Buffy" Kahalepuna-Wong, Corin Kumakani Medeiros

The brief period of rule known as “Time of Kaomi” covering King Kamehameha III and his “joint king” is the subject of an upcoming play at Windward Community College’s Palikū Theatre.

Windward CC’s Hawaiʻi Conservatory of Performing Arts (HCPA) and the North Beach-West Maui Benefit Fund present Aloha Kaua, written by Noalani Helelā and directed by Taurie Kinoshita, February 21–March 2, 2025.

‘Joint king’

As a young man, Kauikeaouli (Kamehameha III) fell in love with Kaomi, a brilliant half-Tahitian and half-Hawaiian student of Hiram Bingham. Kaomi healed with his hands, diagnosed illnesses and rebelled against the values and laws being imposed by the missionaries. As their love deepened, Kauikeaouli was inspired to resist oppressive colonial morality. He brought back hula, free love, drinking, games and Makahiki (an annual celebration). Kauikeaouli eventually made Kaomi his Mō‘ī ku‘i (joint king). Ku’i also implies marriage, underscoring the deep love they had for each other.

Outraged, Christian chiefs (Kaikio‘ewa and Kīna‘u among them) tried to stop the young Kauikeaouli. Some resorted to violence, turning their anger on Kaomi and demonizing him for leading the king down what they believed was a dangerous path. The “Time of Kaomi” was almost erased from history.  

Kinoshita said, “We see the clash between traditional non-binary views and the rigid hierarchical world of the west. It’s a historical drama about queer love and resistance, peppered with humor and witty dialogue.” 

Show dates and times:

February 21, 22, 28 and March 1 (Fridays and Saturdays) 7:30 p.m.  

February 27 (Thursday) 7:30 p.m. 

February 23 and March 2 (Sundays) 3 p.m.

Ticket information:

$25 General 

$20 Seniors (62+), active military (with ID), UH faculty and staff, DOE educators

$15 Students (13+ and college students with ID) 

Purchase tickets online at palikutheatre.com or in person at the box office one hour prior to the show. For more information call (808) 235-7315 or email paliku@hawaii.edu.

Suitable for ages 13+

First hate-crime in Hawaiʻi

Helelā, the HCPA Emerging Island Artist for the 2022–23 season, revives elements of this incredible story to focus on a timeless tale of love, sacrifice and courage in a time of uncertainty. Hawaiian historian Adam Keawe Manalo-Camp calls this the first hate-crime in the history of Hawaiʻi.

Corin Kumakani Medeiros (Morgan’s Corner at Windward CC) stars as Kauikeaouli, Leleaʻe "Buffy" Kahalepuna-Wong (Once On This Island at Manoa Valley Theatre) plays his mother Kaʻahumanu, and Alten Keoki Ken Kiakona (Lovey Lee at Kumu Kahua Theatre) is Kaomi.

For more information about Aloha Kaua, contact Kinoshita at taurie@hawaii.edu. To learn about the HCPA, visit conservatory.windward.hawaii.edu or contact Associate Professor Nicolas Logue at logue@hawaii.edu. For more information about Palikū Theatre, visit palikutheatre.com.

For more information, visit: http://palikutheatre.com