KUMU KAHUA THEATRE
PLAYS ABOUT LIFE IN HAWAIʻI. PLAYS BY HAWAIʻIʻS PLAYWRIGHTS. PLAYS FOR HAWAIʻIʻS PEOPLE.
ADDRESS:
46 Merchant Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
PHONE:
808-536-4222
EMAIL:
kumukahuadirector@gmail.com
WEBSITE:
www.kumukahua.org
Kumu Kahua Theatre was founded in 1971 by a group of graduate students at the University of Hawai‘i, with the original goal of producing locally-written experimental works. The Hawaiian language words kumu and kahua translate to “original stage.” At the time, there was no local theatre devoted to telling stories of these islands and its various cultures. In 1982, Kumu Kahua was granted not-for-profit status and in 1994, the Hawaii State Legislature awarded the group its current 100-seat playhouse, a former Post Office, in downtown Honolulu at 46 Merchant Street. 46 years after its original founding, Kumu Kahua is still the only theatre in the United States solely to creating, supporting, and showcasing original works of theatre specifically related to our geographical region and the cultures represented here.
Each year, Kumu Kahua Theatre produces five plays from August through June, which run for five weekends each. The theatre also hosts an assortment of workshops, readings, short-run 'dark night' performances, and more.