Christine Hitt
Last April, it was announced that Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group would be bringing a new show to Hawaii and establishing residency at the Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel. The show is still not expected to debut until later this year, but more details are emerging about the talent that is involved.
"Under the visionary leadership of co-creator and director Neil Dorward ("The Illusionists" and "Circus 1903") and Simon Painter (founder of The Works Entertainment), the team features prominent entertainment industry luminaries, directors and designers, coupled with accomplished Native Hawaiian artists and scholars who are poised to weave a tapestry of Indigenous stories together with the world-class, captivating entertainment that is Cirque du Soleil," the news release said.
Three Native Hawaiian creatives are heavily involved in the production, including Aaron Sala as the cultural creative producer, Manaola Yap as the costume designer and Hiwa Vaughan as the choreographer and hula expert and teacher.
"This remarkable team imbues this first Hawaii-based Cirque du Soleil show with a foundation of cultural knowledge through the timeless stories that connect us back through the generations," Sala said in a news release. "It is a privilege to collaborate with my incredibly talented colleagues, showcasing the exceptional skill and aesthetic of kanaka maoli, local Hawaii and Pasifika talent. Storytelling has served instrumentally in the preservation of our culture, and I am deeply honored to uplift native voices in tandem with the stellar artistry of Cirque du Soleil."