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By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Jan Dee Abraham (right) plays Leilani Makaole; Scot Izuka
(center) plays Uncle Yasuichi Gusuda and Sue Shiroma Nad
is the ghost of Tsuyu Gusuda in Kumu Kahua Theatre's
production of "Leilani's Hibiscus."

Maui boy's on a 'Lucky
Come Hawaii' streak with his
latest play 'Leilani's Hibiscus'

By Burl Burlingame
Star-Bulletin

ALTHOUGH his best-known work remains "Lucky Come Hawaii" -- the novel and subsequent play -- Jon Shirota got lucky as a Hawaii author only after moving to the mainland. But he continues to reside in the Hawaii of his heart and his memory.

"Leilani's Hibiscus," Shirota's latest work, is being staged at Kumu Kahua Theatre tonight through June 11. The story is pure melting-pot blues. An Okinawan fellow falls in love with a Hawaiian girl on Maui just prior to World War II, and his parents are horrified. He returns to Okinawa and is stuck there during and after the war.

The play was originally presented by the East West Players in Los Angeles, and is directed here by Kumu Kahua's Keith K. Kashiwada. That's a mouthful of Ks. The cast includes JanDee Abraham, Rolinda Emch and Darryl Tsutsui.

ON STAGE What "Leilani's Hibiscus," presented by Kumu Kahua When: 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays starting tonight, and 2 p.m. Sundays through June 11 Where: Kumu Kahua Theatre Cost: $12 general, $10 seniors and unemployed; $5 students on Thursdays; $15 general, $12 seniors and groups of 10 or more, $10 students Fridays to Sundays Call: Call: 536-4441

Shirota's sister was banished from the family household after marrying a Chinese fellow.

"Oh, Hawaii has this melting-pot reputation, but the issei really didn't like anyone marrying outside of the Japanese race," recalls Shirota.

"It's much better now. There aren't really any issei around much anymore. ... But the influence of our parents' wishes are very strong."

So strong that the parents in "Hibiscus" come back from the dead!

"They're two spirits, like a Greek chorus, and they comment on what's happening," chuckled Shirota. "They can see people, but people can't see them. They reveal their attitudes, the things that sparked the living characters. And part of it is, yes, the Asian concept of revering ancestors."

As for Shirota's sister, she was welcomed back into the home when the first grandchild arrived. "Grandkids always bring forgiveness to families," he said.

The family in the new play are the same characters as in "Lucky Come Hawaii," so the work is a kind of sequel to Shirota's first book.

By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Jon Shirota, author of "Leilani's Hibiscus" poses at Kumu
Kahua Theatre recently during the play's dress rehearsal.

As a young soldier stationed at Schofield Barracks, Shirota was enthralled with James Jones' "From Here to Eternity," and figured if "an outsider could write about Hawaii so well, why can't I?"

Shirota started writing novels and then switched to plays, earning a pocketful of awards along the way, including a John F. Kennedy Center award.

"I got the bug! It's the excitement of live theater. It's not as lonely as writing novels, and it's more of a collaborative process.

"It changes all the time -- 'Leilani's Hibiscus' is being altered slightly for local audiences, being made more Hawaiian. You don't have to explain some things to local audiences like you do on the mainland."

He has another play in the works; it had its first reading a month ago.

"It definitely helps to have readings. You write the dialogue in your own voice, and it's always a shock to hear it through someone else's.

"I listen to all the suggestions. Ultimately, you have to make your own decision on changes, but sometimes a gem comes through."

Don't look for his works on TV or movies, at least not yet. "I did once get a big bite on 'Lucky Come Hawaii,' and some small nibbles, but my stuff may be too ethnic for Hollywood. Still, I've done pretty good for a barefoot Maui boy."

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