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COURTESY OF 'AHELEAKALA A new Hawaiian performing arts hui from Maui brings magical trees...

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Hawaiian legends
spring to life

Acrobatic and playful menehunes, a mythical forest of moving trees and colorful dancers are a few of the things that help bring Hawaiian tales to life in "I Ka Wa Kahiko" (Once Upon a Time).

Keiki welcome "I Ka Wa Kahiko" (Once Upon a Time) Where: Hawaii Theatre When: 7:30 p.m. Monday Admission: $10 Call: 528-0506 or visit www.hawaiitheatre.com

'Aheleakala, a new Hawaiian performing arts hui from Maui, has been sharing the production with Maui children during sold-out performances at Lahaina's Maui Theatre, and now brings it to Oahu's youths.

The stories, intertwined with hula and chant, were originally intended to be performed for a small audience of students at Kamehameha Schools before the decision was made to open the show to a general audience.

"We hope to share a more colorful and living interpretation of the stories and legends of our people," said director Pono Murray. "Through performing arts, the stories come alive. The stories are told in a way that our kupuna has pictured them poetically.

"Kids love it because of the color," said Murray.

The staging and sets add to the excitement. Trees in the performance stand about 10 feet tall. The actors are on stilts in a trunk-like framework set on wheels to enable them to move across the stage while carrying branches and serenading hula dancers in the forest.

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COURTESY OF 'AHELEAKALA ...and mythical characters to Oahu.

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Stories of Papa (Mother Earth) and Wakea (Father Sky) tell how the pair helped to create the Hawaiian islands. The story of Pele is shared as a hula done by men who move and flow as hot lava.

Murray's favorite tale is a short play, "The Story of Maui and the Secret of the Fire," in which the menehune discover magic vines hanging from the trees in the forest and begin to play and swing.

The production closes with an interactive chant.

"After (the audience) has learned this chant, they will join the cast in an exciting dramatic instrumental finale using only Hawaiian instruments and traditional rhythms," said Murray.

"I have been fortunate to have studied and gained a passion for the chant and it's rich beauty under the direction of Kumu Hokulani Holt-Padilla and Keali'i Reichel."

Murray started 'Aheleakala while he was teaching Hawaiian studies. "I called a group of my closest stage friends, wrote a storyline and got to work," he said.

About half of the cast members also perform in the acclaimed Maui production " 'Ualena." 'Aheleakala is to perform in Los Angeles and Washington for the National Geographic Society in September.

Although the performances are mainly geared toward children and families, Murray said, "We find that adults who experience the show find themselves becoming childlike and enjoying it just as much."

"It involves play acting, humorous storytelling, acrobatics, vivid props, costuming and staging -- all for the eyes and mind to enjoy."