Kumu Kahua Theatre

Not One Batu — We went to opening night last night. What an amazing experience in a quaint little theater. I have already bought tickets for next Friday’s show. There will be «Talk Story» with the play’s writer after the play.
The story is a depressing one. A story line that is one all too familiar for those of us on Oahu — ice (Batu) is BAD. It can consume your life. But it was so well written and the actors were amazing. They had me, and the entire sold out theater, laughing out loud and empathizing with the lead’s plight.
I won’t give away the story line as you should see it for yourself. But it was an amazing production, with an incredible cast, in an unsung jewel of a theater.
At the bottom of this review is a box to mark «Good for Kids».
Little people — NO there is simulated drug use and swearing
Middle school kids — Probably, if you are ready to talk to them about drugs
High school age — Yes, without a doubt. A great starter for conversations all parents/​caregivers should have with their keiki

Awesomeness! Theatre Life… Local Realistic and definitely relatable for this B&R! After seeing «Kaiulani» here, had 2 come back with Good Friends.
This afternoon it was, «My Boy He Playball Ball,» by Tammy Haili’opua Baker. With everything going on @ UH & in the Hawaiian Nation, coincidently falls into our Current Times. Such a Gr8 Cast! So looking forward to this Season!
Mahalo Nui Loa Kumu Kahua for Gr8 Performances! Break-a-Leg…kudos

I love this place.
Tonight’s show, ‘My Boy He Play Ball,’ continues the tradition of excellence that Kumu Kahua Theater is known for. The title turned me off a bit, when I first saw it, but, it is Kumu K, so, I’ll go and see. Sorry, not the biggest sports fan.
The last football game I can remember watching was when Jim Plunkett led the Oakland Raiders to the superbowl. in 1980.
If the play became a sort of homage to the glory of sports…
well, it sort of did, but with a lot more added. I loved the end. And that was the ‘glory’ part!
Crafty staging devices and great performances once again. This show, — oops i missed the first five minutes — explores a wide variety of aspects in the minds of local sports contenders. From social, political, cultural and family angles, i don’t think this show missed an aspect, except maybe for most of the glory and respect that goes with being a sports star. That didn’t get a lot of play here.
I’d love to dissect the play and share all the details of why I enjoyed every friggin minute of it, but, really, stop reading any review that gives anything away.
Come see this play knowing nothing about it, and go for the ride.
I don’t agree with one of the political causes brought up. To me, I don’t understand why a telescope should be incongruent with a sacred mountain top. If anything, perhaps the telescope is the function, the enabling of the sacred purpose of the mountain top. Revealing details of our solar system, galaxy, and universe seems like a very respectable purpose.
But, that didn’t stop me from learning more about the issue during the play. And enjoying the process.
I’ll be back for more, and I already can’t wait for the next one; thank you to all involved in putting on such a significant contribution to our community. Shows like this are important; you should see it it.
One question: why the half house? This deserves a full house!

Little known fact: I love movies.
Littler known fact: I love theater more.
Littlest known fact: Musicals? Even better.
All about keeping it local here, in every way. It’s great. Went here for a play a few years ago. I had never even heard of this place! It was sold out that night. It’s a small theater, but hey, I’m still impressed.
Man, I though MVT was intimate, this is even more so! Prior to the play there were local performers kinda fooling around on stage and interacting with the audience. From the get go I was stoked with the cast. Not mind-​blowing, but kept my attention and there were some great great laughs.
When the chance comes up next, I’ll be back.

This charming theatre presents plays that are so close to home. «Shoyu on Rice», written by Scott Izuka captured the essence of growing up in Hawaii and some of the conflicts that are part of every day life. We loved the situations and the language. We can all relate.
Director Reiko Ho did a beautiful job bringing to life through her cast the essence of local family life.
Karen Kuioja Hironaga, Who has played in several Lisa Matsumoto productions was excellent as the mom. Jim Aina, a newcomer to community theater did an excellent job as the father.
We thoroughly enjoyed every member of the cast in the multiple storylines within this heartwarming play.
I highly recommend Shoyu on Rice as it was very enjoyable and encourage everyone to support our local production.

If you’re looking for local theatre, this is the hub. Productions are edgy and professional. Here you’ll find a variety of shows about life in Hawaii from many different perspectives and throughout history. Ticket prices are very reasonable. We make it a habit to pop over to Murphy’s after the show to discuss the play.

This a small 100+ seat theater. I like it intimacy and that they support play with local themes. The guy at the box office with the gray ponytail cracked me up a little when he asked if I was purchasing a student ticket (I’m in my mid 40s). I’d encourage everyone to come here and support our local theater.
I went here Friday night to see Lee Tonouchi’s Echoes of Dat Red Guitar. It is what you would expect from him. Kikaida, Okinawan jokes, and enough pidgin to feel local without being inaccessible to katonks like me. I love his writing but thought the warning for this play due to the violent context should have been stronger. If you have read his short stories with violent themes, it makes sense, but the violence is disturbingly realistic for theater play billed as a comedy.

I was first introduced to this theatre by one of my college professors. It was a extra credit option to watch a play here and then do a short write up about it. This was a few years ago and the play was «The Statehood Project». I wasn’t particularly excited to watch a play about Hawai’i becoming a state so I dragged a girlfriend along with me. They have student rates and cheaper tickets on Thursdays so it wasn’t a huge burden on the wallet.
This theatre may not live up to your expectations because there really isn’t a stage. It’s a very intimate venue that only holds 100 people in their audience. «The Statehood Project» was a collection of short plays that all had to do with Hawai’i becoming a part of the United States. Some were funny, some serious, and the most memorable part of the play was when one of of the audience member stood up and expressed her disgust on how the play wasn’t celebrating the joys of Hawai’i becoming part of the United States. She then proceeded to march out of the theatre leaving everyone in the audience with jaws wide open. During intermission, everyone couldn’t stop talking about what had happened but we then realized that it was all a part of the show! It was such a small detail to add to the show but it invoked such raw emotion in the audience that it still quite vivid in my memories.
I regret not attending more shows here and it wasn’t up until a year or so ago I looked into coming here again. This time I dragged Boyfriend to come with me to watch «Koi Like The FIsh» and he did so begrudgingly. He actually LOVED it and I was so happy that we found something to do together that we both enjoyed!

Went and saw Flowers of Hawaii last night, Excellent Play! Lee Catalua is simply genius and the cast, well I just cant put into words how wondefull they were! ! I work Theatre! I know! The Cast timeing and improv, the Choreography! Would see this play again and again! It was like going to a Family Reunion. Highly Recomended! !!

Very intimate shows!

I love this place, a true place for performing arts. The locally written plays that are performed here are amazing!
They were one of the venues for the 2013 Improvaganza festival that featured 2 local acts that put on incredible shows!

Kumu Kahua Theatre is a great place to watch funny, locally written plays by some of Hawaii’s best actors. It’s one of Honolulu’s Hidden treasures. A lot of people pass it without even knowing so.
If you’re going there for the first time, parking will be a little difficult.
The play space is a fairly good size for small shows (the only shows they do). For a small room that can be filled with people, it doesn’t actually get hot like most small theatre spots.
Be prepared to laugh. Some of the funniest plays I’ve seen were there. Fair prices and great times.

Cozy community theatre. I recommend anyone to attend their plays for the hometown feeling and up close to the stage. So up close, you can hear the actors breathing.

«Put your face near my neck and tell me what you smell!» The entire audience shares a surprising discomfort from the unruly demands of Aiko. «STIIINNKK!!», shrieked Shizuko and we rejoice in the perfectly glorious response. The audience and myself wiped their tears of laughter from our eyes. (My memory of the ordering of these lines may not be correct, but I do remember these two specific lines and the emotion it evoked in me and my fellow audience members) I look around and happily revel in an experience that I have just shared with a hundred strangers, the new experience that only an intimate theater like the Kumu Kahua can provide.
The delightfully convincing cast of Edward Sakamoto’s Fishing for Wives couldn’t have been played by anyone less than the talented actors and actresses that grace the stage for this season’s performances. To the woefully awkward and hilarious Takeo Nishi (Daniel Nishida), the hakunamata — carefree and loyal Tsutomu Aoki (Justin Fragaio), the love-​deceived Yamamoto Shizuko (Michelle Hunter) armed with her face of a thousand believeable expressions, and to the multi-​charactered, multi-​versed actress who played Umeko, Aiko, and Miki (Britni Keltz) I greatly applaud their execution of stage use, their finesse in body language, and their complete control and ownership of character.
I came to the theater as a student hoping to get some good notes for my report on picture brides, I leave the theater as a newly kindled fan of the performing arts and I would recommend any play that casts any of these four amazing actors and actresses. (I would recommend Fishing for Wives this season, but it’s already all sold out until the end of the season and I wouldn’t want to get your hopes up!) Fishing for Wives is not the first play that I’ve been to, but it is the first one that I want to watch again.
(It’s missing a star because the box office hours are just strange. But I guess that’s what the internet box office is for.) The play was 5 stars: D
Picture of myself and the awesome cast after the show! They were so friendly in person :)

Went to Kumu Kahua Theater last night for the first time and I saw the play «Fishing for Wives» nice small quaint and cozy theater. Nice and cool and the play was very funny and enjoyable. I give the theater and the play a thumbs up.

Don’t like Hawaiian food? Tired of Waikiki and the mainstream? Don’t want to see another ad for Dole Plantation?
Come see a play at Hawaii’s locally operated community theater!
I absolutely love this theater and what they’re about.
This is a small, locally run community theater with intimate stage to audience seating. They put on shows related to Hawaii, written by local playwrights, and/​or about Hawaiian history. For instance, they’ve done an adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Comedy of Errors called One Comedy of Erras (it’s Pidgen), and a play called Cane Fields Burning about a curse in the plantation days.
Tickets will only run you up to $ 20 at most (for Friday and Saturday showings)
They’re located at the corner of Merchant and Bethel. There are lots in the area you can park in, or find street parking.
The actors don’t get paid much, the workers don’t either (a lot are volunteers), and the theater itself doesn’t get enough funding then I think it should. And that’s why I love it so much. Because it’s hard to keep a passion alive when you know you have to feed yourself the next day and get paid zip.
If you want a good date night, support Hawaii’s artists and bring your love here! If they don’t appreciate it, then kick em to the curb! (just kidding).

I’m actually a 4.5 here. This theatre is tiny and mighty.
–encouraging local playwrights and productions
–providing theatre to Honolulu for great prices (discounted nights for adults: $ 16!)
The box office has excellent service. The docents are mellow and calm.
I’ve seen a number of productions here. The most recent was the revival of Alani ‘Apio’s Kamau A‘e tonight. I am so fortunate to have seen this. 99% of the play was superb. The cast included local folks who really pulled off the themes, mood, and plot of the play. This is the first time I saw a local production in Hawai‘i and didn’t feel that the actors were «overdoing» it.
The 1% I didn’t like was the lack of A/​C. Bottom line: it was killahs to be in the theatre with hot lights for two hours.
My friend noted that the heat actually made it better. The play felt more intense. The scenes of violence and arguments actually became a visceral experience.
Note that I purchased the tickets at a silent auction at the ‘Iolani Family Fair. Thank you to Kumu Kahua Theatre for making this donation to another nonprofit and spreading the word about your work and reminding me of why I need to come to more plays at Kumu Kahua!

It has been years since I have been to Kumu Kahua. The seating changes depending on whats showing. This is a small and charming theatre that makes good use of a small place. I do not see any seat as being a bad seat which seats 100 people. We saw Ed Sakamoto’s play «Its all relative» The actors were good, believable and entertaining. Ticket prices were $ 20 bucks. I also love this place because it is 1 block away from Murphy’s so you go have a few black and tan’s and pupu’s before the showing.

I showed up with a friend 5 minutes after 8pm for the Ghosts of Hawaii’s Past play, and we were treated extremely rudely at the ticket window. The woman working there actually took visible pleasure in denying us access to the theater, even though we bought tickets online and had reserved them in advance.
They told us that they did not have our tickets, and that we were late, so it was the policy that we would not be admitted to the theater. What really irritated me was that the woman was actually happy about getting to deny us, even though it was my birthday and I had tons of lei on, she ruined our special night out with her attitude. It was a flashback of the high school Hall Monitor happily exercising what limited «power» they have.
I understand if they have a no latecomers policy, but this should be more clearly stated on their website, at the doors to the theater and online when you buy tickets. We had no idea that being 5 minutes late would result in our tickets being sold to someone else, and getting denied admission.
I just don’t understand how our tickets were missing and the doors were locked at 8:05pm, which makes me think the people at the ticket booth are making money on the side by selling the latecomer tickets and keeping the money. They wouldn’t even let us sneak in and stay at the back until intermission and then take our seats, because they’d already given or sold our tickets away!
I’m happy that the theater employs people who may be mentally or socially challenged, but getting a lesson on how to communicate and put forward good customer service should be on their training agenda because it’s really frustrating to be gloated at that we forfeited our tickets and our $ 32 by being 5 minutes late. In Hawaii, where EVERYBODY is late for EVERYTHING!
That was my first and probably last attempt to go see a play at the Kumu Kahua theater. Too bad, because it seems like a great place to go see a local play… IF you can get in!

I went there for a local production years ago and was surprised by how much i enjoyed the performance + liked the facilities.
Very small space, but feels intimate (and not claustrophobic)