March 1st, 2009
Ulalena - Maui Theatre
Maui Theatre presents ‘Ulalena, a theatrical experience as impressive as the story: it is a multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art venue built for this presentation. It employs the talents of some of Hawaii’s most distinguished musicians and performers, combining live traditional Hawaiian music with 8-channel surround sound.
Every seat maintains a sense of intimacy and interaction with the performance. Traditional Butoh theatre is blended with acrobatic feats of strength and beauty. Hula is combined with modern dance. Rich costumes, lighting and stage design are woven together into a filigree of fantastic images drawn from Hawaiian legend and history, pulling the viewer out of time and into a place of wonder, experiencing with awe the spirit-filled landscape of the imagination of the ancient Hawaiian story tellers.
About ‘Ulalena: There is a wind peculiar to Maui that rises at twilight. It whispers of other places and other times, both mythic and real. It blows between daylight and night, between times and worlds. It is hopeful and cleansing. The ancient Hawaiian name for this wind is "‘Ulalena."