The Show

It’s the late 1800s. It’s a time of invention – trains, steamboats, cameras, even electricity is new at the King’s palace in Honolulu. An eleven year old Native Hawaiian boy accidentally strikes the strings of his guitar with a bolt from a railroad track and unlocks a brand new sound. Hawaiian music – and the music of America – is never the same. Based on a true story, this new play traces the incredible invention of the steel guitar from the taro fields to vaudeville halls to Blues, Country, Rock and Roll music and beyond.

With a thrilling live slide guitar soundtrack and projections, this production celebrates innovation, engineering, and the global exchange of ideas and sound. It tells the real-life story of Joseph Kekuku as well as the story of the annexation of Hawaii and the movement of young people from the island to the continent and sometimes, back home again. Rich in history, the play also looks forward and encourages children of today to celebrate their voice, culture, and sense of curiosity.