Pele, the Goddess of Fire, falls into a deep sleep travelling throughout the islands of Hawai'i. When Pele arrives on the island of Kaua'i, she meets the charming Prince Lohiau'ipo, who falls deeply in love with the beautiful and mysterious stranger.
ADAPTED, WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY
PO’O KUMU HULA
ARUNA KEKEHA PO-CHING
It is with great pleasure that I have the opportunity to re-present Pele - Goddess of Fire following its successful debut at Te Pou Theatre in 2023.
As a New Zealand-born Samoan Chinese, I am honoured to share the mo’olelo of Hawaii. Advocating for strong wahine-toa stories, Pele and her sister Hi’iakaikapoliopele (Hi’iaka) holds a special place in my heart. While my primary focus has been writing these stories for film and television, theatre remains the foundation of my journey in the creative arts.
With this re-telling of Pele’s story I wanted to also showcase the stunning Hawaiian music and I want to express a big mahalo to the amazing composers that have granted me permission to use their stunning mele (songs) in this show. Although there is little written accounts of Pele and Lohiau’ipo’s time together , I have employed creative license to re-imagine their profound love and have had fun selecting songs that not necessarily be about the characters in the scene but I’ve utilised the music to convey the emotion of the scene. To our die-hard hula traditionalists, please note this production is created with love and respect and my adaption of Hawaii’s most revered deity is created with artistic expression to give our audience an hour of entertainment, education and ultimately inspiration to ensure these stories endure in Aotearoa for generations to come.
I extend my deepest gratitude and thanks to Sefa Enari and the Pacific Dance Festival, which celebrates its 10-year anniversary this year. Thank you for your unwavering support since your conception as I, and Kumu Blaine were a part of those early days and have always been big supporters of PDNZ.
Aruna Kekeha Po-Ching
Artistic Director’s Note
Our Creative Team
Aruna Kekeha Po-Ching
Artistic Director | Producer |
Co-Choreographer | NarratorAruna Po-Ching is a multidisciplinary artist whose career spans dance, film, television, musical theatre and cultural performance. A documentary director and screenwriter, she is also Poʻo Kumu Hula of The Hula Journey and continues to create work that celebrates Pacific stories and cultural exchange.
Blaine Kia
Kumu Hula Blaine Kamalani Kia has taught and perpetuated hula for more than three decades, earning recognition at many of the world’s leading hula competitions. An award-winning musician, educator and cultural advisor, he continues to share Hawaiian culture internationally through performance, teaching and mentorship.
Script and Cultural Consultant
Ese Aumalesulu
Samoa-born musician Ese Aumalesulu is a recording artist, composer and former director of Tejit Records. With more than a decade of teaching experience, he has created music for festivals and productions throughout Aotearoa and Samoa.
Musical Director | Musician
Samoa-born musician Ese Aumalesulu is a recording artist, composer and former director of Tejit Records. With more than a decade of teaching experience, he has created music for festivals and productions throughout Aotearoa and Samoa.
Chantelle Gerrard
Laisa Pickering
Laisa Pickering brings practical construction knowledge and a strong connection to Hawaiian music and culture to her work with The Hula Journey. She has helped build stage sets, create props and print costumes for several productions.
Set Designer
Jazmin Whittall
Jazmin Whittall is a Tāmaki Makaurau-based theatre technician, lighting designer and operator with a background in dance and choreography. Her work combines movement and visual storytelling across theatre, festivals and independent productions throughout Aotearoa.
Lighting DesignerOur Cast
Roberta Faitele
PeleRoberta Faitele joined Hālau Ka Waikahe Lani Mālie in 2022 and debuted as Pele in the hālau’s 2023 production. A portrait photographer and community advocate, she brings strength, reverence and deep respect to the role of the Hawaiian goddess of fire.
Mataolealofa Ulugia-Lavea
HiʻiakaikapoliopeleMataolealofa “Mata” Ulugia-Lavea is a Samoan performer whose lifelong connection to siva and Pacific cultural arts began in her childhood. Returning to the creative space through hula, she brings warmth, loyalty and cultural pride to the role of Hiʻiaka.
Jireh Lalotoa
LohiʻauʻipoJireh Lalotoa is a West Auckland-born Samoan performer and University of Auckland Dance Studies graduate. Drawing from Pacific, contemporary and Hawaiian movement, he is passionate about sharing stories and creating meaningful connections through dance.
Ivanja Guttenbiel-Poʻuhila
HopoeA Kiwi-Tongan performer whose connection to dance is grounded in hula and traditional Tongan tauʻolunga. A dedicated community leader and education professional, she brings warmth, fellowship and cultural pride to the role of Hopoe.
Lakoi Dawson
Pa'ūopalaepalaAfter more than ten years away from hula because of injury, Lakoi Dawson returned to the art and rediscovered a strong sense of ʻohana. She also contributes her talents as a makeup artist and backstage creative to The Hula Journey’s productions.
Makayla Halafuka
MoʻoA proud Tongan mother, registered nurse and postgraduate student with a lifelong love of cultural performance. She joined the hālau in 2024 and brings faith, commitment and joy to her role as the shapeshifting Moʻo.
Margrey Tanya Hewson Ioane
Queen KalaniA mother of four, Air New Zealand flight attendant and lifelong performer. Joining The Hula Journey reignited her love of dance and gave her the opportunity to return to the stage with renewed confidence and passion.
Jane Gudsell
Kānaka MaoliJane Gudsell is a Pākehā-Samoan visual artist and sustainable-fashion advocate who began her hula journey in 2022. Through hula, she has found personal growth, cultural connection and meaningful friendships while performing in productions in Aotearoa and Hawaiʻi.
Kourtney Patumaka
Kānaka MaoliKourtney Patumaka began her hula journey in 2013 and has remained connected to the art through years of travel and creative exploration. A photography graduate and fashion stylist, she brings a strong eye for imagery, storytelling and thoughtful detail to the production.
Taniora Atama
Kānaka MaoliA Māori floral designer with a background in kapa haka and more than a decade of experience creating work for fashion shows, cultural events and live performances. Since joining the hālau in 2022, she has embraced hula as another way of protecting and celebrating the stories of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa.
Kylie Mayall
Kānaka MaoliA dance educator with more than 12 years of teaching experience, Kylie leads the Dance Department at Marcellin College and serves as Assistant Principal. Her performances in China and workshops in Fiji strengthened her passion for cultural connection through movement. Since joining Hālau Ka Waikahe Lani Mālie in 2024, she has continued to grow as both a dancer and educator through hula.
Xara Pickering
Kānaka MaoliA proud Fijian creative and Education and Pacific Studies student with a deep love of storytelling and performance. Inspired by travel, family and Pacific arts, she is passionate about keeping stories alive and sharing them through dance.
Te Ata Harmer-Matairangi
Kānaka MaoliA Māori performer from Te Tairāwhiti with a lifelong love of kapa haka, cultural dance and the performing arts. Her first journey into hula has strengthened her connection to the wider Pacific and deepened her appreciation for cultural storytelling.
Mareikura Waiti
Kānaka MaoliA wahine of Māori and Māʻohi descent with a deep passion for Indigenous languages and cultural revitalisation. A linguistics graduate and polyglot, she is honoured to help bring ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, mana and moʻolelo to life on stage.
Janaeyah Kite
Kānaka MaoliA mother and Primary Education student who recently began learning hula. She has embraced the challenge of balancing family, study and performance and is excited to continue growing alongside her hālau.
Our Sponsors
With Support
Mahalo nui loa
KAREENA TOMURI, KAUMAKAIWA KANAKA’OLE, ROSANNA RAYMOND,
NATHAN AWEAU, KAMAKA CARRILLO, ERIC LEE
We appreciate your support so we thought you’d enjoy our Spotify playlist. Click the plus sign ( + ) to follow. We have also included some of our favourite mele and the mele that we warm up to. Enjoy!