The Pa’akai We Bring Sensory Inclusive

This original production introduces young audiences to the Native Hawaiian cultural practices around the giving and cultivating of pa‘akai (salt). Traditionally, pa‘akai is food, medicine, a sacrament and a treasured gift. The play follows multiple generations of salt farmers on Kaua’i, mixing ancient stories, hula, live music, original songs and plenty of audience participation into a tasty potluck of performance, joyously served up with aloha.

The production is directed by Eric Johnson and Moses Goods and features HTY Resident Ensemble members Hermenigildo (Junior) Tesoro, Pō’ai Lincoln, Matt Mazzella, and Annie Lokomaika’i Lipscomb. Creator and Lead Artist is Moses Goods; Dramaturgy by Lee Cataluna; Set and Visual Design by Hanalei Marzan; Lighting Design by Stephen Pruitt, Costume Design by Iris Kim and Emily Wright; Prop Design by Eric West; and Haku Mele by Moses Goods, Pō’ai Lincoln, Lokomaika’i Lipscomb, Hanalei Marzan, and Ryan I. Kaha’i’ōlelo Sueoka. The show also includes original music by Mattea Mazzella and the HTY Ensemble.

Honolulu Theatre for Youth (HTY) is a theatre of place, deeply rooted in the cultures and people of the Pacific and dedicated to serving young people, families and educators across the Hawaiian Islands. Founded in 1955, HTY is one of the oldest professional TYA companies in the country and is recognized for its long history of innovative drama education programming and the creation of original theatrical works that celebrate the diverse cultures of Hawai’i.

Attendees Under 18: Children aged 5 and up with a ticket can attend performances at The Smith Center. All patrons must have their own ticket, regardless of age (no babies held in arms or children sitting on laps). Patrons aged 16 or older may attend the performance without an accompanying adult with their parent’s or guardian’s permission.

The Smith Center is thrilled to present a sensory inclusive performance of The Pa’akai We Bring. Sensory inclusive performances are designed to serve any person with a physical, emotional, intellectual, or developmental disability as well as those without disabilities. This performance will be modified to address the sensory sensitivities that are often found in children, adolescents, and adults who have a variety of diagnoses including but not limited to: Autism spectrum disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, ADD/ADHD, intellectual and developmental disabilities, post-traumatic stress disorder, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Families are encouraged to attend together for an enjoyable visit to the theater.