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Mai Poina Walking Tour

Living History at ʻIolani Palace

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mai Poina Walking Tours is currently unavailable.

ABOUT MAI POINA

Mai Poina: The Overthrow was developed as a walking tour written by local playwright Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl -- a shorter, more concise version of a living history pageant entitled January 1893 that depicted the events that led to the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

 

Recreating four pivital days in history, the tours present dramatic interpretations of history at six stations at and around the ‘Iolani Palace.

The original production was performed in 1993 during the three days prior to the 100th anniversary of the overthrow, and featured over 50 actors performing throughout downtown Honolulu. The walking tour emphasizes little known perspectives of Native Hawaiians and others, such as Japanese, Chinese and European immigrants, who were negatively impacted by the overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy and other subsequent unlawful actions.

 

Included with each of the nearly two dozen performances are scholar discussions and an extensive Viewer’s Guide that contribute to and encourage open dialogue. We hope you are informed by this presentation of Mai Poina: The Overthrow, and inspired to learn more about Hawai‘i’s true history. Please refer to the Hawaiian history timeline and various essays, archival documents and Bibliography in this Viewer’s Guide below.

Here are some of our favorite moments captured during Mai Poina.

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