Pueo the Protector of Man
Written by Eli Matola
“Hawaii makes up less than zero point two percent of U.S. land, but over twenty-five percent of species found on the nation's endangered species list are endemic to Hawaii. What does that say?”
Majoring in Performing Arts, Anthony Sagapolutele is currently working on his senior dissertation piece with Waiakea High school. He calls the piece “Pueo The Protector of Man,” which he described as a public service announcement with theater. Below, Kayhill talks about his piece.
University of Hawaii at Hilo Performing Arts major Jay Kayhill. Photo courtesy of Eli Matola.
The student began by asking, “What [is] my favorite bird, plant, and animal in Hawaii? Is it indigenous? If so, is it endangered? Why?” The reason for these questions, he says, is purely because there is so much nature around us in Hawaii, there is a lot to love. The great amount there is to love means there is a great amount to protect.
Kayhill's play centers around the Hawaiian owl, or pueo, man's relationship with it, and how man learns to become in tune with the same process of harmony and balance that the bird lives with. His piece shows the need to be mindful of each other while also working in synchronicity.
When the reasons behind the play were inquired about, he said, “[T]o show the community, especially the students, their power and responsibilities regarding the wellbeing of this planet.”
Two Hawaii-based sources inspired the Performing Arts major to compose such a piece. The first was experimental theater director Augusto Boal’s theatrics while the second was Oahu's Moanalua Valley. There in the valley, Kayhill asserted that he found a petroglyph of a pueo and became inspired. “Being in that valley really brings you to the immediate uniqueness of Hawaii and why it must be protected.”
What he wants viewers to take away from his piece, Kayhill explains, is for “people who want to be a rebel, at least be a rebel with a cause. Don’t fight nature but fight with it. We have to teach people the value of working in harmony with their surroundings, if I can get that across to one person I will feel successful, finally the play is their to showcase the significance of persevering life today in Hawaii by listening to what the Pueo has to tell us”
Kayhill will be distributing flyers out these coming weeks to spread awareness about his piece. People should be on the lookout December 9th around the university’s theater plaza, since this is where and when the performance will be held.
For more information, please feel free to contact Kayhill at jkayhill@hawaii.edu or give him a call at (808) 494-4111.
