Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives
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05:30 PM - 08:30 PM on Sat, 4 Oct 2025
Experience the passion and intrigue of forbidden Hawaiian love at the Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives' (HMH) acclaimed Mele Program. "Pilina Kapu – Forbidden Relationships" will transport guests through time and tradition on Saturday, October 4, 2025, revealed through the powerful expressions of love and desire in moʻolelo (storytelling), mele (song), oli (chant), and hula (dance). This program is supported by grant funds from the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
EXPLORING THE SACRED AND FORBIDDEN
The concept of "kapu" – defined in the 1836 Lorrin Andrews Dictionary as prohibited, forbidden, or sacred – has shaped Hawaiian cultural practices for centuries. "Pilina Kapu" will illuminate relationships designated as kapu because of their connections to akua (deities) or aliʻi (royalty), such as goddesses Pele or Poliʻahu or the affairs of aliʻi from times before Kamehameha, to the intrigues of ʻIolani Palace. The kapu nature of these relationships means that sometimes they were wrapped in kaona, hidden meanings, so that only those who knew would perceive them. But subtle or no, the consequences of pilina kapu were often severe indeed!
WORLD-CLASS CULTURAL PRACTITIONERS
This journey through Hawaiian ideas of forbidden love and desire will be brought to life by the renowned musicians and dancers of Hālau Hula Kamamolikolehua under the skilled leadership of Kumu Pōhai Souza and Hālau Mele, under the direction of Kumu Sam ʻOhu Gon III and Kumu Māhealani Wong. Together, these cultural practitioners will weave traditional and contemporary understandings of "pilina kapu" through authentic performances that will illuminate as well as captivate.
EVENT DETAILS
●Date & Time: Saturday, October 4, 2025 | Seating opens at 5:30 p.m. | Performance begins at 6:30 p.m.
●Location: Kahua Hoʻokipa Stage at Hawaiian Mission Houses | 553 S. King St., Honolulu 96813
●Tickets: $45 per person – purchase at missionhouses.org/upcoming-events
●Culinary Experience: Gourmet charcuterie options available for purchase from Da'Cuterie by Oahu Premier Picnics.
●Beverages: Cash bar featuring beer, wine, water, and soft drinks (available from 5:30 p.m. through intermission)
●Parking: Available at Civic Center Municipal Parking (346 Alapaʻi Street) or metered street parking on Kawaiahaʻo St., Mission Lane, or South Street
●Weather Contingency: In case of inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances, the event will be rescheduled to October 18, 2025.
CULTURAL CONTEXT: UNDERSTANDING KAPU
While "Kapu" is commonly interpreted today as simply "Keep Out," its traditional significance runs far deeper. In ancient Hawaiian society, kapu represented spiritual restrictions based on mana (spiritual power). Places such as upland forests and mountain summits were considered "wao akua" – the realm of the gods – and entering these spaces required elaborate ceremony and sacrifice. Similarly, persons of high mana, such as akua, or aliʻi carried perilous kapu restrictions that, if violated, often resulted in death. In modern contexts, these spiritual dangers have sometimes been replaced by severe social or legal consequences.
