Oahu Cemetery Pupu Theatre: "Visions of Hospitality"

Oʻahu Cemetery Pūpū Theatre:
Visions of Hospitality

Experience Hawaiʻi's Rich Tourism Legacy Through Historical Portrayals

HONOLULU, HI – May 21, 2025 - The historic Oʻahu Cemetery proudly presents "Visions of Hospitality," the latest installment of its popular Pūpū Theatre series, featuring five captivating historical portrayals that trace the evolution of Hawaiʻi's hospitality and tourism industries through the 19th and 20th centuries.

Set against the backdrop of one of Honolulu's most significant historical sites, this immersive theatrical experience brings to life the remarkable stories of individuals who shaped Hawaiʻi's world-renowned hospitality tradition. From royal voyages to hotel magnates, musicians to infrastructure visionaries, these portrayals offer a fascinating glimpse into Hawaiʻi's past.

"This year's program showcases how diverse individuals helped establish Hawaiʻi's reputation for hospitality long before it became a global tourist destination," says Mike Smola, Director of Education at the Hawaiian Mission Houses. "These stories reveal the cultural foundations and entrepreneurial spirit that created the visitor industry we know today."

Featured Historical Portrayals

Visitors will encounter five notable figures from Hawaiʻi's past:

● Manuia (d. 1829) - A cousin of Oʻahu Governor Boki who accompanied King Kamehameha II Queen Kamāmalu, and their entourage to London to visit King George IV in 1824 as the king’s steward. He later established some of Hawaiʻi's earliest hospitality ventures, including boarding houses and grog shops.

● Alexander Young (1833-1910) - Born in Scotland, Young became Hawaiʻi's first hotel magnate, building the Alexander Young Hotel in downtown Honolulu – a magnificent six-story structure introducing unprecedented luxury to the islands, and acquiring both the Moana Hotel and Hawaiian Hotel.

● John Charles Kapilikea Sumner Ellis (1877-1914) - A celebrated hapa-haole virtuoso known as "The Hawaiian Caruso" who elevated Hawaiian music internationally alongside his brother William Sumner Ellis, Ernest Kaʻai, Sonny Cunha, and the Royal Hawaiian Band. As a respected employee at the Hawaii Promotion Committee, he helped establish the foundation for Hawaii's tourism industry while showcasing the islands' rich musical heritage to the world.

● Margaret Morgan McCarthy (1865-1934) - Wife of Territorial Governor Charles McCarthy, she established the Donna Hotel on Beretania Street in 1910 and managed numerous apartment properties in Waikīkī while instituting several hospitality traditions at Washington Place that are still maintained today, such as, putting lei on Queen Liliʻuokalani’s reception chair.

● William Fawcett Pogue (1856-1932) - Maui visionary, born to missionary parents in Lahaina, transformed Hawaii as an irrigation expert and county supervisor. Pogue spearheaded the completion of the Hana Highway, which opened in 1926 with dual purpose: connecting isolated Hana residents with greater Maui while creating what would become one of Hawaii's most spectacular tourism routes.

Event Details

Dates:

● Friday June 13, and Saturday June 14

● Friday June 20, and Saturday June 21

● Thursday, June 26

● Friday June 27, and Saturday June 28

Time: 5PM – 8PM
Location: Oʻahu Cemetery, 2162 Nuʻuanu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96817
Tickets: $60 per person, available at www.missionhouses.org

Dinner and refreshments will be served.

Space is limited and reservations are required. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.missionhouses.org

About Oʻahu Cemetery Pūpū Theatre

The Oʻahu Cemetery Pūpū Theatre series brings Hawaiʻi's history to life through intimate theatrical portrayals set within the historic grounds of Oʻahu Cemetery. Each annual production focuses on a different theme relevant to Hawaiʻi's unique cultural and historical landscape, offering visitors and residents alike a deeper connection to the islands' past.