In the midst of the holiday season, the Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel in Honolulu, Hawai’i welcomed some of the South Pacific’s biggest stars in entertainment for Cirque Du Soleil’s world premiere of their newest show, ‘Auana. This beautiful attempt to pay homage to Hawaii’s rich culture and history successfully made its impression leaving all in attendance stunned and inspired. Debuting as the first Cirque Du Soleil production in Hawai’i, the intimate but talented cast of performers hail from all over the globe but more importantly, Hawai’i’s very own have been casted for both on stage performances and behind the scenes for production. I was privileged enough to speak with two dancers, the decorated and esteemed married couple Oriana and Fa’afetai Lulu, of the selected intimate cast to gain insight into their atmosphere and experience performing in ‘Auana.
Both members of the Lulu couple were born and raised on O’ahu and immersed into the entertainment industry for years upon being casted by Cirque Du Soleil. They offer a unique perspective having been involved in other luau productions that differ from the experience ‘Auana has to offer. While luau’s provide an authentic entertaining “performance that showcases the various islands of Polynesia and its rich heritage,” ‘Auana offers an immersive artistic experience with a “high level of artistry, combined with the deep cultural storytelling of Hawaii.” The entire show is performed in Hawaii’s native language and translated by Keao NeSmith. The performers follow the direction of Kumu Hula Hiwa Vaughan while performing in costumes designed by Carrington Manaola Yap. The creative team has
“crafted a narrative that not only shares the rich stories of our people but also honors the ‘Aina (land) we’re on, which is deeply rooted in history.”
The extreme attention to detail and respect paid to Hawaii’s rich and illustrious history makes ‘Auana a unique production that offers an authentic Pasifika experience like no other and this reigned true during the world premiere last month. From a performers perspective, Oriana shared “on that day, I realized how much I was standing on their (her parents) shoulders, carrying forward the legacy they created. It was a moment of reflection and humility, and I felt incredibly blessed to be part of something so monumental.” She further described the sense of gratitude being “simply overwhelming”. Fa’afetai described his premiere experience as “one for the books” emphasizing the effect of seeing local stars and celebrities supporting the opening of ‘Auana. Fa’afetai shared that, “a sense of pride welled up in me knowing that we are representing, broadcasting, and furthering our Pasifika people to the entire world through our song and dance.”
With mainstream productions like Cirque Du Soleil’s ‘Auana, we as a people realize and learn just how much representation matters. ‘Auana is not only a production that showcases our Pasifika people both on stage and behind the curtain on the creative team and staff, but an opportunity that’s opening doors for our people for years and years to come. Oriana highlights an important message that ‘Auana aims to project, “ultimately, we are no different from one another, and the show emphasizes that we are all part of a greater story— I want the audience to leave feeling inspired by the strength and beauty of our shared humanity, and to carry with them a sense of peace and connection to something much larger than themselves.” Having already the impact ‘Auana does not even a month after the world premiere it’s safe to say that we are witnessing history in the making. If
you find yourself in Waikiki, be sure to check out Cirque Du Soleil ‘Auana and immerse yourself in the beauty of Hawai’i with a unique twist.
