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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, July 6, 2007

Chloe stars in Kumu Kahua's 'Kamau'

 •  Shooting for the dream

By Marie Carvalho
Advertiser Staff Writer

‘KAMAU’

8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, through July 15

$16-$10

536-4441

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So what's on tap for the girl being billed as "Honolulu's busiest actress"? This weekend, Chloe Amos stars as Stevie in Kumu Kahua Theatre's revival of Alani Apio's play, "Kamau."

Staged twice previously by the downtown Honolulu theater company, Kamau takes an unflinching look at a contemporary Hawai'i caught between traditional heritage and modern urbanization. That's the compromising position of the story's protagonist, Alika, a Native Hawaiian tour guide played by Kumu Kahua veteran James K. Bright.

"Kamau," which means "to persevere," takes on the land ownership and use issues that arguably are at the heart of Hawai'i's historical hostilities — and their corollaries: displacement, poverty, homelessness.

Dusty Behner, who plays Stevie's mother, Lisa, says "Kamau" is "political theater — it really has something to say."

Kumu Kahua artistic director Harry Wong, who co-directs with Wil Kahele, says such theater with a conscience serves the community: "We're trying to tell the story of what Hawaiians are going through."