The next round of History Theater will be held on the oceanside grounds of Lahaina Jodo Mission on Nov. 18-19. Learn about the history of Hawaii through historical characters Wilhelmine Dowsett, Rev. William Ellis and John Papa ‘I‘i. PHOTO BY LAHAINA RESTORATION FOUNDATION.

LAHAINA — The popular History Theater is returning to Lahaina with an evening performance on Friday, Nov. 18, and Saturday, Nov. 19, on the beautiful grounds of Lahaina Jodo Mission.

Gates open at 6 p.m., with the performance starting at 6:30 p.m. There is free parking in front of the site along Ala Moana Street.

Tickets are available online at https://lahainarestoration.org/history-theatre/ and are $35 for adults and $10 for students ages 12 and up.

The student price is being offered for the first time to enable more young people to enjoy and learn the fascinating history of Hawaii.

The intimate setting and dramatic dialog provide an extraordinary learning opportunity — and one that will be remembered for a long time.

“A Century Apart… Together Again” is the theme of the performance featuring the historical characters Wilhelmine Dowsett, Rev. William Ellis and John Papa ‘I’i.

Staged outdoors, the dramatic portrayals take place concurrently, with audience members rotating between the actors who are each placed in unique, intimate settings with chairs for the audience to sit in close proximity to the actor.

The three historical characters being portrayed each made major contributions to Hawaiian society in their own way.

Using words from the many letters they wrote, the portrayal of these important people will be brought to life through dramatic presentations.

John Papa I’i (1800 – 1870) was one of the first Hawaiians to become literate and to learn English. He was born in Waipio, Oahu, on Aug. 3, 1800. He served as a language teacher and translation partner to the missionary Rev. Hiram Bingham while translating the Bible into Hawaiian.

Rev. William Ellis (1794 – 1872) was born in London, England. Under the auspices of the London Missionary Society, he became a missionary to Tahiti in 1816, where he operated the printing press for the mission. In 1822, he arrived in Hawaii and was extremely helpful to the American missionaries as they became language teachers, translators and liaisons to the Hawaiian ali’i.

Wilhelmine Kekelaokalanihui Dowsett (1861-1929) was born on Kauai and organized the National Women’s Equal Suffrage Association in 1912. As the leader of the largest suffrage organization in Hawaii, she built a multi-ethnic movement that crossed class divisions, bringing people from vastly different backgrounds together in support of the women’s right to vote.

History Theater is produced by Hawaiian Mission Houses with support from the Fred Baldwin Foundation. The evening is hosted by Lahaina Restoration Foundation and Jodo Mission.

History Theater is held in various historic sites around Lahaina.