'Ainakea a play by James Nevius 3 weekends Oct 2-18 at Iao Theater
Maui OnStage presents the 3rd production of our 2026 Season - 'Ainakea.
Written by Maui playwright - James Nevius
Directed by Francis Tau'a
Dates: Oct 2 - 18
Times: Fri at 7:30pm, Sat & Sun at 3pm
Historic Iao Theater in Wailuku
Tickets: $10 - $45
'Ainakea is set on Maui’s west side in 1953. The play tells the fictional story of the wealthy Goodale family and their failing sugar plantation, ‘Ainakea, which was named for a type of prized white sugarcane.
The play is an adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s classic drama The Cherry Orchard, widely considered one of the great plays of the early 20th century. Nevius has updated the drama to the 1950s. With statehood looming and the traditional, plantation-based sugar business coming to an end, this was a period of great uncertainty and change in the Hawaiian islands.
Nevius' last full-length play, Murder in the Nth Degree, won the ProArts Playhouse inaugural playwriting competition and was named Best Play of 2022 by Broadway World Hawaii.
Mahalo to our 2026 Season Sponsor Wave of Harmony Foundation in partnership with Marji Knowles and Michael Tibbott
Date: Friday, October 2nd, 2026 to Sunday, October 18th, 2026
Time: 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Cost: $10 - $45
Categories: Performing Arts / Musicals / Plays
Historic Iao Theater located at 68 N Market St, Wailuku, HI 96793 in Central Maui
Phone: 808-242-6969 Email: boxoffice@mauionstage.com, mauionstage.info@gmail.com Website: https://www.mauionstage.com
The Historic Iao Theater, built in 1928 in Wailuku, is a beloved Maui landmark and one of Hawaii's oldest theaters, renowned for its Spanish-Mission Revival architecture and rich cultural legacy. Originally designed as both a movie house and live performance venue, the Iao has hosted everything from Hollywood premieres to legendary USO shows with stars like Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope. Despite periods of decline and near closure, the Iao’s enduring presence-now listed on both the Hawaii and National Registers of Historic Places-reflects its importance as a gathering place for entertainment and community on Maui.
For Maui OnStage, the Iao Theater is more than just a venue; it is the heart of their mission to provide accessible, high-quality performing arts experiences for the island. After a devastating fire destroyed their previous home, Maui OnStage (formerly Maui Community Theater) found new life in the Iao, helping to restore and revitalize the historic space. Today, the Iao Theater stands as a vibrant hub for creativity, self-expression, and cultural enrichment, serving as a cornerstone for Maui's artistic community and a cherished symbol of resilience and aloha.
Contact: Heather Knowles Negaard – Box Office Coordinator Phone: 8082426969
Email: Website: https://mauionstage.thundertix.com/events/257453
