Left: Princess Ka'iulani. - Photo: Courtesy of Bishop Museum.

Island rose
Princess Ka'iulani is the
subject of a play to debut in '09

By Lisa Asato/ Ka Wai Ola

Maui writer and actress Jennifer Fahrni has devoted six years of her life to learning the facts about Princess Ka'iulani for a new play she's co-writing, and sometimes it seems like she's just getting started.

“The script is written, but as I learn new things, knowing me I'll be doing line changes on opening night,” says Fahrni, who is writing the play Ka'iulani – The Island Rose with Carol Harvie-Yamaguchi, which is planned for a 2009 debut on Maui.

“I'm always looking for more truth and the whole goal is to really bring Ka'iulani to life and her true spirit up on the stage,” she says of her effort to “give the Hawaiians back their heroine.”

“There's no need to Hollywood-ize this story,” adds Fahrni, a native of Vancouver, British Columbia. “The truth is very compelling and I haven't had a need to change anything.”

Ever since a friend introduced her to Ka'iulani through a book, Fahrni has been on a quest to let others know that the 19th century part-Hawaiian, part-Scottish royal who was being groomed to inherit the throne from Queen Lili'uokalani was more than just a beautiful princess who died young, at 24.

Jennifer Fahrni is co-writing a fact-based play on Princess Ka'iulani and is seeking actors of all ages for various roles. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom

“I think when people think of Ka'iulani they think she had a tragic life,” says Fahrni, who has retraced the princess' steps from Waikīkī, where she lived at 'Āinahau, to “a little place” outside the Irish capital of Dublin. “But in fact her life was full of wonderful things as well. Her personality was very vibrant and she was beautiful and sought after by many men. She was brilliant. She spoke four languages. She was highly educated and spoke clearly and to the point when it mattered.”

By speaking to the press in London and New York City, she says, a 17-year-old Ka'iulani changed history, at least for a time, by helping to convince President Cleveland to reject annexation of the Hawaiian Islands after the kingdom had been illegally overthrown. “It was not an easy fight,” Fahrni says. “There were a lot of things standing in the way, and that's what people will find out in the show. It took a lot of courage to do what she did. She was going against all the American people – she was going against what had been printed in all the newspapers.” So impressed was Cleveland, Fahrni says, that he invited the young princess to the White House.

Since April, Fahrni and others members of The Ka'iulani Project, like Kathy Collins, Wilmont Kahaialii and Hamish Burgess have performed at readings of the play, which when completed, will feature music, hula and a small amount of Hawaiian language (kept at a minimum in order to be accessible to audiences worldwide – that's Fahrni's vision). And putting historical accuracy before ego, Fahrni says she welcomes input from anyone who can shed light on Ka'iulani, even if they may have reservations about Fahrni's malihini roots. “Give the criticism now before it hits the stage. I've been an actor all my life, and as an actor you learn how to take criticism well,” she says with a laugh.

Fahrni is seeking actors of all ages to portray members of the royal family, including Ka'iulani, King Kalākaua, Princess Ruth Ke'elikōlani and about 20 other main roles, including nonroyals. Presence and personality are crucial, she says, so even those without acting training would be considered. She's also looking to cast Hawaiians in Hawaiian roles. 
For information, visit thekaiulani
project.com or mauiceltic.com. Resumes and photos may be emailed to islandroseplay@aol.com.