Punahou recently welcomed back alumnus Lance Inouye ’89 for a special campus visit celebrating Hawaiian language and the performing arts. Now serving as a principal guest conductor with Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre, Inouye returned alongside a group of professional artists to share excerpts from “Kamalehua: The Sheltering Tree”.
Performed for Punahou middle school music classes, the presentation featured powerful vocal selections and insights into the creative process behind the opera, composed by Herb Mahelona with a libretto by fellow Punahou alumna Victoria Nālani Kneubuhl ’67. The work is especially significant as the world premiere of the first full-length professional opera performed entirely in the Hawaiian language, telling the true story of 19th-century diplomat Timoteo Haʻalilio and his journey representing King Kamehameha III to secure international recognition of Hawaiʻi as a sovereign nation. The opera explores themes of leadership, cultural identity and resilience during a pivotal moment in Hawaiʻi’s history.
Students also had the opportunity to hear internationally acclaimed baritone Quinn Kelsey, whose powerful performance brought the story to life and offered a glimpse into the global reach of Hawaiʻi-born talent.
The visit highlighted both the cultural significance of the production and the enduring connection between Punahou and its alumni. Mahalo to Lance Inouye and the Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre team for sharing this meaningful and inspiring experience with our students. Performances of “Kamalehua: The Sheltering Tree” will take place May 1, May 3 and May 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall.