Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 6, 1 June 2012 — Wilcox descendants see forebears' story dramatized on stage [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Wilcox descendants see forebears' story dramatized on stage

By Sarah Paeheeo Before the play Witcox's Shot ended its run a Kumu Kahua Theatre in April, a group of descendants of Robert William Kalanihiapo Wilcox, the Hawaiian-revolutionary-soldier-turned-politician at the center of the play's action, took in a mahnee showing. They eame away with a new appreciation for Wilcox (played by Albert Ueligitone) and his wife, Princess Theresa Owana Ka'ohelelani La'anui Wilcox (played by Danielle Zalopany), a vibrant and headstrong woman who could hold her own with the characters of Washington. "They were both warriors, and the aloha between the two of them comes across on stage. It was really beautiful," says Owana Ka'ohelelani Salazar, a great-granddaughter of Robert and Theresa whose approval of the script was of utmost importance to playwright Sean T.C. 0'Malley. "When I called him he was so quiet, but I was able to tell him it

was good, and there was this big sigh of relief on the other end," Salazar recalls with a laugh. "And although it's historical drama-fiction," she adds, "it eaptures (Wilcox's) passion, and there are things in here that are true but not so widely known, such as that he introduced the first bill for Hawaiian homesteads and for Kalaupapa." Set during Hawai'i's territorial days, the story follows Wilcox through his brief time in Washington, D.C., recounting his accomplishments as the first Hawaiian in Congress as well as the difficulties he faced as an outsider fighting for his people. The play's components - a mish-mash of real and imagined events - Wilcox's close friendship with Theodore Roosevelt; the couple's various encounters with Afro-Caribbean entertainer Bert Williams; anarchist Emma Goldman caring for an ailing Wilcox after his wife returns to Hawai'i - all add up to a fascinating tale of how an inspired Hawaiian patriot SEE WILG0X ON PAGE 24

Three generations of Robert Wilcox's descendants attending a showing of Wkox's Shot at Kumu Kahua Theatre gathered on stage with friends and theater folk. Back row, starting second from left: theater managing director Donna Blanchard; director Brett Botbyl; ūanielle Zalopany, who played Wilcox's wife, Theresa; Albert Ueligitone, who played Robert Wilcox; great-grandchildren of the Wilcoxes: Phillip Wilcox Hatori and Owana Ka'ohelelani Salazar; and playwright Sean T.C. 0'Malley, surrounded by Wilcox 'ohana. - Photo: Sarah Paeheeo

WILCOX

Continued from page 22 and his princess battled to give their country a voice while facing racism, political gamesmanship and the U.S.'s growing inHuenee in the Paeihe. After a dramatic and unexpected hnal scene between Wilcox and President Roosevelt (completely invented by 0'Malley's own artistic mind), the theater gradually empties, and the group of about 30 Wilcox descendants and friends gather in an impromptu family reunion on the stage lloor. As they reconnect, discussion quickly turns to their kūpuna and the story that has just unfolded. "It was really interesting seeing

the individual stories, what they were talking about behind closed doors and the one-on-one interactions. It felt like I got to know them better," says Albert Harold Braine, great-great-grandson of Robert and Theresa. "I really enjoyed the play; it was good to see their story eome to life," agrees his cousin, Karly Spencer. "I thought overall it got the broad story, and I think it captured Robert Wilcox's passions and his strong political beliefs," says Nanette Napoleon, a Hawaiian historian and close family friend. 0'Malley, the playwright, has a high regard for Wilcox, who's been featured in two of his prior plays. "The fascinating thing for me is this man's desire to do right, to support the Hawaiian people,"

says 0'Malley. "He takes whatever moment he is in and says, 'Well, what will be the best direction for the Hawaiian people?' Just to have the guts to do the things that he did. ... I would have loved to have met him." As for Salazar, she says of the production: "These are things that we as a family are happy to see eome out, because there's so mueh about Robert Kalanihiapo Wilcox and Prince Theresa that has been swept under the carpet for generations. These are the kinds of stories our parents told us, and these are the kinds of things that will stimulate more truths to eome out." ■

Sarah Paeheeo, an 0'ahu-based freelance writer, is a former assistant regional editorfor MidWeek