In This Program

• About the Show
• Note From Storm Montunnas-Diez, SCT’s Director of Marketing
• Note from Eric Johnson, HTY Artistic Director
• Cast and Creative
• Glossary of Terms
• Show Partners
• Events
• Print Edition
• More About Seattle Children’s Theatre

About the Show

This presentation of The Paʻakai We Bring was made possible by the generosity of our Donors and Sponsors.

Season Sponsors:

ArtsFund
Microsoft
The Shubert Foundation

1+5 Sponsor:

Paul G. Allen Family Foundation 

Government Partners:

4Culture
ArtsWA
Seattle Office of Arts and Culture

Show Sponsor:

King County Metro

Institutional Sponsor:

Nesholm Family Foundation

Seattle Children’s Theatre Presents...

The Paʻakai We Bring

Created by Moses Goods and the Honolulu Theatre for Youth Ensemble

Directed by Moses Goods and Eric Johnson

Performed by

Alysia-Leila Kepa‘a
Annie Lokomaika‘i Lipscomb
Mattea Mazzella
“Junior” Hermenigildo Tesoro, Jr. 

Creative

Moses Goods & Eric Johnson Director 
Lee Cataluna Dramaturg
Hanalei Marzan Scenic and Visual Design
Mattea Mazzella and HTY Ensemble Music
Stephen Pruitt Lighting Design
Iris Kim and Emily Wright Costume Design
Eric West Technical Direction/Prop Design
Chesley Cannon Design Consultant
Moses Goods, Pō‘ai Lincoln, Annie Lokomaika‘i Lipscomb,
Hanalei Marzan, Ryan I. Kaha‘i‘ōlelo Sueoka Haku Mele (Hula)

Summary

SCT is proud to host Honolulu Theatre for Youth, presenting a one-of-a-kind experience steeped in history, culture, and the healing we all need right now. This original production introduces young audiences to the Native Hawaiian cultural practices around the giving and culivating of pa‘akai (salt). Traditionally, pa‘akai is food, medicine, a sacrament, and a treasured gift. The play follows multiple generations of salt farmers on Kaua‘i, mixing ancient stories, hula, live music, original songs, and plenty of audience participation into a tasty potluck of performance, joyously served up with aloha.

Themes

FAMILY AND COMMUNITY
Families are super special for people. Whether they’re the ones we are born into or the ones we choose, families connect us to our past and help us look toward the future. In The Pa‘akai We Bring we learn how the stories we share are a gift, something to be cherished, and shared with love.

GIVING
In The Pa‘akai We Bring the act of giving is important, and something special. Watching this play we learn that by giving we spread joy and bring happiness to others and ourselves.

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
The planet around us provides everything we need to be happy and healthy. In The Pa‘akai We Bring we learn that our world takes care of us, and it’s our job to care for it and show it respect in return.

Dear Friends,

As a little girl, I spent countless afternoons by my mother’s side in the kitchen, hands dusted with flour, pots bubbling on the stove, the smells of our family’s traditions filling the air. Food, for us, wasn’t just about eating. It was about connecting; to each other, to our ancestors, to the land and hands that made every meal possible. Each dish came with a story, and every story came with a reminder to be thankful for every person who made this moment possible.

Today, it’s an honor to carry that spirit forward as we introduce you to  an  original production, The Paʻakai We Bring, celebrating the tradition of paʻakai (salt) — a cornerstone of Native Hawaiian culture.

This story follows generations of salt farmers on Kaua‘i, weaving together ancient chants, hula, live music, and original songs. Through it all, you’ll feel the heartbeat of a community built on respect, gratitude, and aloha.

In Hanapēpē, where this tradition lives, the families who farm pa‘akai do so with a sacred commitment. No negative words are spoken, no heavy thoughts are carried. Their work, like their salt, is pure, joyful, and full of purpose. In a time when negativity seems to dominate so much of the world around us, this tradition reminds us that we have a choice: to build up instead of tear down, to celebrate instead of criticize, to come together instead of divide.

Paʻakai is more than salt. It’s food, it’s medicine, it’s a gift, and a ceremony. It’s a reflection of everything we can be when we choose community, healing, and gratitude.

This show is our gift to Seattle. We hope you receive it with open hearts, just as it’s given.

Storm Montunnas-Diez
Director of Marketing, Seattle Children’s Theatre  

We are delighted to have you joining us for this Honolulu Theatre for Youth production!  Our company is deeply rooted in the cultures and people of Hawai‘i and we are honored to be sharing these stories with your ‘ohana. If you are curious to learn more about our work, the company, or to see videos of the places and people who are at the center of these stories, we encourage you to visit our website
at htyweb.org.

LEAD ARTIST/CREATOR

Moses Goods is one of Hawai‘i’s most prominent theatre artists and an Artistic Associate at Honolulu Theatre for Youth. Originally from the island of Maui and now based in Honolulu, he has traveled nationally and internationally, performing his original work to a wide range of audiences. His body of work ranges from full length plays to theatrical storytelling pieces, most of which are strongly rooted in Native Hawaiian culture.

THE PERFORMERS

Alysia-Leila Kepa‘a is a Kanaka ‘Ōiwi actor from Nānākuli, O‘ahu. She has trained with the Hawai‘i Conservatory of Performing Arts, based at Windward Community College, and she is currently enjoying her second season as a member of the HTY’s ‘ohana.

Annie Lokomaika‘i Lipscomb is a multidisciplinary artist, born and raised in the islands of Hawai‘i. With a background in hula, performance, and creative writing, she has spent years sharing the richness of Hawai‘i with communities across the globe. She is a member of HTY’s resident ensemble and is thrilled and grateful to be part of the incredible HTY ‘ohana. 

Mattea Mazzella is a creator from Kaneohe, Hawai‘i, who loves making art and sharing stories. Matt’s first instrument was the Kawai piano at his grandma’s house on the windward side of the island of ‘Oahu. With a camcorder and a laptop, Matt’s been making music and films since he was a kid. This is Matt’s eleventh season as a member of HTY’s resident ensemble. 

Hermenigildo Tesoro Jr., affectionately called “Junior,” this surfer from Guam is in his twenty-ninth season with Honolulu Theatre for Youth. Junior is a veteran performer who has delighted audiences with his quick wit, comedic timing, and physical prowess for decades in dozens of roles. When not performing, Junior loves salsa dancing. 

SPECIAL THANKS

HTY would like to extend a special mahalo to the Nizo, Santos, and Nobrega families and all the other salt-makers of Hanapēpē. Without their ʻike and aloha, this project would not have been possible.

Seattle Children’s Theatre is a member of TYA/USA, the national center of the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People.

SCT is a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national service organization for the nonprofit professional theatre.

SCT is a proud member of International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY).

ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION, founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 50,000 professional actors and stage managers. Equity endeavors to advance the careers of its members by negotiating wages, working conditions, and providing a wide range of benefits (health and pension included). Member: AFL-CIO, FIA. #EquityWorks.

Lighting, sound, staging, property, scenery, scenic art, and costume work at Seattle Children’s Theatre is performed by employees represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists, and Allied Crafts of the US and Canada, AFL-CIO, CLC.

Seattle Children’s Theatre works with the Stage Directors and Choreographers society.

The designers at this theatre are represented by United Scenic Artists (Local USA 829) of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.

* Indicates members of the Actors’ Equity Association

Our show features ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi -the Hawaiian language. Here are some of the words and phrases that are used in the performance.

Ālia
salt bed/salt crusted area

Aloha
love, affection, salutations

Aloha Wale
only aloha

Hāpuʻupuʻu
young grouper fish

Hei
Hawaiian string game

Hewa
bad energy

ʻIliwai
the skin/surface of the water

ʻUmeke
bowl

Ka ʻĀina
the land

Kahu
priest/guardian

Kala
surgeonfish

Ke kai
the ocean, salty ocean water

Keiki
child

Kōkua
helper/aid

Kuleana
responsibility

Kūpuna
elders

Makamae
precious

Mākua
parent

Mana
power/essence

Miko
seasoned with salt

Niʻi
salt encrusted

ʻOhana
family

Oli Komo
entrance chant often done at the beginning of an event as protocol

ʻŌpelu
mackerel

Pā kini
tin basin, bucket

Paheʻe
slippery, smooth

Paʻa
to hold, to keep, to make solid

Paʻakai
Hawaiian sea salt

Pāpio
young crevalle/jack fish

Pau
finish/done

Pī Kai
spiritual cleansing with salt mixed in water

Pōhaku
stone

Tūtū
grandparent

Tūtū Lady
grandmother

Waipuna
the salt water well

E ʻai kekahi, e kāpī kekahi.
Eat some, salt some.

E hōʻike mai.
Show me.

E hoʻopili mai.
Repeat after me.

E nini i ka wai.
Pour the water.

E pā ka ʻiliwai.
Touch the surface of the water.

E pū paʻakai.
Gather salt. A potluck.

E wehe i ka lepo.
Remove the mud.

Hōʻiliʻili mai.
Gather up.

Huli ka lima i lalo.
Turn the hands to the ground. Do the work.

I hele i kauhale, paʻa pūʻolo i ka lima.
When you visit someone’s home, be sure your hands are full. (Always bring a gift.)

Seattle PlayGarden

The PlayGarden’s core values of inclusion, adventure play, and garden to table guide our staff in achieving our mission of providing children of all abilities a safe, accessible, and adventurous place to play. We encourage our staff to be playful in their jobs, with each other, and of course the kids.

More information can be found at https://seattleplaygarden.org/

The Hawaii General Store

Thank you to our show sponsor, The Hawaii General Store. During the run of
The Pa‘akai We Bring, stop by our gift shop to browse items from our Aloha General Store including salt, foods, gifts and toys from Hawaii. You can find their store and Hawaiian Travel Agency in the Wallingford neighborhood. 

King County Metro

Thank you to our show sponsor, King County Metro. King County Metro is partnering with SCT to provide free rides on the metro bus services, link light rail, and other transportation services while supplies last. 

More information can be found at 
https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/metro/fares-and-payment/ways-to-pay/transit-go-ticket

Celebrate spring with Seattle Children’s Theatre and Seattle PlayGarden!

Date: Saturday, May 10, 2025 
Time: 9:30am-12:30pm 
Location: Seattle Children’s PlayGarden, 1745 24th Ave S

FREE EVENT

At Theatre in the Garden, you’ll experience a day packed with creativity, play, and a little bit of magic. Enjoy a sneak peek of SCT’s upcoming spring show, dive into fun theater games, and explore PlayGarden’s beautiful outdoor space.

Bring the whole family for a relaxed, festive morning where imagination and outdoor play come together.

Activities include:
A special live snippet from The Pa‘akai We Bring
Theater games for all ages
Themed arts and crafts like making colorful paper leis and watercolor salt paintings
Story time adventures
And yes — plenty of time to meet and hang out with PlayGarden’s beloved bunnies!

Print Edition

More About Seattle Children’s Theatre

Seattle Children’s Theatre Audience Member Guide

Experiencing the theatre is a group activity shared not only with the actors, but also with the people sitting around you. Your attention and participation help the actors perform better, and allows the rest of the audience to enjoy the show. We invite you to laugh when it is funny,

Encore+Seattle Children’s Theatre

SCT's Equity and Community Agreements
Land Acknowledgement
SCT's Board of Trustees
SCT's Staff