Lessons from a Hawaiian Queen about Governance, Public Health and Ambition
On February 28, 2026 I joined a friend to see “Emalani,” a newly commissioned play at Arena Stage, inspired by the life Emm Na’ea Rooke, who became Queen when she married into the Kamehameha royal family, and who became known as a humanitarian, health care crusader, and advocate for native Hawaiians in the years before the United States took over the islands.
I had the good luck to chat with the playwright, Lee Cataluna, before the event started, which introduced me to a format I would call an enhanced “table read” with five actors, plus a narrating stage manager. Listening, I was swept into half-remembered and entirely new history lessons about British and American colonial incursions that offer parallels to what is happening now in Greenland and beyond. Plus an example of how commitment to sound practices in public health is a component to good governance, too easily overlooked.
It must be challenging to act “only” with your voice — but each of the cast offered memorable performances that illuminated the islands’ complex history of disease, the ambitions of insiders who struggled for power, and ultimately, about the importance of leadership that serves the public good. In other words, a story about Hawaii from 1855 to the 1860s (paralleling the years leading up to the American Civil War) that is entirely relevant in 2026.
The last strong words of actress Danielle Zalopany as Emalani (“Queen Emma”) are sure to bring a tear to eyes in the audience. Keep an eye out for new performances!