Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives and Oʻahu Cemetery and Crematorium are proud to present a virtual version of the acclaimed Oʻahu Cemetery Pupu Theatre program for 2020 that will explore the history of women’s suffrage in Hawai`i.
The program will be presented by video link to pre-recorded performances that will be viewable from June 19, 2020, through June 28, 2020.
Price: A $40/person value for what you can afford!
In recognition of the financial strain due to Covid-19, this year’s Cemetery Pupu Theatre will be “pay what you can.” Whether it is $0 or $1000, you can access the video.
Your ticket will allow you access to the weblink for the entirety of June 19, 2020 to June 28, 2020. You can choose to watch all portrayals at once, or one at a time.
Once you pay for your ticket, you will immediately get a receipt email.
You will also get an email that will contain the link to the video presentation.
This program will be featuring portrayals of:
Betsey Stockton (ca. 1798-1865), portrayed by Jeanné Wynne Herring. Betsey Stockton was born into slavery about 1798 in New Jersey. She came to be owned by Rev. Ashbel Green, the president of Princeton University. Betsey became literate and educated, and was freed to become a missionary to Hawaiʻi. She came with the second missionary company in 1823 and was stationed at Lahaina, Maui. She made a career for herself as an educator in Hawaiʻi, Canada, Philadelphia, and Princeton. Her work focused on educating young children as well as marginalized communities such as the poor and free people of color. The church and school she founded are still active in Princeton today. She is buried in Cooperstown, NY with the family of Rev. Charles Stewart. (Image from HMCS Library.)
Emma Nakuina (1847-1929), portrayed by Kahana Ho. Emma Metcalf Beckley Nakuina was born in 1847 on Oʻahu. She was a judge, historian, writer, and curatrix of the Hawaiian National Museum. She was a staunch Hawaiian patriot and was active in the fight for women’s suffrage in the territorial period. In 1917 she invited Almira Pitman, a suffragist leader in Massachusetts and wife of Benjamin Keolaokalani Pitman, to speak in favor of Women’s Suffrage. This led to the U.S. Congress passing a bill to allow the territorial legislature to pass women’s suffrage in Hawaiʻi. The bill was being considered, but was superseded by the passage of the 19th Amendment. She is buried in Oʻahu Cemetery.
Emma Nāwahī (1854-1935), portrayed by Pōʻai Lincoln. Emma Nāwahī was born in Hilo in 1854. She was a newspaper editor and owner of the Ke Aloha ʻāina with her husband Joseph. She was a Hawaiian patriot active in gathering signatures for the Kūʻē Petition with the Hui Aloha ʻĀina o Nā Wahine. She also campaigned for women’s suffrage and the political equality of Native Hawaiian women in the territorial period. She is buried in Homelani Cemetery, Hilo.
Wilhelmine Dowsett (1861-1929), portrayed by Karen Kaulana. Wilhelmine Dowsett was born in Lihue, Kauaʻi in 1861. She was the founder of the National Women’s Equal Suffrage Association of Hawaiʻi. In 1912, she invited Carrie Chapman Catt to speak in Honolulu as part of Catt’s world tour in support of women’s suffrage internationally. She also led a number of petition drives and activist marches in support of women’s suffrage. She also spoke all over the Hawaiian Islands in favor of women’s suffrage, many times with Lahilahi Webb. She is buried in Oʻahu Cemetery. (Image from Hawaii State Archives.)
Ethel Baldwin (1879-1967), portrayed by Terri Madden. Ethel Smith Baldwin was born in 1879 and was the daughter of William O. Smith. She founded the Maui Women’s Suffrage Association and was very active also with the Maui Women’s Clubs, the League of Women Voters, and a number of community relief and social service organizations. Her husband was Henry A. “Harry” Baldwin who was a territorial senator and delegate to the U.S. Congress. She is buried in Makawao Cemetery, Maui. (Image from HMCS Library.)