Fighting Like Mad (a play) 7:30-9pm Oct 17 at Iao Theater

Fighting Like Mad by Noelani Ahia and Mahealani Ahia began as a 10-minute play written in response to the Lāhainā fires. Since then, the story has continued to grow into a more fully realized staged one-act.

Set in the months following the fires, we meet a Kānaka ʻohana finding their way through loss, displacement, old family wounds, and the question of what it means to come home. As they come back into one another’s lives, pieces of their family history begin to surface. Mele (songs), memories, moʻolelo (stories), and ʻike (knowledge) that have traveled through generations.

At its heart, Fighting Like Mad is about what we carry, what we remember, and how we find our way back to one another.

Following the performance, we will gather for a community panel and conversation with mental health and pale keiki practitioners, and storytellers, creating space to continue the conversation held in the play and explore how moʻolelo, culture, connection and community can support us as we move through difficult times.

This performance is part of the continued development of the play and is being shared with community as it grows.

Presented by:

Collective Pilina Theatre • Maui Medic Healers Hui • AHAS (Archive for Health, Arts & Spirit)

Supported by:

Maui County Department of ʻŌiwi Resources • Imua Maui Community Healing Initiative

Please note: This work contains language and moments that some audience members may find difficult or triggering.

Date: Saturday, October 17th, 2026

Time: 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm

Cost: Free

Categories: Cultural / Ethnic, FREE, Non-Profit Community Event, Performing Arts / Plays

Historic Iao Theater located at 68 N Market St, Wailuku, HI 96793 in Central Maui

Phone: 808-242-6969  Email: boxoffice@mauionstage.com, mauionstage.info@gmail.com  Website: https://www.mauionstage.com

The Historic Iao Theater, built in 1928 in Wailuku, is a beloved Maui landmark and one of Hawaii's oldest theaters, renowned for its Spanish-Mission Revival architecture and rich cultural legacy. Originally designed as both a movie house and live performance venue, the Iao has hosted everything from Hollywood premieres to legendary USO shows with stars like Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope. Despite periods of decline and near closure, the Iao’s enduring presence-now listed on both the Hawaii and National Registers of Historic Places-reflects its importance as a gathering place for entertainment and community on Maui.

For Maui OnStage, the Iao Theater is more than just a venue; it is the heart of their mission to provide accessible, high-quality performing arts experiences for the island. After a devastating fire destroyed their previous home, Maui OnStage (formerly Maui Community Theater) found new life in the Iao, helping to restore and revitalize the historic space. Today, the Iao Theater stands as a vibrant hub for creativity, self-expression, and cultural enrichment, serving as a cornerstone for Maui's artistic community and a cherished symbol of resilience and aloha.

Contact: Heather Knowles Negaard – Box Office Coordinator   Phone: 8082426969

Email: boxoffice@mauionstage.com

Website: https://www.mauionstage.com