HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A new play at Kumu Kahua Theatre is bringing together culture, family and Alzheimer’s awareness.

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The production is called “Memory Beads,” written by playwright Diane Aoki. Actors Sanae Tokumura and Denise Aiko Chinen play two of the main characters.

Tokumura plays Haruko, who is living with Alzheimer’s. Haruko’s experience deeply disturbs her daughter, Joni, portrayed by Chinen.

“The main character, Joni, who realizes that Alzheimer’s runs in her family, knows that Alzheimer’s runs in her family and is worried that she might also be afflicted with it,” Aoki said.

Mission to preserve stories inspired by real-life experience

Aoki said the play includes moments of humor and laughter alongside the realities of Alzheimer’s and its impacts.

She said Joni is focused on preserving stories from her mother as she notices memory loss.

“She has a kind of like a mission to preserve the stories from her mother,” Aoki explained, “so the memory beads is the collection of stories, as many stories that she can get from her mother.”

Aoki said her inspiration was drawn from personal experiences about 10 years ago, when she was dealing with her mother’s aging issues.

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“I had the similar kind of issue that I was dealing with with my mother, which she was losing her hearing,” Aoki said. “Basically it had to do with because I was dealing with my mother’s aging issues.”

Passing down family history and culture

The play also follows Joni’s effort to share with her daughter the importance of her family’s immigration from Okinawa and other aspects of culture and family, Aoki said.

“This is a story to be shared. I hope that it will inspire others to, you know, to not hold back on getting the stories from their friends and families,” Aoki said.

Liza Sanchez co-directed the play with Julia Gilman. Sanchez said working with the cast while taking on a serious subject was rewarding.

“Just working with all the cast and also, you know, being able to deal with, you know, such a range in subject matter. This really is a show that I think could touch anybody,” Sanchez said.

Other cast members include Camden Colipano, Gabriella Gualano, Joy Turbeville, Kirstyn Trombetta, Kristen Misaki, Matthew Nakamura, Pauli Amornkul, and Stu Hirayama.

“Memory Beads” runs through June 28 at Kumu Kahua Theatre in downtown Honolulu. More information is available at www.kumukahua.org.

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