A Timeless Princess Waikiki
Cast & Creative Team
A Timeless Princess is Waikiki’s most ambitious original musical — and the talent behind it reflects that ambition at every level. From a Juilliard-trained composer to a SAG-AFTRA award-winning director, the creative team driving A Timeless Princess in Waikiki is among the most accomplished in Hawaiian theater history.
The Creative Team
A Timeless Princess Waikiki
Denny H. Miyasato
Show Creator
An entrepreneur, songwriter, and playwright who firmly embraces the belief that the art of songwriting is an organic process nurtured by the myriad experiences one encounters throughout one's lifetime. From an early age, he found himself captivated by Princess Ka'iulani's beauty yet was unaware of the profound depth of her intellect and unwavering courage.
In 2005, after immersing himself in a book about the life of Lili'uokalani, fragments of a captivating narrative began to materialize in his imagination. The year that followed marked the birth of the first words of this enchanted tale. Over the subsequent years, the script, music, and overarching themes of the musical gracefully evolved, culminating in the grand debut of A Timeless Princess at the illustrious Mamiya Theatre on July 11, 2019.
Read More about the Author
Michael Ng
Director
Michael Ng is an award-winning actor and director who holds a B.A. in theatre from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. A proud member of SAG-AFTRA, his work spans stage, film, and television, with professional credits across Hawaiʻi, the continental United States, and internationally. As a director, he has helmed a wide range of productions, from large-scale, crowd-pleasing musicals to bold original works, collaborating with organizations such as Diamond Head Theatre, Mānoa Valley Theatre, Edgewater Productions, Punahou Theatre, and the Kaimukī High School Performing Arts Center.
A filmmaker as well, Michael wrote, produced, and directed Peace by Piece, which premiered at the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival in 2013. Whether as a performer, behind the scenes, or behind the camera, he is passionate about creating stories that connect people, spark imagination, and celebrate the magic of live performance.
Woody Pak
Composer
A composer, educator, and creative technologist, his work bridges cultures and media. Born in Hawaiʻi and rooted in his Korean American heritage, he brings a global perspective to storytelling. His film scores include Planet B-boy, The Grace Lee Project, Waikiki (BMI Award-winning), Seoul Searching, and Girls on the Wall.
In musical theater, his long collaboration with Tony Award winner Brian Yorkey produced The Wedding Banquet and Making Tracks, while his Korean-language works such as The Devil, Equal, and Blue Helmet have headlined major venues across Asia. He has also composed for brands including Google, Disney, Hyundai, and Honda and collaborates on immersive projects with artists such as Bosul Kim.
A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Juilliard School, he teaches screen scoring at Berklee College of Music and composition at Longy School of Music of Bard College.
EXPLORE THE MUSIC
Blaine Kamalani Kia (Kumu Hula)
Cultural Advisor
Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, with an educational background in music, business, and Hawaiian culture, Kumu Kia owns and operates a Hawaiian consulting and entertainment company known as Kia Enterprises LLC, and he also founded the nonprofit organization Kahu Kea Foundation. His credentials span more than thirty-five years in the industry.
Kumu Kia is a practicing kahu (Hawaiian spiritual leader) and fulfills his responsibility by performing Hawaiian blessings and cultural protocols widely recognized by both private and public organizations. An accomplished Kumu Hula, Kia oversees multiple hālau hula organizations across five countries. He is also an accomplished screen actor, with several major motion pictures and television series to his credit.
Karen Hironaga
General Manager
Karen Kuioka Hironaga has been an active member of Hawaiʻi’s theater community for more than 30 years. A local actress, she has performed with Kumu Kahua Theatre, Diamond Head Theatre, and Manoa Valley Theatre. She has appeared in numerous plays by Lee Cataluna at Kumu Kahua Theatre, helping bring many local stories to the stage.
Karen was thrilled to appear in the Academy Award-winning film,The Descendants, directed by Alexander Payne, performing opposite George Clooney. In addition to acting, Karen and her husband, Denny Hironaga, co-directed The Beer Can Hatat by Darrell H.Y. Lum at Kumu Kahua Theatre, which earned seven Poʻokela Awards.
In 2025, Karen was cast in Ryan Okinaka's The Golden Gays, directed by Denny Hironaga. The production was a tremendous success, selling out nightly during its five-week run. Beyond the stage, Karen enjoys creating art, ceramics, sewing, and handmade jewelry. She cherishes time spent with her husband and their nine beloved pets. A devoted animal lover, Karen enjoys the companionship and joy that animals bring to everyday life.
As General Manager for A Timeless Princess, Karen brings decades of theatrical experience, artistic passion, and a deep commitment to supporting Hawaiʻi’s performing arts community.
Nahale Brash
Choreographer / Dancer / Performer
Nahale Apiki Brash is a young kānaka performer, creative, and artivist (artistic activist) originally from Waiʻanae, Hawaiʻi. You may have seen his work in past productions at Punahou School, including Hadestown and Lion King Jr. His choreography journey in the Hawaiʻi theater industry started with Lisa Matsumoto’s Happily Eva Afta with Mānoa Valley Theatre (MVT). The last time audiences may have seen him on stage was during the beginning of Lisa’s Trilogy with MVT in 2021–2022 or in exhibitions with his dance crew YTP (Yes to Purpose).
He is deeply passionate about dance foundations, which serve as the core of his values as both an educator and performer. He is trained in classical techniques including ballet and contemporary, as well as street styles such as hip hop, break, waacking, and voguing, along with hula training through Hālau Hula ʻO Kekela in Lāʻie. Nahale has worked professionally as a dancer and actor in the entertainment industry for eight years.
He studied at a private performing arts college and graduated with a BFA in Commercial Dance, later working in Los Angeles for five years. Living on the continent inspired him to further perpetuate his culture, especially as the only kānaka maoli / islander in his school. Through PSA videos, concept films, essays, and presentations, he used every opportunity to educate others about Hawaiʻi and the impacts of tourism and cultural displacement.
Nahale has always used his understanding of culture and performance to tell stories that are often unheard. He hopes to continue being a voice for his people while helping tell this new story of hope. “The stories of our ancestors are not simply tales of the past; they are a guide for the present and a roadmap for the future.” — From A Native Daughter, Haunani K. Trask.
James Corry
Costume Designer
James Corry is an accomplished theatre designer with an extensive background in costume and scenic design for stage and film. He earned his MFA in Theatre Design from New York University on a full scholarship and graduate assistantship and became a member of the United Scenic Artists union upon graduation, working both on and off Broadway as well as in feature films and documentaries.
His professional credits include assistant costume design work on A Matter of Gravity starring Katharine Hepburn and Christopher Reeve, Over Here featuring John Travolta, and the Twentieth Century Fox production Independence directed by John Huston.
In Hawaiʻi, James is known for his award-winning work with Manoa Valley Theatre, including The Legend of Georgia McBride and Lisa Matsumoto’s Happily Eva Afta. He also designed the period costumes and set for A Timeless Princess.
Robert Massicotte
Scenography Designer
Robert Massicotte is a multidisciplinary artist specializing in scenography, art direction, and immersive video content design. He is recognized as one of the original creators of Ulalena in Maui, the landmark theatrical production that captivated audiences for nearly two decades and established his reputation for crafting visually rich and emotionally resonant stage environments.
Throughout his career, Robert has collaborated with internationally acclaimed companies including Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Éloize, and The 7 Fingers. For the past eight years, he has also led the creative development of sets, video content, and props for Circo Jumbo.
His work combines large-scale scenic design, digital illustration, projection mapping, and emerging technologies such as 3D modeling and Artificial Intelligence to create immersive narrative experiences. Known for blending technical precision with artistic vision, Robert transforms performance spaces into cinematic worlds that elevate storytelling and audience engagement across resident productions and international tours.
The Performers of This Waikiki Musical
The cast of A Timeless Princess in Waikiki brings powerful vocals, expressive movement, and authentic emotional depth to every performance. After each show, the cast meets the audience for a personal meet and greet — one of the most memorable parts of any evening at this Waikiki musical, and one of the most human.
Ku’ulei Kekoa
Princess Ka'iulani
An entrepreneur, songwriter, and playwright who firmly embraces the belief that the art of songwriting is an organic process nurtured by the myriad experiences one encounters throughout one's lifetime. From an early age, he found himself captivated by Princess Ka'iulani's beauty yet was unaware of the profound depth of her intellect and unwavering courage.
In 2005, after immersing himself in a book about the life of Lili'uokalani, fragments of a captivating narrative began to materialize in his imagination. The year that followed marked the birth of the first words of this enchanted tale. Over the subsequent years, the script, music, and overarching themes of the musical gracefully evolved, culminating in the grand debut of A Timeless Princess at the illustrious Mamiya Theatre on July 11, 2019.
Angela Escontrias
Queen Liliʻuokalani
Angela Escontrias is known throughout Hawaiʻi as one of the beloved voices of the acclaimed
Hawaiian music trio Na Leo Pilimehana. A gifted entertainer, she has shared her talents as a
singer, solo performer, actor, and creative artist for decades.
Born and raised on Oʻahu, Angela is a proud graduate of the Kamehameha Schools. She has
been a cast member at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa since the resort's opening, helping to
create and perform entertainment that celebrates Hawaiian culture, music, language, and the
spirit of aloha.
Throughout her career, Angela has touched audiences across Hawaiʻi with her warmth,
authenticity, and remarkable vocal talent. Beyond the stage, she treasures time with her ʻohana
and embraces her role as a proud tutu. Angela looks forward to this exciting new venture and
the opportunity to continue sharing her passion for entertainment, storytelling, and Hawaiʻi's rich
cultural heritage.
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Experience A Timeless Princess in Waikiki
A Timeless Princess performs Friday through Monday at Royal Hawaiian Center.