News And Events

All The World's a Stage for Home Schooled Teen

Honolulu, February 20, 2016 – Ari Dalbert, a student of Eden Lee Murray, won the Hawaii segment of the 2016 English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition.  Erica Ito, a student of Paul Palmore at Punahou School, took second place. Chandler Bridgman, a student of Robert St. John at Le Jardin Academy, was awarded third place. Ari had already won the school level Shakespeare competition among home-schooled students coordinated by Eden Lee Murray in Honolulu.  The ESU Branch competition was held on February 20, 2016 at the Luke Auditorium in Punahou School's Wo International Center in Honolulu, and 20 school winners from the ESU Hawaii area participated, including one student from Maui, one from Kauai, and three from Hawaii Island. All participants were awarded single volume editions of the complete works of Shakespeare and complimentary tickets to upcoming performances in the Hawaii Shakespeare Festival season and the spring production of the Hawaii Theatre Young Actors Ensemble. In addition to monetary awards, the top three finishers each received six free tickets to Hawaii Shakespeare Festival's summer season and DVDs of Kenneth Branagh's Henry V. Ari impressed the judges and captivated the audience with his performance of Edmond from King Lear and his recitation of Sonnet 116.  He will go on to represent the ESU Hawaii area as a semi-finalist at the national competition to be held on Monday, May 2, 2016 at Lincoln Center in New York City. Ari also won the Hawaii competition in 2014 and placed among the top ten finalists at Lincoln Center that year.

 

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Kapi‘olani Community College to Host Shakespeare’s First Folio Exhibition in 2016

(Honolulu, HI)— Kapi'olani Community College has been selected as the host site for the state of Hawai'i for First Folio! The Book that Gave Us Shakespeare, a national traveling exhibition of the Shakespeare First Folio, one of the world's most treasured books. The Folger Shakespeare Library, in partnership with Cincinnati Museum Center and the American Library Association, is touring a First Folio of Shakespeare in 2016 to all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.

 

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All the World's a Stage for Teen from Mid-Pacific Institute

Honolulu, February 21, 2015 – Sarah Spalding from Mid-Pacific Institute, a student of John Wat, won the Hawaii segment of the 2015 English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition.  Alisa Boland, a student of Rob Duval at Iolani School, took second place. Nicholas Howe, a student of Julia LoPresti at Mililani High School, was awarded third place. Sarah had already won the school level Shakespeare competition coordinated by Mid-Pacific Institute in Honolulu.  The ESU Branch competition was held on February 21, 2015 at the Luke Auditorium in Punahou School's Wo International Center in Honolulu, and 16 school winners from the ESU Hawaii area participated, including one student from Maui and three from Hawaii Island. All participants were awarded single volume editions of the complete works of Shakespeare and complimentary tickets to upcoming performances in the Hawaii Shakespeare Festival season and the spring production of the Hawaii Theatre Young Actors Ensemble. In addition to monetary awards, the top three finishers each received six free tickets to Hawaii Shakespeare Festival's summer season. Sarah impressed the judges and captivated the audience with her performance of Rosalind from As You Like It and her recitation of Sonnet 151.  She will go on to represent the ESU Hawaii area as a semi-finalist at the national competition to be held on Monday, April 27, 2015 at Lincoln Center in New York City.

 

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ESUUS Annual Conference

ESUUS Annual Conference
October 17-19, 2014
Newport, Rhode Island

In October 2014, about 140 ESU members from many branches met in Newport to experience this spectacular historic coastal city.  Activities and private tours showcased Newport from the colonial period through the gilded age.  The Conference, which was preceded by the Branch Presidents' Conclave, comprised ESU Regional Meetings, the ESU Annual General Meeting with substantive presentations on the ESU's national educational programs, the activities of Branches and constituency building and development.  The conference included the following:

 

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American Delegate to the International Public Speaking Competition Shares Her Experience from the Competition

Katharine Clifton, Hawaii native and winner of the 2009 Hawaii Branch Shakespeare Competition, represented the United States in the International Public Speaking Competition held in London during the summer of 2012.  Read about her experience below.

Exploring a new place, whether it be a nearby town or a foreign country, is simply fun. It is engaging and exciting, everything feels like a new adventure. Now if you take this natural high of traveling and add 54 intelligent, charismatic, and curious young adults from completely different backgrounds, there are even more adventures to be had, stories to be told, and ideas to be shared.

 

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The English-Speaking Union

Hawaii Branch

Hawaii Branch Landmark Photo

Welcome to the ESU

The ESU celebrates English as a shared language to foster global understanding and good will by providing educational and cultural opportunities for students, educators, and members.

To find out more about our programs click here.