Lisa Matsumoto
Encyclopedia
Lisa Matsumoto 1964 - December 14, 2007) was a playwright and children's author in Hawaii
. Her use of Hawaiian Pidgin
in her works propelled her to her status as one of the state's most popular resident playwrights.
in the late 1980s, taking Western fairy tale
s and rewriting them in Pidgin, while also changing their plots in unexpected ways. Her first play, "Bye Bye Hanabata Days", was written as a class assignment; her next play, "Once Upon One Time", began a series of pidgin fairy tale plays which would include sequels "Once Upon One Noddah Time" and "Unce Upon One Kapakahi Time", as well as "Happily Eva Afta" and "On Dragonfly Wings". In 1995, she founded ‘Ōhi‘a Productions, a company which still produces some of her shows; she and her cousin Michael Furuya jointly chose the name, which refers to the plant Metrosideros polymorpha
, known locally as "ʻōhiʻa lehua". However, she began to move beyond her standard formula with "The Princess and the Iso Peanut", first performed at the Diamond Head Theatre
in July 1999. "The Princess and the Iso Peanut", based on the Hans Christian Andersen
fairy tale "The Princess and the Pea
", was her first not to include some of her stock characters such as Da Mean Mongoose, which she had previously used to generate "simple ethnic comedy". She received numerous awards for her work, including four Po’okela Awards from the Hawai'i State Theatre Council, and a fellowship from the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts
.
at about 3:32 AM on 14 December on Interstate H-1
the wrong way on the Waianae-bound side of the highway when she collided head-on with a black 1998 Toyota Corolla
travelling in the correct direction. The driver Matsumoto hit, Cassie Olaivar, did survive with multiple injuries, requiring hospitalization and surgery. (Another driver, a 21-year-old male, crashed his car as a result of avoiding a head-on collision with Matsumoto, moments prior to Matsumoto hitting Olaivar.) Matsumoto was taken to The Queen's Medical Center
, where she was later declared dead; her autopsy found that she had been intoxicated at the time of the crash. The Medical Examiner's Office reported that at the time of the accident, Matsumoto had a blood alcohol content
of .242, which is more than three times the legal limit of .08. Her relatives stated through a family friend that her funeral would be held in 2008.
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. Her use of Hawaiian Pidgin
Hawaiian Pidgin
Hawaii Pidgin English, Hawaii Creole English, HCE, or simply Pidgin, is a creole language based in part on English used by many "local" residents of Hawaii. Although English and Hawaiian are the co-official languages of the state of Hawaii, Pidgin is used by many Hawaii residents in everyday...
in her works propelled her to her status as one of the state's most popular resident playwrights.
Career
Matsumoto began writing plays while studying drama and theater at the University of HawaiiUniversity of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
in the late 1980s, taking Western fairy tale
Fairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
s and rewriting them in Pidgin, while also changing their plots in unexpected ways. Her first play, "Bye Bye Hanabata Days", was written as a class assignment; her next play, "Once Upon One Time", began a series of pidgin fairy tale plays which would include sequels "Once Upon One Noddah Time" and "Unce Upon One Kapakahi Time", as well as "Happily Eva Afta" and "On Dragonfly Wings". In 1995, she founded ‘Ōhi‘a Productions, a company which still produces some of her shows; she and her cousin Michael Furuya jointly chose the name, which refers to the plant Metrosideros polymorpha
Metrosideros polymorpha
The ōhia lehua is a species of flowering evergreen tree in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that is endemic to the six largest islands of Hawaii. It is a highly variable tree, being tall in favorable situations, and much smaller when growing in boggy soils or on basalt...
, known locally as "ʻōhiʻa lehua". However, she began to move beyond her standard formula with "The Princess and the Iso Peanut", first performed at the Diamond Head Theatre
Diamond Head Theatre
The Diamond Head Theatre is a cultural institution in the United States. Calling itself the Broadway of the Pacific, it is located on the slopes of Diamond Head in Honolulu, Hawaii. Opened in 1915, it is Hawaii's oldest performing arts center.-History:...
in July 1999. "The Princess and the Iso Peanut", based on the Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
fairy tale "The Princess and the Pea
The Princess and the Pea
"The Princess and the Pea" is a literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen about a young woman whose royal identity is established by a test of her physical sensitivity. The tale was first published with three others by Andersen in an inexpensive booklet on 8 May 1835 in Copenhagen by C.A...
", was her first not to include some of her stock characters such as Da Mean Mongoose, which she had previously used to generate "simple ethnic comedy". She received numerous awards for her work, including four Po’okela Awards from the Hawai'i State Theatre Council, and a fellowship from the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts
Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts
The Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts was established by the Hawaii State Legislature in 1965 to “promote, perpetuate, preserve, and encourage culture and the arts, history and the humanities as central to the quality of life of the people of Hawaii”...
.
Death
Matsumoto was driving her green 1997 Toyota CamryToyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a series of mid-size automobiles manufactured by Toyota since 1982, and sold in the majority of automotive markets throughout the world...
at about 3:32 AM on 14 December on Interstate H-1
Interstate H-1
Interstate H-1 is the busiest Interstate Highway in Hawaii, United States, located on the island of O‘ahu. Despite the number, this is an east–west highway—the 'H'-series numbering reflects the order in which routes were funded and built. H-1 goes from Route 93 in Kapolei to Route 72 in...
the wrong way on the Waianae-bound side of the highway when she collided head-on with a black 1998 Toyota Corolla
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is a line of subcompact and compact cars manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. In 1997, the Corolla became the best selling nameplate in the world, with over 35 million...
travelling in the correct direction. The driver Matsumoto hit, Cassie Olaivar, did survive with multiple injuries, requiring hospitalization and surgery. (Another driver, a 21-year-old male, crashed his car as a result of avoiding a head-on collision with Matsumoto, moments prior to Matsumoto hitting Olaivar.) Matsumoto was taken to The Queen's Medical Center
The Queen's Medical Center
The Queen's Medical Center, originally called Queen's Hospital is an acute private non-profit hospital in downtown Honolulu founded in 1859 by Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV.-Description:...
, where she was later declared dead; her autopsy found that she had been intoxicated at the time of the crash. The Medical Examiner's Office reported that at the time of the accident, Matsumoto had a blood alcohol content
Blood alcohol content
Blood alcohol content , also called blood alcohol concentration, blood ethanol concentration, or blood alcohol level is most commonly used as a metric of alcohol intoxication for legal or medical purposes....
of .242, which is more than three times the legal limit of .08. Her relatives stated through a family friend that her funeral would be held in 2008.