Before and after of an older rapier sword
Hawaiʻi’s warm tropical climate can make the islands an ideal place to live, work and play. However, it can take a toll on some of the important equipment for the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Department of Theatre and Dance.
Steel is an essential component of quality stage combat weaponry, and Hawaiʻi’s climate can wreak havoc on the material. In February 2021, following appropriate COVID-19 safety protocols, students worked outside of Kennedy Theatre to mitigate the ravaging of rust to protect and preserve the inventory of stage combat weapons used by the department for in-class training and on-stage performances.