Mahalo nui to Clyde Namuo at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for some much needed support and to Bernadette and Chanetelle for taking care of the administrative process.

Aloha and mahalo to Kev and Ev at the Forward Foundation for facilitating the OHA grant.

Also, mahalo nui to Kimberly Hancock and her ohana for the kind support from Silicon Valley Community Foundation.  That fabulous grant was facilitated by the San Francisco Film Society.  Mahalo to Michele at SFFS.

Mahalo nui to Kamakana Aquino and the folks who put together the Blanche Pope Waimanalo screening. I met an Aunty there I have not seen since I as 12… my grandfather’s niece… what a pleasure.  And the talk-story after the film was more proof of our pule for Ea.

And mahalo nui loa to Lei and the entire Laimana Ohana– Lei ma have twice now arranged screenings for windward folks, and Kaneohe is a place I called home for many years and is still home to much of my ohana.  And Thursday’s screening was extra special because Dean Saranilliio and Sharon Heijin Lee were seeing “Noho Hewa” for the first time along with other folks that night.  And, well, these two souls were among a small number of people who made sure this film got to be more than a work in progress.

Continue reading December update

Last Thursday, “Noho Hewa” screened 3 times at Maui Community College.  Liko A’e Native Hawaiian Scholarship Program, Ho?okahua Project and Hawaiian Studies sponsored my trip there.  On the following day, a talk-story with Kaleikoa Ka’eo, myself and about 15 other people took place and was taped for their public access channel.  Mahalo nui to the hundreds of people who attended those events and Kaleikoa, Kahele Dukelow, Malia Davidson and everyone who helped with organizing.  I especially want to mahalo the kupuna for coming out and the individuals who shared their mana’o and moolelo.  It was truly inspiring.

And last night, Sunday, “Noho Hewa” screened at the Nanakuli Intermediate/High School cafeteria.  There were over 200 people in attendance and plenty folks stayed for the talk story after, which was, in part, focused on informing people about what the state of Hawaii is attempting to do (via a writ) at the U.S. Supreme Court right now.  There is a demonstration today, 11:30am  at the state Capitol and there will be others in the upcoming weeks.  Mahalo to Lucy Gay, Walterbea Aldeguer, Uncle Black and everyone who organzied this event.  And mahalo nui to the Malama Makua folks for the beautiful oli and lei, and to William Aila for keeping the talk-story grounded in Waianae, but connected to all of Hawaii Nei.

This is one last chance for UH students, faculty and community to see “Noho Hewa.” The film will be shown at the UH Manoa Art auditorium.

When: November 5, 2008 at 3:30pm
Where: University of Hawai’i Art Auditorium, 2500 Campus Road, Honolulu, HI
Price: free

Mahalo nui loa to sponsors of the Oct 29th screening at UH Manoa: Hawaiinuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, Hawaiinuiakea Native Hawaiian Students Services Kauhale, Kaulele, Kokua A Puni: Native Hawaiian Strengthening Institutions Program, Hui Aloha Aina Tuahine, the University of Hawaii Richardson School of Law, the Office of Faculty Development and Academic Support, and the Center for Instructional Support.

And a speical mahalo to Hui Aloha Aina Tuahine students for their beautiful and moving mele (three times!), Lia O’Neill Keawe, and to Dean Maenette Benham… for them to malama the film and its maker as they did is truly appreciated.

Keala

Mahalo nui to the students at UH Hilo who attended the screenings and talked story afterwards.  I also want to say mahalo nui to the UH Hilo Hawaiian Club, the History Department and Kerri Inglis, and to Kalani ma at Kipuka.  They collectively and kindly sponsored my journey there and honored me with lei, awa, chanting and makana (a lovely umeke made by Lopaka.).

The November 6th screening on Maui may be moved to another date, so check back if you are interested in that screening or the screenings being set up now for Waianae, and the UH and LCC campuses.  I am hoping to get as many Hawaiians as possible to see this film before the end of the year.

Keala

NOHO HEWA: The Wrongful Occupation of Hawai’i

A documentary about the militarization of Hawai’i, desecration and forced removal of Hawaiian people received the Hawaii International Film Festival’s highest award in the documentary film category, The Halekulani Golden Orchid Award For Best Documentary!

I am shocked and pleased and very, very grateful, and I accepted it on behalf of ALL OF US, especially the people in the film and others who are on the front lines of all of these issues working to take back our homeland.

There are still two more screenings and I am hoping people will come out.  Not sure yet how the ticketing will work, but the festival will be showing it for free on Friday, Oct 17th at 3:30 pm and Sunday, Oct 19th at 6:45 pm.  HIFF is doing this to make up for the trouble with the limited capacity theater the film found itself in on Monday.  Let’s take ‘em  up on it and talk story about this story.

Hopefully by tomorrow we will know if people can get those free tickets online or if they have to show up first.

Please tell people to come out.  It’s important to see Hawaiians in Hawaiian world on the big screen when possible and the subject matter is immediate and dire.  I can’t believe this little movie won the award, but it still needs all of us to show up, if possible, and take the opportunity to talk story about what’s happening here.

Keala