The 42 Annual Waimea Town Celebration presented the Hawaiian International Film Festival Hana Hou (encore or again), from 9:15 am to 8 pm, on President's Day February 18 at the Waimea Town Theater where six films were featured.
The first film to take the screen was 'Kīpuka' which stands for an "an oasis in a lava field." 'Kīpuka' is an anti-bullying project that addresses bullying, cyberbullying, and teen suicide prevention. This story was written and performed by students from T-Shirt Theater, a company based at Farrington High School. Jeremiah Tayao directed this documentary to tell the stories of personal life experiences from victims of bullying.
'Maui's Hook,' an important and vital film to HIFF, reveals heartbreaking stories of five families who lost a loved one to suicide. Paora Joseph's purpose of this film is to make people of New Zealand aware that more than 600 people kill themselves each year. By previewing this film, it definitely makes viewers think about ways individuals, whānau (family), and others in general can work to fix or face suicidal issues by talking about it as well as removing any shame or as New Zealanders say whakamā.
Another film to take the screen was 'Moananuiākea: One Ocean, One People, One Canoe' which celebrates the historic worldwide voyage of the Hōkūle'a. Hōkūle'a represents the resurgence of people, their culture and decolonization of mind, body, and spirit. This documentary illustrates the role of indigenous people, their voices and perspectives in storytelling. This film also plays an important role in continuing to inspire a new generation of navigators and voyagers to gather courage to sail the Pacific.
Justin Young's film, 'My Hero's Shadow' frames business owner Shane Stant's story through the eyes of his sister Maile Stant. After 25 years, Stant shares his story behind his infamous attack on Tonya Harding. As much as this film covers the "the whack heard around the world," and negative views that the world had on Stant, his sister confronts his violent abusive past. Although the world pitted him as the hitman, Maile learns to accept Stant's dark past as her brother and reveal to the world why he's her hero regardless of his dark shadows. This redemption story involving forgiveness and change, is definitely an uplifting one that deserves an A plus rating.
'August at Akikos' is a film that portrays a visual representation of a man who returns home after many years to discover and connect with the spirit that lies within him. Director Christopher Makoto Yogi not only sets an intervention of this journey but sends the character on a quest for healing love, make sense of loss and life transitions and a call finding oneself. It sends inspiration
The last film to close out the Waimea Film Festival, 'Stoke' is different in terms of introducing a more modern outlook on Hawaii and the natives. Although this film tells of three lost people trying to figure out the next step to take in their lives, which is relatable to real life choices and experiences that we all face today, the part of masked ravers is not appealing and takes away from the film. With the masked rave characters, it looks like a wannabe, less provocative scene straight out of 'American Horror Story's: Roanoke' season.
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