Kahilu Theatre is rolling out the big screen for a film series aimed at connecting people, Hawaiian culture and each other through cultural learning, film and talk-story sessions.
Kahilu Theatre is rolling out the big screen for a film series aimed at connecting people, Hawaiian culture and each other through cultural learning, film and talk-story sessions.
The Kukulu Ola Hawaiian Filmmakers Series includes seven films, plus talk-story with the filmmaker(s) after the screening, and six afternoon cultural workshops. The series was created to give a voice to traditional and contemporary Hawaiian culture and is curated by filmmaker, artist, and educator Meleanna Aluli Meyer.
The series begins with film “Ho‘oku‘ikahi: To Unify As One” by Meyer on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 6:30 p.m., plus Q&A/talk-story with the filmmaker after the screening. This compelling one-hour documentary captures powerful moments in Hawaiian history — past and present. It chronicles the internecine warring between Hawai’i Island districts of Ka‘u and Kohala and the fulfilling of a prophecy that led Kamehameha the First to build Pu‘ukohola heiau, a temple of state to unify the Hawaiian islands. Meyer will lead a workshop at Pu‘ukohola National Historic Site in Kawaihae, on mo‘olelo, Hawaiian story telling, from 3-4:30 p.m., on the afternoon of the film screening.
Other highlights of the series include “The Haumana” on Oct. 8, an independent feature film about protagonist Jonny Kealoha, a struggling Waikiki Polynesian luau show host, rediscovering the sanctity of his culture through hula.
Then on Oct. 12, Ka Hana Kapa documents an unprecedented collaboration between a hui of contemporary Hawaiian kapa makers and the world-renowned Halau o Kekuhi from Hawaii Island.
On Oct. 22 at 3 p.m., Jerry Konanui, who works to save the many varieties of kalo (taro), will conduct a workshop about kalo at Mala‘ai Garden in Waimea, prior to the evening screening of “Malama Haloa: Protecting the Taro.”
Admission is $10 per workshop and $5 for any of the 6:30 p.m. screenings at Kahilu Theatre. For more details on the schedule, visit www.kahilutheatre.org.