Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 10, 1 October 2004 — Edgy Lee premieres newest documentary, "The Hawaiians" [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Edgy Lee premieres newest documentary, "The Hawaiians"

Shot with passion and high-definition video, the OHA-funded film traces the cultural history of the Hawaiian people

By Derek Ferrar The spiritual origins, cultural history and present-day struggles of the Hawaiian people are spotlighted in the newest documentary by noted Hawai'i filmmaker Edgy Lee. Lee premiered "The Hawaiians - Reflecting Spirit" in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 24 as part of the events surrounding the landmark opening of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. (See story on page 1.) At a preview in Honolulu, Lee said her hope in making the film was to bring deeper awareness of the "great and beautiful" Hawaiian culture to a national puhlie whose image of Hawaiians often remains shaped by Hollywood "hula-hula" stereotypes. Narrated in the rich voice of Hawaiian scholar and Alu Like Chairperson Winona Rubin (who also serves as an aide to OHA Chairperson Haunani Apoliona), the film traces Hawaiian cultural history from the mythical union of Papa and Wākea

to the struggles of present-day cultural V .<• practitioners to preserve their heritage in T the modern world. Shot in state-of-the- p art high-definition ī video, the documentary \ features an artistic, emotional treatment

along with stunning \— visuals of Hawai'i's unique natural environment. Hawaiian elders and cultural practitioners interviewed in the film range from celestial navigator Nainoa Thompson and U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka to herbal healer Alapa'i Kahuena and traditional salt-maker Wilma Holi. Among others featured are Hawaiian language expert Puakea Nogelmeier, musician and kumu hula Keali'i Reichel, farmer John Kaina and elders from the island of Ni'ihau. Lee acknowledged that the hour-long film "barely scratches the surface" of the Hawaiian

1 Left: "The Hawaiians" \ Director of Photography ■ Ruben Carillo captures lō'au lapa'au (herbal ^ 1 healing) practitioner W Alapa'i Kahuena in /j action. Above: The 09 high-definition video crew sets up for a ■ dolly shot on ■ KIIauea's active ■ lava flow. people's story, and said

she hopes it might someday help spark backing for a more comprehensive, multipart series. "Hopefully, someone will eventually see that this story deserves as mueh time as the history of jazz or baseball," she said. "I just hope that whoever makes it will be someone from Hawai'i." Lee said "The Hawaiians" will show on Hawai'i television early next year and will be pitched to networks like PBS and National Geographic for national broadcast. In addition, See HAWAIIANS on page 27

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she said, it will be distributed to film festivals, museum theaters and educational venues nationwide, and is also expected to play regularly in more than 20,000 hotel rooms in Hawai'i through Network Media, one of the film's sponsors. Major funding for the film was provided by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. OHA Trustee Boyd Mossman said after a preview screening that the film "sends a powerful message to the world about the Hawaiians' special spirit." Mossman said OHA funded the film "to present to the people of the world a more accurate image of who we are as Hawaiians, that we are a unique people with a culture and history that is not what many people in the world think it is." "The Hawaiians" is the seventh documentary produced in and about Hawai'i by artist-turned-film-maker Lee, whose family has been in the islands for five generations. Her previous documentaries have covered such topics as the traditions of the Hawaiian paniolo (cowboy), the construction of Waikīkī and the history of Papakōlea homestead. Last year, her powerful expose on the human cost of Hawai'i's crystal meth epidemic sparked unprecedented media exposure and community dialogue when it was broadcast simultaneously on 11 television and seven radio stations. A sequel is expected to air on Dec. 7. Lee said that everyone who worked on "The Hawaiians" did so despite having "very little time and money" because they recognized the importance of the film's message and the unique opportunity of premiering it during the opening celebration for the American Indian museum, whieh brought together native representatives from throughout the hemisphere. Lee is still seeking backers to help finance the film's final production and distribution costs. For information, contact the Pacific Arts Foundation at 808-585-9005. ■