Five locally-produced films will receive a total of $100,000 in funding from the Hawaii Tourism Authority through HTA’s Cultural Films Initiative. HTA’s Cultural Films Initiative, in conjunction with the Hawaii Film Office of the Department of Business Economic Development and
Five locally-produced films will receive a total of $100,000 in funding from the Hawaii Tourism Authority through HTA’s Cultural Films Initiative.
HTA’s Cultural Films Initiative, in conjunction with the Hawaii Film Office of the Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), was established as a pilot project to grow and support the synergy between the tourism and film industries in Hawaii.
The purpose of the initiative is to support cultural film projects that preserve, perpetuate and promote Hawaii’s multi-ethnic culture, with preference given to the projects related to the native Hawaiian culture.
The five award recipients are:
Makali’i: Voyage of Vision, produced by Keith Nealy Productions, focuses on the voyaging canoe Makali’i built by Capt. Clayton Bertelmann. The transformation of youth through the Makali’i experience is at the heart of this film as it shows youth reconnecting to the values of the ancient voyagers to build pride and self-esteem. The film producers collaborated with Herb Kawainue Kane to use his artwork in the historical segment of the production.
True Love and Mimosa Tea, produced by Tradewind Productions, is an entertaining tale about a kahuna who brews a mystical, spiritual potion to bring two reluctant lovers together. The film features actors Tamlyn Tomita, Greg Watanabe, Cary Tagawa and Elizabeth Lindsay.
The Hawaiian Legacy Series, LAHAINA: Changing Times, is a 60-minute documentary produced by Eddie and Myrna Kamae. Directed by Eddie Kamae, the film documents the songs and stories of the Hawaiians and other ethnic groups and through their language, stories and songs they share the Lahaina story. The documentary captures the spirit of this multi-ethnic community pointing towards its future while exploring its colorful past.
Fishbowl is a half-hour program produced for Hawaii Community Television by director/producer Kayo Hatta. Based on selected stories from local writer Lois-Ann Yamanaka’s critically acclaimed first novel, Wild Meat and the Bully Burgers, the film will bring to life a local story of adolescent angst with refreshing honesty and toughness, mixed with humor and lyrical moments of magical transformation.
Ho‘olina, produced by No Ka ‘Oi Entertainment, is a feature-length documentary showcasing the Maui International Festival of Canoes, which takes place in Lahaina and is considered one of Maui’s signature cultural events. The viewer will experience extraordinary and meaningful stories of the festivalís participants and the importance of perpetuating traditional Polynesian arts such as canoe carving.
“We know that high-quality, locally-produced television and film products generate tremendous exposure for Hawaii,” said Rex Johnson, HTA president and chief executive officer. “So one of the programís major goals was to support cultural film products that support the state’s tourism marketing objectives and showcase Hawaii’s unique culture, history and customs.”
“Supporting local filmmakers is so important in the Administrationís effort to build Hawaiiís film industry and expand and diversify the state’s economy,” says Donne Dawson, state film commissioner who manages DBEDT’s Hawaii Film Office. “HTA’s involvement has really opened a door for us. Hopefully with the success of this pilot program there will be future opportunities for us to work together and do more to nurture and develop Hawaiiís homegrown talent.”
The Hawaii Tourism Authority was created in 1998 to ensure a successful visitor industry well into the future. Its mission is to manage the strategic growth of Hawaii’s visitor industry in a manner consistent with its economic goal, cultural values, preservation of natural resources and community interests. For more information on HTA and its programs, vwww.hawaii.gov/tourism.
