MEDIA RELEASE

This fall, 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.

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 Hookuikahi: To Unify As One by Meleanna 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 Hawaii Island districts of Ka‘u and Kohala and the fulfilling of a prophecy that led Kamehameha the First to build Puukohola heiau, a temple of state to unify the Hawaiian islands.

Meleanna will lead a workshop at Puukohola National Historic Site, in Kawaihae, on moolelo, 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 Hālau 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 Malaai Garden, in Waimea, prior to the evening screening of Malama Haloa: Protecting the Taro.

The following outlines the series’ schedule for Fall 2014: Sept. 24-Dec. 17

* Afternoon Cultural Workshop (20 people max) at various locations ($10/person)

* 6:30 p.m. Film Screening at Kahilu Theatre ($5/person)

* Talk-story and Q& A with the filmmakers following the Film

The Kukulu Ola Hawaiian Filmmakers Series is funded in part by a grant from the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Office of Hawaii County District 9 and Councilmember Margaret Wille.

This series was also made possible by support from The Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, KAPA Radio, West Hawaii Today, Malaai: The Culinary Garden of Waimea Middle School, and Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site.

Tickets to the films are $5 and the workshops are $10 per participant. Both are available online at http://kahilutheatre.org, by calling (808) 885-6868, or at the Kahilu Theatre Box Office.