ʻUluʻulu: The Henry Ku‘ualoha Giugni Moving Image Archive of Hawaiʻi at the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu is contributing a program honoring the Hōkūleʻa voyaging canoe to this year’s Hawaiʻi International Film Festival.
ʻUluʻulu, Hawaiʻi’s official state archive for moving images, together with the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS), present “Made in Hawaiʻi: Visions of Hōkūleʻa,” a HIFF program featuring a series of five films and a live panel. The films are free and available to stream Nov. 16 to 29 on demand online. The free panel discussion will be 7 p.m. Nov. 20 via Zoom.
“Made in Hawaiʻi: Visions of Hōkūleʻa” is a tribute to the Hōkūleʻa, a Polynesian double-hulled voyaging canoe that was launched in 1975 during the height of the Hawaiian Renaissance which continues today with efforts to reclaim language, land, voyaging, and other cultural practices.
Through archival footage and interspersed with commentary from past, present, and future leaders, this program reacquaints viewers with arguably the most filmed subject and symbol in Hawaiian media.
The program will include the films “Hōkūleʻa, Star of Gladness,” “Hōkūleʻa: Return to Tahiti,” and “Hōkūleʻa: The Proud Voyage Home” from the ʻUluʻulu Moving Image Archive vaults, as well as “He Waʻa, He Honua,” produced by ʻUluʻulu collections specialist/producer Heather Giugni, and “Moananuiākea: One Ocean. One People. One Canoe.”
The Nov. 20 live panel event, “Polynesian Voyaging Society: Visions of Hōkūleʻa,” features guests including former Gov. John Waihee; Dr. Emmett Aluli, Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana; Nainoa Thompson, Polynesian Voyaging Society president; Kaʻiulani Murphy, Polynesian Voyaging Society navigator; and Denise Espania, Mālama Honua Public Charter School head of school.
Click on the event links above to register for your free tickets. For more information, email uluulu@hawaii.edu.