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Home West O‘ahu Happenings UH West Oʻahu’s Irvine leads Netflix-sponsored talk story on ‘Finding ʻOhana’

UH West Oʻahu’s Irvine leads Netflix-sponsored talk story on ‘Finding ʻOhana’

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Image courtesy of J. Lelemia Irvine

Feb. 5 update: Watch a recording of the talk story, which took place Jan. 23 via Zoom.

University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu assistant professor of Physics J. Lelemia Irvine will facilitate a talk-story event sponsored by Netflix and held in association with an upcoming original film by the popular streaming service.

“Talk Story: Finding ʻOhana in Pasifika and the Diaspora” will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, via Zoom. Irvine will facilitate a conversation with Pacific Islander leaders about the importance of storytelling in our communities.

The event is a discussion related to the family-friendly action comedy, “Finding ʻOhana,” which is scheduled to premiere Friday, Jan. 29, on Netflix. The movie is set during the summer in rural Oʻahu and tells the story of two Brooklyn-raised siblings.

“These kids return home (to Hawaiʻi) and get in touch with their Hawaiian heritage and roots,” Irvine said. “The main character, Pili, aspires to become a Hawaiian scientist when she grows up.”

According to Netflix’s description of the film, their summer takes an exciting turn “when a journal pointing to long-lost treasure sets them on an epic adventure.”

“The purpose of this talk story sponsored by Netflix is to amplify Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) community voices,” Irvine said.

“Talk Story: Finding ʻOhana in Pasifika and the Diaspora” will also include a special performance by the traditional Hawaiian music group ʻUheʻuhene, featuring UH West Oʻahu graduate and former employee Heather Kapua Kalua. The event is free and open to the public.

Register in advance for the talk-story event at https://bit.ly/3o4KhPh.