Hawaii A Voice Sovereignty Educational Cultural Exchange

LOS ANGELES - March 14, 2013 - PRLog -- Press Release
3/15/2013
L’Oreal McGill
(626) 786-4227
Othila Media Productions

Educational and Cultural Exchange Through Film, Hawaii A Voice For Sovereignty  

A new horizon has developed in the educational arena through the communication of the Hawaiian participants in the film, Hawaii A Voice For Sovereignty.  People are viewing the film around the world to journey through the culture that is very much alive and experienced through the film. All participants in the film were awarded a certificate for their sharing of the culture, the Mana Wairoa Award, by the Maori Film Festival in New Zealand.  The cultural connection to the land is a part of the ancient knowledge and spoken in the Hawaiian language.  Through the language of film, the Hawaiian participants speak out about the importance of preserving the culture and the cultural connection to the land of Hawai'i Nei. It was theatrically released in 2012 in Los Angeles, CA. This raised the international interest of the seven-time award winning film.

As a method of learning about the Native Hawaiian culture and the endurance to regain sustainability, universities and libraries are collecting the film as an education tool at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Kamehameha High School Library in Maui, The  Department of Intererior National Library of New Zealand, Public Libraries of Washington State, New Jersey, Hawaii, California, Minnesota, and New Zealand.

As quoted in a review of The Video Librarian, The Video Review Magazine For Libraries, November 2012 - February 2013, "Highly Recommended. What emerges is a sense of the growing desire of Polynesian Hawaiians to return to an embrace of spirituality and connection with the natural world, as well as a determination to right the land grabs  and disenfranchisement of the past."

Film Synopsis
The voice of the Native Hawaiian people are reaching beyond national and international borders, through the wisdom shared in the documentary, "Hawaii A Voice For Sovereignty". Living in conscience and connection to the land, the Native Hawaiians are raising awareness on the Mainland, in Italy, France, Denmark, Switzerland, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Japan, as individuals are encouraged by the Native Hawaiians and their endurance to live their cultural heritage.

At the forefront of the film are social, economic, and ecological issues that have developed in Hawaii since 1893, revealed in interviews with grassroots indigenous people and scholars such as author, Haunani-Kay Trask, Cultural Advisor, Clifford Nae'ole, and revered Cultural Practitioner, Charlie Maxwell.  The goal is to raise awareness of the issues faced by the Native Hawaiians, which threatens their ancient and environmentally sustainable culture.

The cultural exchange is deepened through the music soundtrack of some of the most accomplished musicians in Hawai'i including Willie K, Cyril Pahinui, George Kahumoku, Richard Ho'opi'i, Lono, and Makana, who played during the filming or gifted their music to the film.

"What happens to the land, happens to the people", is a message to the world from the Native Hawaiians.

The documentary was directed by filmmaker and photojournalist Catherine Bauknight. It was voted "Best Hawai'i Film" at the Maui Film Festival, premiered at the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. The documentary has won seven major awards throughout the U.S. and New Zealand. Plans for more screenings in Hawai'i and in Europe are in progress to share the voice of the Native Hawaiian People globally.
Hawaii A Voice For Sovereignty Trailer  and DVD at:

www.hawaiiavoiceforsovereignty.com

Catherine Bauknight

Director  / Producer

Email: cbauknight@othilamedia.com

www.hawaiiavoiceforsovereignty.com