The Kauai Philippine Cultural Center announces the third Garden Island Film Festival from March to May as part of the KPCC’s pre-opening activities of the center, located in Puhi and which is nearing its construction completion.
The festival will be over three months and will highlight a series of themes including surf, Filipino, Hawaiian and Japanese films. The annual festival is free and screenings will be at three locations thanks to the support of the business partner-hosts and grants.
The first of the series will open in March and will highlight three films. Other films about the Filipino and Japanese people will be in April and May. Show times are about 6:30 p.m., depending upon the sunset as all screenings will be outdoors. The following is the schedule of films and locations:
Keahualaka, A Door to Hawaiian Spirituality
Ka ’Imi Nau ’auao o Hawaii Nei Institute’s documentary, “Keahualaka, A Door to Hawaiian Spirituality” is an in-depth interview of the institute’s founder and current president, Roselle Keliihonipua Bailey, who provides a firsthand account of what transpired over many years after she sought and received permission to undertake a daunting challenge restoring an important hula site.
“Keahualaka” includes archival photographs and segments of video footage filmed on location during workdays and ceremonial events of hula at an ancient hula platform that was cleared and rededicated decades ago.
The years of maintaining and honoring the archaeological site on Kauai’s North Shore have led to the hoped-for outcome of Bailey’s vision now come to fruition: Keahualaka and its surrounding area continue to draw people beyond cultural practitioners and haumana hula (hula students) because of their significance and beauty. The film celebrates this significance and underlines Bailey’s charge to the county powers-that-be and the present keepers of the site to maintain and preserve it as a continuation of this energy for perpetuity.
w March 21 and 24, The Shops at Kukui’ula/Poipu-the Palms Court
w March 22 and 23, The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas/Princeville-the Great Lawn Facing Ocean (bring own beach chairs, mats/blankets)
Chasing Mavericks
When 15-year-old surfing phenomenon Jay Moriarity (Jonny Weston) discovers that the mythic Mavericks surf break, one of the biggest waves on Earth, actually exists near his California home, he becomes determined to conquer it. Jay enlists the aid of local surfing legend Frosty Hesson (Gerard Butler) to train him to ride Mavericks and live to tell about it. As Jay and Frosty carry on their quest to achieve the impossible, they develop a unique friendship that transforms both their lives. Biographical drama by Curtis Hanson and Michael Apted.
w March 21, The Shops at Kukui’ula/Poipu-the Palms Court
w March 22, The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas/Princeville-the Great Lawn Facing Ocean (bring own beach chairs, mats/blankets)
w March 25, Blu Umi &Japanese Grandma’s Café/Hanapepe-Garden Courtyard
Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton
This is the remarkable story of an American icon who changed the sport of big wave surfing forever. Transcending the surf genre, this in-depth portrait of a hard-charging athlete explores the fear, courage and ambition that push a man to greatness and the costs that comes with it. Documentary film by Rory Kennedy.
w March 23, The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas/Princeville-the Great Lawn Facing Ocean (bring own beach chairs, mats/blankets)
w March 24, The Shops at Kukui’ula/Poipu-The Palms Court
w March 26, Blue Umi &Japanese Grandma’s Cafe/Hanapepe-Garden Courtyard
The Kauai Philippine Cultural Center extends its mahalo nui loa and mabuhay to the sponsor-hosts, County of Kauai, Dow Agro Sciences LLC, business and community partners in support of this inaugural spring film festival as part of the center’s pre-opening events.
Information: www.kpcc.org, 635-4130
