The life of renowned Kaua‘i surfer Titus “Nihi” Kinimaka is focus of a new film.
“Nihi” is a surfing film, but more importantly the life story of a 21st-century Native Hawaiian who has achieved a legendary status in the global world of surfing.
Filmmakers Jimbeau Andrews and Brooks Guyer filmed Kinimaka, who lives in Anahola, on his home island, as well as surfing Makaha in Leeward O‘ahu and riding the huge waves of Pe‘ahi (Jaws) on Maui.
“I’m happy to be able, at this point in my life, to give back what the ocean has given me to the people of Kaua‘i,” Kinimaka said Thursday in an interview with The Garden Island, as he explained what the film is about.
Kinimaka is now in his late 40s and has been surfing for about 45 years, mostly on Kaua‘i.
Kinimaka and Andrews are here to show the film tonight at the Waimea Theater and Saturday night at the Kilauea Theatre.
“(This is ) essentially the first premier of the film outside of film festivals,” Andrews said. “We always intended to introduce it here, and acknowledge those who contributed to the making of the film. This is our way of adhering to Hawaiian protocol.”
Andrews and Kinimaka are making the circuit of film festivals, and showed “Nihi” in Manhattan a few months ago at a special Pacific Islands film festival. Coming up are film festivals in Malibu and elsewhere in the United States, with showings in France, Japan and Brazil on tap.
Quiksilver, the surf wear company and a major sponsor for Kinimaka, is planning to distribute the movie in its clothing stores across the globe.
“Now incredible talent is coming from Kaua‘i (in the world of surfing),” Kinimaka said. “We’ve always been on the low-key side, but now Andy Irons is our world champion, and with his brother Bruce and other Kaua‘i surfers, all the kids stepping up into our shoes. The kids have so much heart. Talent from Kaua‘i is so different, so much heart and soul and giving 110 percent all the time.”
The movie also focuses on Kinimaka’s family roots on Kaua‘i, including his older brother Percy, who served for years at the beach captain at Kalapaki during the days of the Kauai Surf.
Growing up on Kaua‘i as a young surfer, there were trials, Kinimaka said. There was no way then that you could make a living off of surfing. The route for professional surfers then was to teach surfing, work as a beach boy. “I hope everybody enjoys it,” Kinimaka said of “Nihi.” “I’m excited in bringing it to Kaua‘i.”
Kinimaka’s roots included taking care of Duke Kahanamoku when the famous surfer paid visits to the Kauai Surf. Kinimaka said the Duke surfed the waves of Kalapaki back in the 1960s. “He was a soft-spoken guy who was treated like royalty, and lived up to it with his kindness and generosity,” Kinimaka said in an interview published by surfersvillage.com.
Kinimaka said the film tells of the special spirit of Kaua‘i.
“This island has the largest expanse of water between it and the other islands,” he added in the surfersvillage.com interview. “It wasn’t easy to get here, and you had to be tough to get here. Kaua‘i has never been conquered. Kamehameha, didn’t conquer us, which makes us unique in the islands. We were and still are a separate kingdom, and therefore we will always have talented athletes, cowboys, fishermen, scholars, watermen, etc.”
“Nihi” shows tonight at the Waimea Theater at 6 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday night Kinimaka is scheduled to be in person at two showings: one at 6 p.m., to be followed by a premiere party showing beginning at 7:30 p.m. with music by the Lost Boys, with free pupus and a no-host bar. Door prizes from Quiksilver and Hanalei Surf Company are being given away at the showing.
Editor Chris Cook can be reached at ccook@pulitzer.net or 245-3681, ext. 227.
