Hawaii A Voice For Sovereignty Screens In Pasadena: The Real-Life Story Of The Avatar Theme
Press Release 4/6/10CA. PUBLIC PREMIERE of DOCUMENTARY on HAWAIIAN CULTURE
and SOVEREIGNTY – Standing Room Only Hawaii A Voice For Sovereignty Screened
in Pasadena: The Real-life story of the Avatar Theme Becomes a Social
Movement
A plea for paradise from the keepers of Aloha, the kanaka maole (people of
the land) in “Hawaii A Voice For Sovereignty” was premiered with standing
room only at the Pasadena Convention Center, Saturday April 3rd.
Photojournalist and filmmaker, Catherine Bauknight became a messenger for
the voice of the Native Hawaiian people as she documented them speaking out
in the epic documentary, Hawaii A Voice For Sovereignty. The documentary was
filmed over 4 years. Bauknight went from Island to Island asking the Native
Hawaiians to discuss their culture and why they were not visible in their
own land. They would tell her that they could not talk about their culture
or issues without speaking of their spirituality and their need to reconnect
to the land and their sovereign rights.
The screening was opened with a traditional ceremony by the Hula Halau Na ‘O
Maile and musician Auntie Geri Kuhia. Kiowa Gordon, actor from the Twilight
Saga New Moon and Native American from the Hualapai Tribe announced he will
serve as a spokesperson for the documentary “Hawaii A Voice For
Sovereignty”, and the upcoming documentary series that Bauknight is creating
to raise awareness of vanishing cultures. After the screening of the 84
minute documentary, a panel discussion engaged the audience monitored by Addie
Rolnick – Critical Race Studies Law Fellow, UCLA School of Law, with
panelists including Arnie Saiki- Project Director, ‘Imi Pono Projects, ‘Ehu
Kekahu Cardwell -The Koani Foundation, Leon Siu – Astute analyst and
strategist in the Hawaiian political arena, and Christen Marquez – Filmmaker
Hawaiians are seeking sovereignty to save their culture, their
spirituality, and their connection to the lands of Hawaii; land which they
believe belongs to them. The land was owned by their ancestors and the Royal
Kingdom, before it was claimed by the U.S. in 1893. They seek to have their
natural sovereign rights returned, as people who respectfully care for each
other and care for the land. The issue of Hawaiian ceded lands went before
the US Supreme Court in 2009, but was remanded back to the Hawaii Supreme
Court.
The film was screened to a standing room only crowd of about 400 people in
the filmmakers home town of Pasadena, California at the Pasadena Convention
Center on April 3rd, with an introduction by vice-mayor, Victor Gordo.
Support for the film in her hometown on Easter weekend is an expression of
how eager the public is to help make changes in social awareness of
indigenous people, Bauknight believes. Most of the people came out to
learn more about the film that they had heard much about through traditional
media coverage such as USA Today, Newsweek.com, The Honolulu
Examiner,Hawaiian Public Radio, and the Pasadena Weekly over the years. “An
extraordinary thing happened when people began to participate in the
Hawaiian sovereignty movement. A social movement has been created following
the film and the journey of the Hawaiians on their quest. This was done
through google, youtube, facebook, Maoli World, the film website, and word
of mouth known to Hawaiians as the Coconut Wireless.
Supporters of the Sovereignty movement and of environmental sustainability
on the lslands began a unique way of communicating with each other through
the film in 2005. They have followed their movement and supported the film
at its first private premiere at the US Capitol Building in June 2009, and
watched the continued success at film festivals where it won awards
including “Best Hawai’i Film” at the Maui Film Festival”, “Best
Environmental Film” and “Best Documentary Feature” at the New York
International Independent Film and Video Festival Film Festival in New York
City. It is the Hawaiian People’s film. They share their aloha and touch the
hearts and minds of the viewers.
“People kept calling me the day that Avatar came out saying I had to go see
the film. I realized immediately that the theme of Avatar is the real-life
story of the struggles that the Native Hawaiian People face, due to
overdevelopment, environmental abuse, and lack of respect for their
culture”, says Bauknight.
“Hawaii A Voice For Sovereignty” is and educational film about the cultural
awareness of the people and the environment of Hawaii. It is a universal
message. For more information about the series and submissions on subject
matter of indigenous cultures please email Catherine Bauknight
@www.catherinebauknight.com <http://www.catherinebauknight.com/>.
Relating articles and comments from audience
“This is a must see film” Dan Lagronio The Examiner
http://www.examiner.com/x-24782-LA-Hawaiian-Culture-Examiner~y2010m4d6-Theres-trouble-in-paradise
Comments on the film Hawaii A Voice For Sovereignty: from the audience
commented on the film:
“The Aloha spirit is alive and thriving in our hearts here … Thank you
for your glorious ,eye opening,enlightening, concsiousness raising film. You
have seriously made a differnce.” – Valerie Swift Bird
In a nutshell, the movie shows the current state of the Hawaiian
Independence movement (dates back to the occupation of Hawaii by U.S. forces
in the late 1800s), history, interviews and words of key players incl. Henry
Kapono, Dennis Kanahele, etc.; local native culture; protests; incursions
by government authorities; the words, life and day to day struggles of
native Hawaiians against the onslaught of developers who seem intent on
paving over paradise; interviews with lawyers; spectacular footage of the
islands, much more. - Don Chin
About the Author
Renata Lorenc is a featured columnist for Vegas Buzz and has contributed articles to Independent Film Quarterly and Jewish Voice.
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