By Staff Reports
(Maui)– The County of Maui’s Office of Innovation and Sustainability (OIS) is teaming up with filmmakers to present a series of short documentaries and feature films focused on sustainability through free community film screenings.
The first event in the Sustainability Short Film Series will take place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at the Kalana Pakui O Maui building in Wailuku.
The evening will feature two films. The first, “Te Pito o Te Henua (The Navel of the World),” is a short documentary that takes viewers to the most remote inhabited island on Earth. Directed by Martin Kingman and Nils Cowan, the film explores the indigenous Rapa Nui community as it prepares for its most significant annual celebration. The documentary highlights the deep cultural connection the Rapa Nui people share with the land and sea, shedding light on their unique identity and traditions.
The second film, “Standing Above the Clouds,” is a documentary that follows Native Hawaiian mother-daughter activists working to protect Mauna Kea from desecration. Directed by Jalena Keane-Lee, the 2024 film tells the story of families coming together to oppose the construction of a large telescope on the sacred mountain. Through the lens of three Native Hawaiian families, the film examines themes of intergenerational healing and the importance of preserving cultural heritage.
Following this inaugural screening, OIS will launch a pop-up cinema initiative that will bring five more films to communities across Maui County. The Sustainability Short Film Series aims to foster dialogue and cultural exchange while showcasing films from Hawai’i and the Pacific Islands that focus on sustainability.
For more information, please contact the County of Maui Office of Economic Development at (808) 270-7710.
About the County of Maui Office Innovation & Sustainability (OIS)
OIS, under the Office of the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, is committed to driving environmental and social progress through policies, programs and initiatives, building a resilient community for sustainable prosperity and economic health for current and future generations.