KS-sponsored video captures audience award at Maui Film Festival

Līhau Hannahs-Paik, daughter of KS Land Assets Division director Neil Hannahs, was among over 20 Hawaiian music artists who lent their time and talent to the Project KULEANA videos. Her segments were filmed in Waikīkī.

Jul. 16, 2013

Contributed by Nadine Lagaso

The nahenahe voices of over 20 Hawaiian music artists were skillfully woven together over the past year to form a virtual interisland kanikapila. A video showing their performance of the mele “Kaulana Nā Pua” recently won the Audience Award for Best Hawai‘i Short Film at the Maui Film Festival.

The 10-minute film is one of two music-based videos produced by Project KULEANA in collaboration with executive producer Kamehameha Publishing. Vocal artists including Manu Boyd, Nāpua Greig and Keali‘i Reichel donated their time and talent to the project filmed on Hawai‘i island, Maui, O‘ahu and Kaua‘i.

“Project KULEANA is an initiative founded by musicians Sean Nāleimaile, Kīhei Nahale-a, and Kamakoa Lindsey-Asing – three Native Hawaiian men who share the perspective that kuleana is what makes music Hawaiian,” said Ron Cox, director of Kamehameha Publishing.

“They wanted to inspire a sense of integrity – a really deep understanding of kuleana and what it means, through the music of Hawai‘i.”

View the Project KULEANA videos
The award-winning film and a second collaborative video entitled “All Hawai‘i Stands Together” can be viewed on Kamehameha Publishing’s Kumukahi website under the site’s “Music” tab.

The “All Hawai‘i Stands Together” video made its debut last fall at the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs national convention in Washington D.C. Cox was at the convention and was moved by the audience’s reaction to the film.

“(KS CEO) Dee Jay Mailer delivered a keynote speech at the convention that culminated with the ‘All Hawai‘i Stands Together’ video and the response was absolutely phenomenal,” said Cox. “People were so emotional; on their feet, singing, crying… I’ve never seen anything like it.

“Their response speaks to the relevance of the concept, but also the emotional impact and meaning of these songs for the lāhui.”

The mele “Kaulana Nā Pua” has resounding significance to Native Hawaiians. It was penned by Ellen Kekoaohiwaikalani Wright Prendergast in 1893 in response to the overthrow of Queen Lili‘uokalani and the Hawaiian Kingdom.

“All Hawai‘i Stands Together” was written by Liko Martin during the Hawaiian cultural renaissance of the 1970s. It is a profound poetic testament to the resilience and vitality of the Hawaiian people.

Kumukahi is a community-based online resource created by Kamehameha Publishing specifically for Department of Education fourth grade Hawaiian Studies students. The site features over 50 videos on Hawaiian traditions and concepts. Because of the site’s delivery method and interesting content, it has broad public appeal. Kumukahi is currently in beta testing mode and will be rolled out to the DOE and the general public next year.

Project KULEANA is an initiative founded by musicians Sean Nāleimaile, Kīhei Nahale-a, and Kamakoa Lindsey-Asing – three Native Hawaiian men who share the perspective that kuleana is what makes music Hawaiian.
Ron Cox, director of Kamehameha Publishing

Manu Boyd, cultural director of the KS-owned Royal Hawaiian Center sang his segments at Helumoa, once home to Princess Pauahi.