This film block contains both documentaries and narratives all centered on finding a stronger sense of belonging through community and kinships. Many of these films center on the importance of building and maintaining bonds in their examination of the dynamics of diasporic Asian American identity.
This screening features 8 films. Toggle between film descriptions by scrolling and clicking on the buttons on the top right.
Four women discuss their shared pride and community within a distinct dialect of Hawaii Creole, also known as "Pidgin," focusing on the regional variations spoken on the Island of Kaua'i.
Director Biography - Erica Byers
Erica Byers is a filmmaker based in Hawai'i. in 2024, she graduated from the University of Hawai'i West Oahu with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Media. She lives on the Island of Kaua'i with her husband and three dogs.
Director Statement
Hawaii Creole English, commonly known as Pidgin, is a unique language spoken throughout the Hawaiian Islands. It is a controversial language that has had a stigma attached to it for over a century. Despite this, well over half of those born and raised in Hawaii speak it. Many outside Hawaii are unaware that Pidgin is a legitimate language, complete with distinct accents, vocabulary, and grammatical structures that vary between islands and even neighborhoods. It's expressive, dynamic, and has interesting origins.
The inspiration for this film came from a conversation with a friend who was born and raised on Oahu. She grew up speaking Pidgin but said she found it difficult to understand the version spoken on Kaua'i because it sounded so different. This ignited my curiosity, and I started asking people in my community what they knew about the different variations of Pidgin.
As an assignment for one of my classes at the University of Hawaii West Oahu, I had to create a short documentary film. So I asked four women from my community if they would be willing to engage in a discussion about the Pidgin language they grew up with.
I hope this film will help the world gain a better understanding of this language and the people who speak it on the island of Kaua'i.
This film block contains both documentaries and narratives all centered on finding a stronger sense of belonging through community and kinships. Many of these films center on the importance of building and maintaining bonds in their examination of the dynamics of diasporic Asian American identity.
This screening features 8 films. Toggle between film descriptions by scrolling and clicking on the buttons on the top right.
Four women discuss their shared pride and community within a distinct dialect of Hawaii Creole, also known as "Pidgin," focusing on the regional variations spoken on the Island of Kaua'i.
Director Biography - Erica Byers
Erica Byers is a filmmaker based in Hawai'i. in 2024, she graduated from the University of Hawai'i West Oahu with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Media. She lives on the Island of Kaua'i with her husband and three dogs.
Director Statement
Hawaii Creole English, commonly known as Pidgin, is a unique language spoken throughout the Hawaiian Islands. It is a controversial language that has had a stigma attached to it for over a century. Despite this, well over half of those born and raised in Hawaii speak it. Many outside Hawaii are unaware that Pidgin is a legitimate language, complete with distinct accents, vocabulary, and grammatical structures that vary between islands and even neighborhoods. It's expressive, dynamic, and has interesting origins.
The inspiration for this film came from a conversation with a friend who was born and raised on Oahu. She grew up speaking Pidgin but said she found it difficult to understand the version spoken on Kaua'i because it sounded so different. This ignited my curiosity, and I started asking people in my community what they knew about the different variations of Pidgin.
As an assignment for one of my classes at the University of Hawaii West Oahu, I had to create a short documentary film. So I asked four women from my community if they would be willing to engage in a discussion about the Pidgin language they grew up with.
I hope this film will help the world gain a better understanding of this language and the people who speak it on the island of Kaua'i.
