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Livestreams are also available to watch on the Visual Communications Youtube Channel and the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival Facebook page!
Tune into a panel discussion with the filmmakers and subjects of three unforgettable and transformative Hawaii-based documentaries: Justyn Ah Chong (MELE MURALS), Kumu Hula Lono Padilla and Kumu Hula Robert Keano Ka'upu IV (KA HUAKA’I: JOURNEY TO MERRIE MONARCH), and Pualani "Auntie Pua" Case (STANDING ABOVE THE CLOUDS).
Films are available for viewing through the LAAPFF Virtual Showcase prior to the event.
Click here to watch MELE MURALS
Click here to watch KA HUAKA’I: JOURNEY TO MERRIE MONARCH (available until Sunday, May 3 @ 7pm PT)
Click here to watch STANDING ABOVE THE CLOUDS (available until Friday, May 29th at 7pm PT)
Featuring:
Kiki Rivera (Host)
Kiki Rivera is an internationally produced, award-winning theatre artist, educator, and arts activist. Kiki has her BA in Theatre as well as her MFA in Playwriting from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and is a member of the 2018 ArtEquity cohort who holds workshops to encourage the growth of future indigenous storytellers. As an educated gender-queer person of color (Samoan-Filipinx born and raised in Hawaii) that is cis-femme presenting, Kiki recognizes her privilege and responsibility to those marginalized communities. Her work focuses on cultural and sexual identity and the effects of colonization. Kiki is one of many voices for Pacific Islanders in the diaspora and is published in Samoan Queer Lives edited by Yuki Kihara and Dan Talaupapa McMullin. Kiki believes in self-reflective storytelling from a contemporary indigenous perspective and creating space for marginalized theatre artists of color.
Justyn Ah Chong (MELE MURALS)
Justyn Ah Chong is a Native Hawaiian filmmaker from O’ahu, Hawaiʻi. Upon graduating from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts in 2011, Justyn began working at ʻŌiwi Television, Hawai’i’s first Indigenous television broadcast station. He has filmed and edited a variety of projects, including working as Director of Photography on MELE MURALS, which won numerous awards including Best Documentary Feature at the Guam International Film Festival and the Special Jury Award at the Hawai’i International Film Festival. In 2019, Justyn had his directorial debut with his acclaimed film DOWN ON THE SIDEWALK IN WAIKIKI, which premiered at the Maoriland Film Festival in New Zealand and won the People’s Choice Award for Best Short Drama. He is currently producing and developing various narrative projects. Justyn continues to share culturally-inspired, place-based stories through his production company, Olonā Media.
Kumo Lono Padilla and Kumu Hula Robert Keano Ka'upu IV (KA HUAKA’I: JOURNEY TO MERRIE MONARCH)
Nā Kumu Hula, Ke'ano Ka'upu and Lono Padilla, opened Hālau Hi'iakaināmakalehua in September 2008. The hālau name, meaning Hi'iaka in the eyes of the lehua, pays tribute to their various Kumu Hula and their hula lineage. Ke'ano was a haumana of Rae Fonseca and Johnny Lum Ho of Hilo, and Lono was a haumana of Holoua Stender of O'ahu. With the blessings of their respective Kumu Hula, both Lono and Ke'ano completed traditional 'ūniki ceremonies with their mother, Kumu Hula Hokulani Holt of Maui. Currently Hālau Hi'iakaināmakalehua offers classes for Kaikamahine, Keiki Kane, Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Wahine, Beginner and Advanced Kane, as well as Kupuna Wahine in Kalihi.
Auntie Pua (STANDING ABOVE THE CLOUDS)
Pualani "Auntie Pua" Case was born and raised on the island of Hawai’i, surrounded by the high mountains of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Hualalai and Kohala. She is a Kumu Hula, a teacher of traditional dance and chant, and a teacher of the ways, culture and traditions of the kanaka maoli or native peoples of Hawai’i. With degrees in Hawaiian language/culture and social studies, interwoven with the traditional teachings, philosophies, and expectations from her kupuna or elders, Pua has integrated ‘Ike Hawai’i (Hawaiian knowledge and lessons) into the public school system for over 30 years. Pua and her family are petitioners in the Contested Case hearing filed on behalf of Mauna Kea Mountain. As a representative of the Mauna Kea ‘Ohana Na Kia’I Mauna, Idle No More Hawai’i Warriors Rising and Idle No More Mauna, Kea, she and her family have traveled throughout the world to address the issues and challenges facing sacred places of the people of Hawaiʻi.
Livestreams are also available to watch on the Visual Communications Youtube Channel and the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival Facebook page!
Tune into a panel discussion with the filmmakers and subjects of three unforgettable and transformative Hawaii-based documentaries: Justyn Ah Chong (MELE MURALS), Kumu Hula Lono Padilla and Kumu Hula Robert Keano Ka'upu IV (KA HUAKA’I: JOURNEY TO MERRIE MONARCH), and Pualani "Auntie Pua" Case (STANDING ABOVE THE CLOUDS).
Films are available for viewing through the LAAPFF Virtual Showcase prior to the event.
Click here to watch MELE MURALS
Click here to watch KA HUAKA’I: JOURNEY TO MERRIE MONARCH (available until Sunday, May 3 @ 7pm PT)
Click here to watch STANDING ABOVE THE CLOUDS (available until Friday, May 29th at 7pm PT)
Featuring:
Kiki Rivera (Host)
Kiki Rivera is an internationally produced, award-winning theatre artist, educator, and arts activist. Kiki has her BA in Theatre as well as her MFA in Playwriting from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and is a member of the 2018 ArtEquity cohort who holds workshops to encourage the growth of future indigenous storytellers. As an educated gender-queer person of color (Samoan-Filipinx born and raised in Hawaii) that is cis-femme presenting, Kiki recognizes her privilege and responsibility to those marginalized communities. Her work focuses on cultural and sexual identity and the effects of colonization. Kiki is one of many voices for Pacific Islanders in the diaspora and is published in Samoan Queer Lives edited by Yuki Kihara and Dan Talaupapa McMullin. Kiki believes in self-reflective storytelling from a contemporary indigenous perspective and creating space for marginalized theatre artists of color.
Justyn Ah Chong (MELE MURALS)
Justyn Ah Chong is a Native Hawaiian filmmaker from O’ahu, Hawaiʻi. Upon graduating from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts in 2011, Justyn began working at ʻŌiwi Television, Hawai’i’s first Indigenous television broadcast station. He has filmed and edited a variety of projects, including working as Director of Photography on MELE MURALS, which won numerous awards including Best Documentary Feature at the Guam International Film Festival and the Special Jury Award at the Hawai’i International Film Festival. In 2019, Justyn had his directorial debut with his acclaimed film DOWN ON THE SIDEWALK IN WAIKIKI, which premiered at the Maoriland Film Festival in New Zealand and won the People’s Choice Award for Best Short Drama. He is currently producing and developing various narrative projects. Justyn continues to share culturally-inspired, place-based stories through his production company, Olonā Media.
Kumo Lono Padilla and Kumu Hula Robert Keano Ka'upu IV (KA HUAKA’I: JOURNEY TO MERRIE MONARCH)
Nā Kumu Hula, Ke'ano Ka'upu and Lono Padilla, opened Hālau Hi'iakaināmakalehua in September 2008. The hālau name, meaning Hi'iaka in the eyes of the lehua, pays tribute to their various Kumu Hula and their hula lineage. Ke'ano was a haumana of Rae Fonseca and Johnny Lum Ho of Hilo, and Lono was a haumana of Holoua Stender of O'ahu. With the blessings of their respective Kumu Hula, both Lono and Ke'ano completed traditional 'ūniki ceremonies with their mother, Kumu Hula Hokulani Holt of Maui. Currently Hālau Hi'iakaināmakalehua offers classes for Kaikamahine, Keiki Kane, Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Wahine, Beginner and Advanced Kane, as well as Kupuna Wahine in Kalihi.
Auntie Pua (STANDING ABOVE THE CLOUDS)
Pualani "Auntie Pua" Case was born and raised on the island of Hawai’i, surrounded by the high mountains of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Hualalai and Kohala. She is a Kumu Hula, a teacher of traditional dance and chant, and a teacher of the ways, culture and traditions of the kanaka maoli or native peoples of Hawai’i. With degrees in Hawaiian language/culture and social studies, interwoven with the traditional teachings, philosophies, and expectations from her kupuna or elders, Pua has integrated ‘Ike Hawai’i (Hawaiian knowledge and lessons) into the public school system for over 30 years. Pua and her family are petitioners in the Contested Case hearing filed on behalf of Mauna Kea Mountain. As a representative of the Mauna Kea ‘Ohana Na Kia’I Mauna, Idle No More Hawai’i Warriors Rising and Idle No More Mauna, Kea, she and her family have traveled throughout the world to address the issues and challenges facing sacred places of the people of Hawaiʻi.