{"id":63,"date":"2026-05-14T19:04:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T19:04:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=63"},"modified":"2026-05-14T19:04:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T19:04:34","slug":"its-our-stories-inaugural-wailuku-film-festival-features-homegrown-talent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=63","title":{"rendered":"\u2018It\u2019s our stories\u2019: Inaugural Wailuku Film Festival features homegrown talent"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<section>\n<p>WAILUKU (HawaiiNewsNow) &#8211; The first-ever Wailuku Film Festival will take place next month, with tickets going on sale in two weeks.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=61\">UH softball downs UC Santa Barbara, 2-0 to advance to Big West semifinals<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Organizers say it\u2019s an opportunity to support homegrown talent and watch impactful storytelling.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOver 100 films accepted into this film festival. Nobody expected that,\u201d said Brian Kohne, Maui Film Commissioner and festival director. \u201cAnd what\u2019s really surprising to me is not only the volume of films that were submitted, but the quality. The indigenous films that are coming in from all over the world are impressive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The festival will be held at the iconic Iao Theater and the new Naylor Theater nearby.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>\u201cAudience Choice\u201d winners will encore at the Maui Arts &amp; Cultural Center on June 21st.<\/p>\n<p>More than 20 Maui filmmakers will be featured, including De Andre Makakoa, owner of M\u0101naiakalani Media.<\/p>\n<p>Makakoa submitted \u201cLahaina Rising,\u201d a documentary about the deadliest wildfire in modern-day American history.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=59\">Florida man arrested in Honolulu after alleged $1M scam<\/a><\/p>\n<p>He also submitted \u201cRemembering Wai,\u201d which focuses on the diversion of water resources and what led to the fire.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBoth films are deeply personal to me,\u201d Makakoa said. \u201cAs a fire survivor, my family had to flee from the flames. And also, my family is very heavily involved in the water fight, and they\u2019ve been involved in spearheading the water fight in West Maui since well before the fires, and this is my way to contribute to that fight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Makakoa said the festival offers a different experience than traditional movie theaters.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s different storytelling than if you went to the mall and went to a traditional movie theater. It\u2019s our stories. Our people telling our stories,\u201d Makakoa said.<\/p>\n<p>Festival categories include Hawaii, Indigenous Voices, Watersports and student shorts.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>Kohne said dozens of student films from across the world were submitted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThings you cannot see online. Things you cannot see in the multiplex,\u201d he said. \u201cThe Wailuku Film Festival aims to create an elusive experience for both makers and audiences alike, and we\u2019re just getting started.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=57\">Polynesian Bowl announces 2027 head coaches<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The festival runs from June 17-21, with tickets going on sale on May 27.<\/p>\n<p>More information can be found online at www.wailukufilm.com. <\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The first-ever Wailuku Film Festival will take place next month, with tickets going on sale in two weeks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":62,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-63","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - 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