A public screening of his award-winning debut feature film, Waikiki, is showing this week.
The film follows a Native Hawaiian hula dancer who crashes her beat-up van into a mysterious homeless man while escaping her abusive boyfriend, and finds herself flung into a surrealistic journey of self-exploration and enlightenment.
Waikiki breaks down the enduring, stereotypical image of paradise to reveal a vulnerable and authentic portrait of indigeneity. Leaving behind the touristic image of island culture, Waikiki tackles the often-unspeakable generational trauma of postcolonial cultures through a mixing of genre conventions, experimental storytelling, and perspectives.
“We are so fortunate to have award winning Kānaka Maoli filmmaker Christopher Kahunahana visit the shores of Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Kahunahana was the first Kānaka Maoli to create a full feature fictional film, so he has been an inspiration for all Kānaka Maoli filmmakers,” says Dr Nālani Wilson-Hokowhitu, lecturer in Vaʻaomanū Pasifika—Pacific Studies.
“The film Waikiki addresses hard-hitting realities of mental illness, and domestic and colonial violence, interwoven with moments of compassion and survivance. The film is both heart breaking and beautiful,” says Dr Wilson-Hokowhitu.
According to Dr Missy Molloy, senior lecturer in Film, Waikiki mounts a strong critique of the exploitation of Kānaka Maoli people and culture as a result of Hawai'i's colonisation and treatment as a tourist paradise, despite the grim realities lived by many of its native people. Waikiki is recommended for viewers 16+ as it features scenes of domestic and colonial violence.
In opposition to colonial exploitation, Kahunahana presents perspectives on place and community that align with the te ao Māori concept of kaitiakitanga, and this alignment reinforces the strong links in perspective and storytelling that connect Pacific cultures.
In recent years, film cultures across Oceania have intensified their efforts to cultivate these existing links to advance the visibility of Pasifika cinema on a global (and extremely competitive) stage.
“By bringing an important Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) filmmaker here, Te Herenga Waka is contributing directly to efforts to strengthen the deep connections related to history, culture, language, politics, and art that unify the Pacific region,” says Dr Molloy.
“His is a strong voice in contemporary Hawaiian cinema; it asserts the distinctive perspectives of Kānaka Maoli to oppose the commodified image of Hawaii, which mainstream US media has long trafficked to the detriment of Native Hawaiians.”
After the screening Dr Nālani Wilson-Hokowhitu will moderate a short Q&A session, which will be followed by a catered reception.
During his visit to the University Kahunahana will be meeting with students of Film, Design Innovation, and other disciplines, and participate in a number of public events in the city, including the premiere of his new short film at Māoriland Film Festival in Ōtaki.
His first VR work, PIKO (2022), a “360° immersive VR experience” that was originally mounted at the Honolulu Museum of Art, is being screened for film and design Masters students on Wednesday 13 March at Miramar Creative Centre, and will travel next to the Smithsonian.
Staff, students, and members of the public are invited to attend the Waikiki screening at 6 pm on Thursday 14 March in the Memorial Theatre. No RSVP required.