Hui Mo‘olelo: Lāhainā Film Festival

Hui Mo‘olelo: Lāhainā Film Festival

Thursday, March 27, 2025
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Ka Waiwai ma Mōʻiliʻili
Admission: FREE

Event Description:

Join us for a unique cultural celebration as the Hui Mo‘olelo: Lāhainā Film Festival comes to Oʻahu! Presented by Maui Public Art Corps in collaboration with the County of Maui, Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House / Maui Historical Society, Lāhainā Restoration Foundation, and University of Hawai'i at Mānoa Outreach College, this free event features a new collection of animated film shorts that honor and celebrate Lāhainā’s rich history, culture, and sense of place.

This special event showcases the result of a summer 2024 call to artists and features the works of artists Sasha Hercik, Richard O'Connor, and a talented team of University of Hawai'i at Mānoa School of Cinematic Arts students – Jenna Lee, Syril Pecson, Zach Quemado, and Abby Worthley. Each animated short film is inspired by talk-story excerpts from Lāhainā residents, highlighting personal memories and historical narratives that have been passed down through generations.

The Hui Mo‘olelo program, which cultivates public art to celebrate the history and culture of unique sites in Maui County, has produced over 100 works of public art, including murals, mele, dance, sculpture, animation, and more. For the first time, we are excited to bring this festival to Oʻahu to share these films with a broader audience.

Event Highlights:

• Five Animated Film Shorts that transform Lāhainā talk-story excerpts into vibrant public art.
• Live Q&A with the artists and storytellers, providing insights into the creative process and the importance of preserving Lāhainā’s stories.
• Surprise Performance to further engage and immerse the audience in the cultural themes of the films.
• Emcee: Sissy Lake-Farm from Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House.

Additional Information:

• This event is FREE and open to the public.
• Registration is encouraged to secure your spot.
• For more information, to view artwork research, and to listen to the story recordings, visit: mauipublicart.org/filmfest.

We invite everyone to experience this unique intersection of art, history, and community!

Host or Publisher Waiwai Collective