Surf Film “Innersection” Showcases Maui Talent

By Madeline Ziecker

From Left: Matt Meola, Hank Gaskell, Leona Bak Nomura, J. Kalani English, Albee Layer. Photo courtesy of Brendan Smith.

Filmmaker Taylor Steel’s polished surfing film project, Innersection, screened at the MACC on Wednesday, November 30th, provided in part by the Maui Film Festival.

The event also served as a fundraiser for the relocation of Kuau Mart, the now closed but far from forgotten favorite North Shore surfer spot for grinds previously located near Ho’okipa Beach Park.

The Innersection film is a series of short but vivid surf clips from some of the world’s greatest current surfers all over the world.  Three of the 21 surfer finalists included in the film were Maui boys Matt Meola, Hank Gaskell, and Albee Layer.

Inside the MACC before the film. Photo by Tracy Kraft Leboe.

The evening at the MACC included much more than just the movie. Before the screening several members of the community who had either involvement in the film or in organization of the fundraiser came to the podium to say their thanks and a few words.

Last year’s $10,000 Innersection winner Matt Meola spoke, preceded onstage before the event by his little sister Lily Meola, a teen singer on the rise in the Maui community.

Leona Bak Nomura speaking at the 'Innersection' event. Photo courtesy of Brendan Smith.

During the thanks section in his short speech, Meola said, “Thank you guys (the voters who placed him in the film) most of all, you changed my life.”

Directors and film editors Dan Norkunas and Elliot Leboe were honored on stage for their work in creating the videos which helped place Meola, Gaskell and Layer in the film.

Norkunas also created the video that placed Matt Meola as the winner of last year’s premier Innersection contest.

In this year’s clip, he incorporated other members of the Maui community into Meaola’s video including both Woody Harrelson and Willie Nelson.

Matt Meola’s mother Nancy Herschler Meola was also present, who helped organize the fundraiser for Kuau Mart, a beloved spot of the Meola family for years in their neighborhood.

Perri Kaminoff, a close friend of the Meola’s, said of Nancy Meola, “She is an amazing woman who not only exceeds every concept of a mother with her two talented children, but also has unconditional love for her community and Kuau Mart.”

Free prizes being thrown to the crowd at the MACC. Photo by Tracy Kraft Leboe.

The matriarch of the Kuau Mart family and 2010 Maui Council member candidate Leona Bak Nomura said a few words thanking the community and concluded by affectionately saying, “We miss you guys!”

In early 2011 Kuau Mart was forced to resign from their location due to raised rent. Since, the family has opted to restructure their business and continues to try and find a place  to serve the community through Kuau Mart elsewhere.

615 tickets were sold at the fundraiser and Innersection screening. Thanks to supporters who attended the event, Kuau Mart is again on the horizon with help from a donated portion of the event’s proceeds.

Gathering in the Yokouchi Pavilion after the film. Photo by Maui Now Staff.

Several sponsors including those of Matt Meola, Hank Gaskell, and Albee Layer, participated in the event, including Oxbow, Burton, Local, Ergo, and Sanuk.

Some of these sponsors donated free giveaways and raffle prizes. The raffle items given included 3 surfboards, a skateboard, a book about the famed big wave North Shore surf spot “Jaws,” a wetsuit, and Kaenon polarized sunglasses. Free prizes like t-shirts and memorabilia were thrown into the audience from five large boxes around the theater.

Meola, Gaskell, and Layer signed just about anything fans asked including bare skin at a table outside of the theater. Leftover boxes with giveaways were scattered nearby for last minute grabs.

Matt Meola signing a man's chest. Photo by Tracy Kraft Leboe.

The goal of Innersection was to make a progressive surf movie based on real talent, some undiscovered until now. Each clip was stylistically different, incorporating aspects of the surfers’ own personal lives and influences. Some of the clips were designed to be comical, and others held shockingly beautiful footage of different landscapes and shores from around the globe, giving the audience a chance to experience more than just the surfers’ talent.

Though the movie was created for a great cause and was successful in its goals, several audience members after the show reviewed it as a movie for a very specific clique of hardcore surf enthusiasts. This is to say that not everyone can sit still and be receptive for an hour of surf clips, even if there is a finely chosen soundtrack and a worthy theme to carry them through.