Maui Youth Explore the Art of Filmmaking at Huliau Event

The Maui Huliau Foundation, an environmental education non-profit serving Maui’s youth, will host their 7th annual Huliau Youth Environmental Film Festival at the historic ʻĪao Theater in Wailuku on Saturday, June 3th at 7 p.m.

Amedee Conley-Kapoi filming for the 7th Annual Maui Huliau event.

Students pitch, plan, shoot and edit their films at an afterschool filmmaking program coordinated by Maui Huliau Foundation throughout the school year. Funds raised are used to support the program in the upcoming school year.

The event will premiere nine short environmental films made by youth from 12 different Maui schools including documentaries funded by the Office of Economic Development, an animated film by west side students examining human impacts on the global carbon cycle, and another short film about the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United’s Farm Apprentice Mentoring program exploring the need to grow new local farmers in Maui’s post-sugarcane era.

Other films include Cities Beneath the Sea, a short featuring interviews with local marine experts; Aloha+ Challenge, a documentary using drone footage and animations to present statewide sustainability goals; and Under the Sea Debris, an international collaboration with youth from Maui and the Bahamas on the threats of plastic debris in the world’s oceans.

Participants in 2017 Maui Huliau film event.

Maui Huliau Foundation, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that promotes environmental literacy and leadership to cultivate the leaders of tomorrow in grades 7-12. The Huliau Environmental Filmmaking Club is their most popular and longest running program and has produced more than 50 student films to date which have been selected over 60 times by national and international film festivals.

“We are very excited to share this year’s films from both our Kahului-based program and our new west side program,” said Cahill. “This year’s students have taken on some very relevant new topics such as coral bleaching and climate change and have explored new film styles like whiteboard drawing animation. We will also be sharing information on some exciting new youth programs coming up this summer and next year.”

Taylor Redman filming for the 7th Annual Maui Huliau event.

Under the Sea Debris filming for the 7th Annual Maui Huliau event.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to learn more about Maui Huliau Foundation’s summer programs and up-coming events, and may purchase the popular Huliau sporks made of environmentally-friendly bamboo as an alternative to the plastic utensils that are thrown away by the thousands at local schools and restaurants.

“Maui Huliau’s programs have truly changed my life by opening my eyes to environmental issues on our island,” said Kaimana Idica, a 12th grader at Kamehameha Schools Maui who has participated in Maui Huliau programs since 9th grade. “Through media and youth innovation these films are a creative way to share this environmental awareness with our community island wide,” he said.

Tickets may be purchased at a discount in advance at Native Intelligence in Wailuku, the POME store in Pāʻia, or at www.mauihuliaufoundation.org/festival.

Huliau Youth Environmental Film Festival Facts:

WHAT: 2017 Huliau Youth Environmental Film Festival WHO: Maui Huliau Foundation
WHERE: Historic ʻĪao Theater in Wailuku WHEN: Saturday, June 3 at 7 p.m. (Doors open at 6:40 p.m.)
TICKETS: $12 online general / $15 general at the door / $5 youth (under 18). Tickets can also be purchased at the theatre box office starting at 6:30 p.m. on the day of the event.