Maui Huliau Foundation to Host Annual Film Festival

The Maui Huliau Foundation, a non-profit environmental education group, will host their 9th annual Huliau Youth Environmental Film Festival at the historic ʻīao Theatre on Sunday, May 19 at 6 p.m. Proceeds from the event will support the foundationʻs Huliau Environmental Filmmaking Club after-school program in the upcoming school year.

The event will premiere ten short, environmental films made by students from fourteen different schools in Maui County. Students pitch, plan, shoot and edit their films in the filmmaking program throughout the school year.

This year’s event will feature documentary films from new Huliau youth filmmaking programs in Hāna and Molokaʻi. Other films include a music video parody of the song Cheerleader about avoiding single-use plastic, as well as a claymation film in which sea creatures speak about human impacts on their marine environment.

Kiana Liu, a senior at Kamehameha Maui and a member of the filmmaking program, said the foundation has allowed her to capture environmental issues in an informative and entertaining way.

“Through these experiences, I have made so many friends and connections. The Huliau staff have helped me so much in capturing the stories I find are important to share with the community of Maui,” Liu said. “They have inspired me to tell the stories I want to tell, and care more about the story rather than just the technical aspects of filmmaking. This organization is so deserving and I plan to continue to help them as I continue on to film school.”

The filmmaking club has produced more than 70 student films that have been selected for over 100 national and international film festivals.

“This year we are excited to share new youth films created in partnership with youth organizations in Hāna and Molokaʻi,” executive director Malia Cahill said. “We have a great mix of different film styles and creative stories from across Maui Nui.”

Tickets to the festival are available for purchase in advance at a discounted rate at Native Intelligence, Lost on Maui, or online. Tickets cost $12 online for general seating, $15 at the door for general seating, and $5 for keiki under the age of 18. Tickets may also be purchased at the theatre box office starting at 5:30 p.m. on the day of the event. Doors open at 5:40 p.m.

Event updates can be found on the Maui Huliau Foundation Facebook page.