About the film
Stories of Lāhainā is a short film centered on the belief that our kūpuna carry living history. These are stories passed down through generations, held in memory, language, food, songs, and the way we talk story.
After the loss of our hometown, protecting this history matters more than ever. This film is about remembering Lāhainā through the people who built it, raised families there, and still carry it with them.
What this film is
This project follows generational Lāhainā families through interviews that are led by keiki asking questions to their Kūpuna. That is how many of us learned our history in the first place. Sitting, listening, and talking story.
The film will focus on what Lāhainā felt like before, what people miss most, what they want the next generations to know, and what their hope is for Lāhainā moving forward.
Why keiki with Kūpuna
Having keiki ask the questions keeps the conversations natural. It creates space for stories to come out the way they are meant to be told, not like a formal interview.
It also shows the connection happening in real time. Past, present, and future in the same frame.
Themes the film explores
Lāhainā’s vibrant history and everyday life
The changes that shaped the community over time
The tragedy of loss and what people carry now
Hope for the future and what “right” looks like
The responsibility to remember and pass stories down
How it will be told
Alongside the interviews, the film will include visual moments that help place the audience inside the stories. Family photos and archival material will be used when available. When it is not available, our goal is to have animation and motion design to help paint the picture in a respectful way, especially for memories of places and moments that cannot be shown on camera.
The goal is to help people feel the story and understand what is being remembered.
Be part of it
Because this is a short film, I am limited in how many families I can include in this first version. Please still submit names and story leads. This project has the potential to grow into future episodes or a larger ongoing project, and your submission may help shape what comes next.