Writer Director Christopher Kahunahana Talks Story with McKenna Maduli about his film “Waikiki”

Host McKenna Maduli welcomes Christopher Kahunahana into the Talk Story Hale to learn about his local film getting global attention: “Waikiki”.

SCRIPT: McKenna Maduli Talks Story with filmmaker Christopher Kahunahana about his latest film “Waikiki”. The two also learn from McKenna’s one-man band dad Kata Maduli that they are actually ‘ohana! Chris shares the inspiration behind the film and the trailer for “Waikiki”, his local film that is receiving world-wide acclaim. Chris talks about the importance of finding local talent and keeping the narrative authentic.

About Waikiki The Movie: Escaping her abusive ex-boyfriend, Kea, a part-time Hawaiian teacher, hula dancer, and bar hostess temporarily lives out of her van to piece her life back together. One night after a violent beating, she speeds off into the night only to slam into Wo, a mysterious homeless man crossing the street. Unwilling to leave him to die, she takes him into her van and life. Their developing friendship and illusions of safety are soon shattered when her van is towed. Here desperation triggers past trauma, driving her towards insanity. Waikiki is a visceral allegory for the contemporary issues which plague Hawaii’s people, from mental illness, physical abusive, and the loss of Hawaiian Identity.

About: Writer Director Christopher Kahunahana is a visionary Hawaiian filmmaker and a Sundance Institute Native Lab fellow. As founder of 4th World Film, he wrote Karaoke Kings, a feature film in development. He also directed LĀHAINĀ NOON, a narrative short that premiered at HIFF 2014. Christopher also directed a pseudo-documentary for the Smithsonian Institute’s Asian Pacific American “A Day in the Life” project. In 2015, his HIFF trailer MOMENTS won 4 PELE awards from the American Advertising Awards.

For more information: www.waikikithemovie.com, @chriskahunahana

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