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Maui Connections

Made-on-Maui movies are making news again, with some new names in the credits.

Maui filmmaker MarQ Morrison emailed to say his short film “Ka Hale: A Revival” was a finalist in the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) People’s Choice Award national film challenge.

His film chronicles Hana master hale builder kumu Francis Palani Sinenci and “the revival of ancient Hawaiian hale building in an effort to save indigenous cultural practices,” MarQ says. Fifteen films were selected as finalists out of the 89 entered. His movie was a “self-funded passion project up against films funded by big architecture firms and townships.”

“Ka Hale: A Revival” will screen at Chicago Ideas, an annual festival in Chicago, and Francis Sinenci will attend. MarQ is working on the longer version and the second episode, “Ka Wa’a,” in his series “6 Elements of Hawaiian Culture.” To view the short film and learn more about his series, visit www.KaHaleRevival.com.

* * *

The premiere of filmmaker Steven Bumgardner’s “Haleakala: A Rare and Sacred Landscape” brought crowds to the Maui Arts & Cultural Center last Thursday. Sponsored by The Fund for People In Parks, McCoy Studio Theater was filled to capacity, and a second showing of the short film was added.

“It reminded us all of how beautiful and precious our national park is from Kipahulu to the summit,” report Cynthia Conrad and Jerry Labb.

The Haleakala-inspired program included dance performances by Halau Hula Wehena O Ke Ao and traditional Hawaiian songs by Helekahi, a brother and sister from Hana who took listeners from Nahiku to Kaupo with their beautiful harmonies. George Kahumoku Jr. emceed, chanted, sang and played 12-string guitar with special guest, ukulele virtuoso Daniel Ho.

Among those lucky enough to get in were Rick Sands, Jeff Stark, Lynn Britton, Craig Swift, Larry Feinberg and Neida Cahoj.

* * *

Actually, it was a movie production that provided my introduction to Tucson, Ariz., decades ago. Tucson is this column’s home away from home, where I’ll be filing from for the next few months.

In 1986 I was invited on a press junket for this ridiculous little comedy, destined to become a classic of sorts, called “Three Amigos.” Parts of it had been filmed around Tucson. The junket was housed at luxurious Loew’s Ventana Canyon Resort, with saguaro cactus standing like sentries and serene desert vistas just outside its huge, stone-framed windows.

The serenity gave way to one of those gut-sinking what-was-I-thinking? moments when I realized that I would actually be going one-on-three in front of the video cameras with three of the most brilliant movie comics of the times. Sensing my panic, Steve Martin, Martin Short and Chevy Chase went easy on the gringo. They even gave me my own Three Amigo salute at the end of the interview. It was probably required in their promotional contract with the studio.

These days my three amigos in Tucson are ages 8, 6 and 4. They make me envy friends on Maui who can be grandparents without ever having to leave home. But the western-movie backdrops, the big skies and the foothills that turn purple at dusk make being here not so bad at all.

* * *

It helps that so many of you are keeping me in the loop at home. Paul Janes-Brown reports on good times had by all at the first Mana’o Radio Soiree Sunday evening “at the magical wonderland of Bill and Millie Kohl in the heart of Haiku under a clear sky and waxing moon. Mr. Kohl is the designer of both Mama’s Fish House and the Mill House at the Maui Tropical Plantation and he has a big secret project. His property has a pond, a double-decker bus and a wonderful stage,” emails Paul.

“About 125 guests noshed, gawked, danced and imbibed while 25 volunteers including Mary Dungans and her Pink Paddlers lent a hand. Chef Junior and Preston from Nalu’s kept the pupus coming.” The menu including crab cakes, chicken satay, caprese skewers, shrimp pesto and ahi and vegan sliders won five-star reviews from all.

“Makai Jazz with Gibran Vicente and Jimmy C, vocals; Bruce Boege, alto sax; Jerry Kovarski, keyboards; and Dave Graybar, bass; and the Steve Grimes Band provided the sounds for friends of the station to cut a rug on the parachute-enclosed marble dance floor. Among them were Dale and Marge Bonar; Rich and Inger Tulley (she of the Hawaii Community Foundation); Karin Frost, inventor of Ergo Baby; newly minted Mauian Joy Waters; Dr. Barry Sultanoff and Laura Lee Blanchard; Dr. Nina Vishnevska; artists Eva Roberts and Tom Calhoun; Soul Kitchen duo Naor and Tempa Singer-Nave and volunteer meister Keith Ranney.”

* Rick Chatenever, award-winning columnist and former entertainment and features editor of The Maui News, is a freelance journalist, instructor at UH-Maui College and documentary scriptwriter/producer. Contact him at rickchatenever@gmail.com.

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