2019 Huliau Youth Environmental Film Festival takes over Historic Iao Theater
Stills from the student short film, “Bring Your Own” will be screened during the Huliau Youth Environmental Film Festival in the Historic Iao Theater. -- Photo courtesy Maui Huliau Foundation
Stills from the student short film, “ ‘Aina Pulapula” will also be screened during the Huliau Youth Environmental Film Festival in the Historic Iao Theater. -- Photo courtesy Maui Huliau Foundation
Keanu Frith in the short film, “Green Gone,” which will be screening at the May 19 festival during which young filmmakers creatively address climate change and environmental issues. -- Photo courtesy Maui Huliau Foundation
Stills from the student short film, “Bring Your Own” will be screened during the Huliau Youth Environmental Film Festival in the Historic Iao Theater. -- Photo courtesy Maui Huliau Foundation
Stills from the student short film, “ ‘Aina Pulapula” will also be screened during the Huliau Youth Environmental Film Festival in the Historic Iao Theater. -- Photo courtesy Maui Huliau Foundation
Keanu Frith in the short film, “Green Gone,” which will be screening at the May 19 festival during which young filmmakers creatively address climate change and environmental issues. -- Photo courtesy Maui Huliau Foundation
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The Maui Huliau Foundation, an environmental education nonprofit serving Maui's youth, will host its ninth annual Huliau Youth Environmental Film Festival at 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 19 at the Historic Iao Theater in Wailuku.
The event will premiere 10 short environmental films made by youth from 14 different schools in Maui County. These students pitch, plan, shoot and edit their films at an after-school filmmaking program coordinated by MHF throughout the school year. Funds raised are used to support the program in the upcoming school year.
This year's films feature documentary films from new Huliau youth filmmaking programs in Hana and Molokai. Other films include a music video parody about avoiding single-use plastics, and a claymation film in which sea creatures speak about human impacts on their marine environment.
"Maui Huliau Foundation has allowed me to capture environmental issues in an informational but entertaining way," expressed Kiana Liu, a senior at the Kamehameha Schools Maui campus. "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. 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."
A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, MHF promotes environmental literacy and leadership among Maui students between the ages of 12 and 18.
The Huliau Environmental Filmmaking Club is the organization's longest running program and has produced more than 70 student films selected repeatedly by national and international film festivals.
Executive Director Malia Cahill said she is excited to share new youth films created in partnership with youth organizations in Hana and on Molokai.
"We have a great mix of different film styles and creative stories from across Maui Nui," she added.
Tickets may be purchased in advance at discounted prices at Native Intelligence in Wailuku, Lost on Maui in Paia or at www.mauihuliaufoundation.org/festival. You can also find updates and a Facebook event on its various social media sites @mauihuliau.
IF YOU GO: Huliau Youth Environmental Film
Presented by the Maui Huliau Foundation
Sunday, May 19 at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5:40 p.m.) Tickets are $12 for general admittance if purchased in advance at Native Intelligence in Wailuku or Lost on Maui in Paia or online at www.mauihuliaufoundation.org/festival; $15 general admittance purchased at the door and $5 youth 18 years of age and younger. Tickets can also be purchased at the theater box office starting at 5:30 p.m. on the day of the event.