Kaliko Kahoonei is a third-generation waterman from Oʻahu, who is looking forward to seeing the short film “Haagua” head to a big screen this week as part of the Honolulu Surf Film Festival, which will be held at the Doris Duke Theatre at the Honolulu Museum of Art.
“Haagua,” directed by Octavio Coutiño Aceves and Marc Antony Chavez, will screen along with another short, “Ciebo,” on Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 18. The films explore Indigenous knowledge of surfing and the ocean. Details.
The screening is especially meaningful for Kahoonei, who has family members on Oʻahu who plan attend.
“For me, it means a lot just because I'm from Oʻahu originally, and all my family is still out on the west side from Nānākuli all the way to Mākaha,” Kahoonei told Aloha State Daily. “I left my little print in the movie with what I ride, getting to show off a paipo board. To me, that’s the most basic way to ride waves. And I learned all that just being at the beach at Mākaha and seeing everybody riding all this different gear: surfboards and paddle boards and all this stuff. The people having the most fun are just on this simple cut out piece of wood. It ended up being a really cool piece of the story.”
The 15-minute short was previously featured at the innaugural Wailuku Film Festival, on June 18.
Now, Kahoonei lives in San Diego, California.
“Haagua” is a film for multiple audiences, he said.
“The message is for people that enjoy the water and people who have been displaced,” he said.
The Honolulu Surf Film Festival kicks off Thursday, July 9, and runs through Sunday, Aug. 2. It starts with the soldout world premiere of “Increments of Fear: The Buzzy Trent Story,” a documentary that tells the story of the legendary Hawaiʻi surfer Buzzy Trent.
On Sunday, July 19, there will be a free screening of “Surfilmusic,” which shares Jack Johnson’s journey from surfer to musician. This event is also soldout, although empty seats will be released five minutes before the movie starts.
Tickets are $15 for kamaʻāina and free for attendees 18 years old and younger. Follow “Haagua” on Instagram for updates. Get tickets.
As part of the festival, “Haagua” will screen twice.
“Really, it's a story of reconnecting,” Kahoonei said. “We use the Indigenous lens to tell the story, but I think [it’s really for] anybody that has ever felt connected to something and then had it taken away, and then you're trying to reconnect. ... The real main takeaway is that you don't have to look very far to get answers on how to reconnect. And it can be very simple, like a paipo board. Just being on that craft is paying homage to all the people that came before me and all my ancestors.”
One of the directors is Mark Chavez, who founded Native Like Water, a program of the nonprofit One World Bridge. Native Like Water works to reintegrate teens and young adults into ocean recreation and works with Native American populations in California, Hawaiʻi, Mexico and more.
The problems Kahoonei has seen in Waiʻanae, for instance, exist around the world, the waterman added.
“It doesn't matter where the water is, or the location, there's a lot of similarities,” Kahoonei said.
While the film festival circuit is happening now, the filming of “Haagua” started in early 2023. Catching the right conditions to film turned out to be one of the most challenging aspects of creating the piece, Kahoonei said. No waves, as well as rain and changing forecasts created complications.
In some cases, they had to wait months to get the right conditions to film certain moments.
“My favorite part is when you're watching the movie, you'll see the narration is done from a grandmother's perspective,” he said.
The first few visuals start on a replica of an early conquistador boat.
“It's knowing a little bit more history and knowing the struggle of Black and Brown people even just reconnecting with the ocean or going out for a surf,” he said.
Surf boards are not always accessible in Waiʻanae or parts of Mexico, he added.
“Just remembering there's a community of people who essentially created this sport and have great ties to it, but don't even have access,” he said. “And just noticing, ʻHey, there's a little disconnect here.’”
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Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
