Kumu Hina

Kumu Hina

Directed by Dean Hamer & Joe Wilson
The true meaning of Aloha

Overview

Genre
Minorities, Culture, and Human Rights
Synopsis

Imagine a world where a little boy can grow up to be the woman of his dreams, and a young girl can rise to become a leader among men. Welcome to Kumu Hina's Hawai'i.

During a momentous year in her life in modern Honolulu, Hina Wong-Kalu, a native Hawaiian māhū, or transgender, teacher uses traditional culture to inspire a student to claim her place as leader of the school's all-male hula troupe. But despite her success as a teacher, Hina longs for love and a committed relationship. Will her marriage to a headstrong Tongan man fulfill her dreams? An incredible docu-drama that unfolds like a narrative film, KUMU HINA reveals a side of Hawai'i rarely seen on screen.

Stage
finished
Running time
77, 56 or 25 minutes

Credits

Production Details

Prod. Co.
Qwaves
Country
United States
Years of Production
2014
Locations
Hawaii, Fiji
Prod. Partners
ITVS Pacific islanders in Communication

Distribution Details

Release year
2014
Festivals
Hawaii International (closing night); Frameline; FIFO; and ~75 more
Awards
Frameline Documentary Jury; FIFO Jury and Audience; New York Asian Audience; San Diego Asian Jury; Independent Lens Audience Award for 2014-2015 season; and ~12 more
Distribution
Festival premiere 2014; TV premiere 2015
Broadcast (Prod.)
PBS
Broadcast (Acq.)
USA PBS/Independent Lens; France TV-O; New Zealand Maori TV; Australia SBS; Taiwan Indigenous TV
Language
English, Hawaiian, Tongan
Subtitles
Spanish, French, Japanese, Chinese

Photos

E481646b9d2d25bc27d558a6fcc1a327
Ed464a8ec8c27ac3ca4b325a6cc8e8ce
0a461ec881082ecbc03aae62d9807ec6
B477e12b9fca5bced023062237c60d77

Browse documentary films on The D-Word