Waimea Ocean Film Festival reception. ( Hawaii 24/7 photo by Karin Stanton)

Karin Stanton | Hawaii 24/7 Editor

The second annual Waimea Ocean Film Festival kicked off Wednesday evening with a gala reception at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.

The film festival runs through Jan. 8, showing at venues in Waimea and at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. The festival continues Jan. 10-13 at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.

Tania Howard, festival founder and director, said she is thrilled the film fest is back for a second year.

“It’s one of those event that is just supposed to happen. We have really extraordinary films and artists,” she said. “We are fortunate to have, across the board, such amazing films and speakers.”

The festival kicked off with a screening of ‘Family of Waa,” the story of a Pacific voyage and the brotherhood is spawns.

According to the festival literature: “Kimokeo Kapahulehua is a man with a kuleana; a promise to keep. Not just to his uncle Kavika or Hawaii, but to all people and generations, past and future. His kuleana is to link the Hawaiian islands together like a lei. And for the first time in recorded history, it will be done in an outrigger paddling canoe (wa’a). Six years and 1,750 miles later, he and his team find they have done more than complete their voyage to honor Kimokeo’s kuleana; they have become the Family of the Waa.”

Kapahulehua said the film is not so much a monument to the achievement, but to the experience.

“The film really reflects the moments out on the water. I’m proud of the crew we had. Together, it was the combination of everyone to make it happen,” Kapahulehua said. “It’s really more abour how we’re connected to the natural elements: the wind, the water, the sky, the sun, the night.”

Joining Kapahulehua on the voyage was Chris Luedi, general manager of the Fairmont Orchid. Luedi was one of four paddlers to complete every leg of the 1,750 mile voyage, along with Kapahulehua, Jamie Woodburn and Kendall Struxness.

The film is dedicated to Kendall Struxness who completed the journey from Hawaii to Kure even as cancer threatened his very life. He died in April 2011.

Struxnass is remembered as “a man of enormous heart and courage, he is greatly missed.”

Howard said she is pleased to see the festival growing to include a hula performance at Kahilu Theatre and local filmmakers.

“It’s really wonderful to see the integration between the culture here and the films,” Howard said. “It feels really special.”

Offerings and appearances by Bryce Groark, a Kona filmmaker, and Clark Little, a well-known Oahu filmmaker, are among the highlights of this year’s festival.

Four Seasons general manager, Robert Whitfield, said he it’s an honor to host the festival.

“I look at it from two angles,” he said. “What can we do to encourage business during this quiet time of year and what can we do for the community?”

Whitfield said he is particularly fond of the Waimea Ocean Film Festival.

“These films, this genre of films, it’s really important. The films are moving, spiritual, educational,” he said. “It’s really important that we see this.”

WAIMEA OCEAN FILM FESTIVAL:

Every morning, breakfast talks allow participants to engage in discussions with filmmakers and speakers, and hear the ‘inside story.’

At dawn, early risers can enjoy yoga on the beach, outrigger canoe lessons or other early morning activities. Films and presentations run throughout the day, with a break for dinner at sunset, and then continue until late in the evening.

Filmmakers and special guests will be on hand to participate in the festival, and answer questions after the films.

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