SPOTLIGHT ON OKINAWA honors the enduring ties between Okinawa and Hawai‘i as we mark the 125th anniversary of Okinawan immigration to the islands. This special Hawai‘i International Film Festival section presents three brand-new films—each making their International premiere—that showcase the rich culture, resilience, and contemporary voices of Okinawa. Celebrating shared history and deep community roots, the program invites audiences to experience stories that reflect the vibrant connections and lasting legacy linking Okinawa and Hawai‘i across generations.
ARMY ON THE TREE — International Premiere
Directed by Kazuhiro Taira
October 18, 10:45am / October 23, 5:30pm – Consolidated Kahala
In 1945, as the Pacific War nears its end, Japanese officer Kazuo Yamashita and Okinawan recruit Seijun Agena escape a brutal battle on Ie Island. Taking refuge high in a sprawling banyan tree, they hide from encroaching U.S. forces as fallen comrades gather below. Cut off from the outside world, the two men endure an isolated “lonely war” for two years—clinging to hope for reinforcements that may never arrive. Directed by Kazuhiro Taira (MIRACLE CITY KOZA, HIFF 2022).
HERO’S ISLAND — International Premiere
Directed by Otomo Keishi
October 18, 10:15am – Consolidated Kahala
October 29, 6:00pm – Consolidated Kapolei
Set in 1952 Okinawa under U.S. occupation, HERO’S ISLAND follows childhood friends Gusuku, Yamako, and Rei—former rebels who once raided American bases under the leadership of the charismatic On, who vanished after a fateful heist. Years later, a violent incident and a U.S. hunt for the mysterious “prize” he stole draw them back together. Directed by Keishi Otomo and based on Junjo Shindo’s Naoki Prize–winning novel, this sweeping epic stars Satoshi Tsumabuki, Suzu Hirose, Masataka Kubota, and Eita Nagayama.
STEP OUT — International Premiere
Directed by Kazuhiro Taira, Yukihiko Tsutsumi
October 19, 11:15am / October 20, 2:30pm – Consolidated Kahala
In Okinawa, teenager Teruya Yō lives with his cheerful single mother Akane and younger sister Mai. After falling for a dance student named Lisa, Yō discovers a passion for dancing, supported by his mother’s encouragement. When a music producer uncle reveals his father has died, Yō confronts buried emotions and auditions for a chance to leave. Does he decide to pursue his dancing dreams in the Big Smoke of Tokyo, or will he decide to stay to be with family and friends in his island home? The latest film from Kazuhiro Taira (MIRACLE CITY KOZA, HIFF 2022).
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