MĀLAMA MĀKUA + Shorts
Sponsored by:
Nestled on the western shore of Oʻahu, Hawai‘i, Mākua Valley is a sacred place where Native Hawaiian creation stories speak of earth and sky deities giving birth to the first people. Once a thriving community rich in natural abundance, Mākua’s fate changed just days after the 1941 Pearl Harbor bombing, when the U.S. Army forcibly evicted its residents. For decades, the valley and its pristine beach were subjected to relentless military target practice, scarring both land and spirit in the name of national security.
MĀLAMA MĀKUA traces the valley’s transformation from a place of deep cultural roots to a rallying point for grassroots activism. It chronicles the ongoing struggle to restore U.S. military-occupied lands to Native Hawaiian stewardship, connecting this local fight to global movements for peace, demilitarization, and environmental justice. With the U.S. government’s lease set to expire in 2029, the call for Mākua’s return grows more urgent—and more hopeful—than ever.
CREDITS
Director(s): Mikey InouyeProducer(s): Laurel Mei-Singh, Ciara LacyWriter(s): Laurel Mei-Singh, Mikey InouyeCast: Sparky Rodrigues, Lynette Cruz, Vince Dodge, Leandra Wai, Fred DodgeCinematographer(s): Michael Cruickshank
Presented in Multiple Parts
HO’OMAU
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