“When we talk about the navigation, it’s not ours, it’s theirs.” – Nainoa Thompson
As I waited in the rush line for the 46th Hawaiʻi International Film Festival’s (HIFF46) opening night premiere of The Navigator at the Hawaii Theatre, I felt unsure how to make my way through this space of wayfinders, sea people, and Pacific Islander legends. Driving over, I thought about what I knew of the Hōkūleʻa, Nainoa Thompson’s legacy, and the larger story of the Hawaiian Renaissance that continues today because of Nainoa and the wayfinders now taking the helm to guide where the culture goes next and, more importantly, ensure it thrives. The Navigator arrives at a pressing moment, with cultural, political, and societal uncertainty churning around the world, to deliver a message about how to set a course: observation and faith.
I started my night unwittingly doing just that, chatting with moviegoers and wayfinding community members to find out what brought them to see The Navigator on a Wednesday night in Honolulu’s Chinatown. Inside the theatre I met Pako, a paddler for Hui Nalu Canoe Club, and his wife Kaliko, who wanted to raise her son to love the ocean so he wouldn’t move to the mainland. Fatu, a security guard for the theatre that night, was genuinely excited to see a story about Polynesia brought to the big screen. I was lucky enough to meet Brandi, who serves on the Hōkūleʻa land crew and described the voyagers as magical folks. I also ran into my friend Deanie, a Kanaka Maoli filmmaker on Oʻahu whose nephew’s parents consulted with Nainoa’s people to name their younger son after him about 20 years ago. With so many walks of life gathered to watch this film, the stage was set for a landmark opening night…
Read the entire essay at Quinten Nishime’s Substack
The HIFF ONLINE CREATIVES & CRITICS IMMERSIVE (HOCCI) program supports sustainable film criticism in Hawai’i through mentorship and paid career opportunities for Hawai’i-based AANHPI critics. The mission of HOCCI is to broaden diversity in film criticism across the Pacific and use influencer branding strategies to spark career opportunities. The 2026 HOCCI is supported by Critical Minded, a grant-making and learning initiative that supports cultural critics of color in the United States.
Quinten Nishime started as a boots-on-the-ground volunteer with HIFF in 2024, energetically walking up and down the festival lines running through Kahala Mall, making sure everyone has their tickets and gets to their seats. He’s met many kind and gracious volunteers and attendees who have directed him toward new films and genres. He appreciates all forms of media and gravitates most toward animation. Outside of HIFF, you can find him helping produce improv events, attending as many live theater shows as his budget (and partner) allow, and using his Consolidated Theatres pass to see movies with his dad.
