Film and panel about Hawaiian national hero Joseph Nawahi

Biography Hawai’i: Joseph Nawahi

Time: October 7, 2009 from 6pm to 9pm

Location: Kamakakuokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, UH Manoa

Event Description:

On October 7th from 6-9 at Kamakakuokalani (Center for Hawaiian studies) there will be a film showing of the recently made documentary on Joseph Nawahi, followed by panel discussion w/ Filmaker Victoria Knuebuhl, Jon Osorio, Noenoe Silva.

First they will show the film in ‘Olelo Hawai’i (Hawaiian language) then in ‘Olelo Haole (English).

Joseph Nawahi was a true Hawaiian patriot and leader. Part of Hui Aloha ‘Aina Hawaiian Patriotic League who traveled across Ko Hawai’i Pae ‘Aina and collected the anti american annexation petitions known as the Ku’e petitions which stopped U.S. annexation until the spanish-am war.

Here’s a description from Leslie Wilcox, CEO of Hawaii Public Broadcasting:

Ever heard of Joseph Nawahi? Traditionally, history has been written by the victors–and that explains why most people in Hawaii have never heard of this Hawaiian Renaissance man. He was on the losing end of a forced change in government, fighting the 1893 overthrow of his Queen, Lili’uokalani, and the end of Hawaii’s monarchy. Deemed “treasonous,” he died in harsh prison conditions in 1896.

Nawahi is worth knowing about today. The Puna native was an indefatigable learner–learning profession after profession in following his passions.  He was a teacher, surveyor, newspaper editor, self-taught lawyer, legislator, cabinet minister, and painter (one of his landscapes was professionally appraised recently at $450,000).

His remarkable story will be told  on Thursday (June 25, 2009) at 8:30 pm when PBS Hawaii partners with the University of Hawaii Center for Biographical Research to present a documentary: “Biography Hawai’i: Joseph Nawahi.”

We’re pleased to present the program twice in a row–first, in the English language, with Hawaiian subtitles; the second time with a Hawaiian narrative, and English-language captions.

The other evening, independent producers Craig Howes and Joy Chong-Stannard held a screening of the film in our studio at PBS Hawaii. (A third producer, writer Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl, was out of town.) It was great to see the great-great-grandson of Nawahi and other descendants gather and take pride that a new generation would learn of Nawahi’s achievements.

Nawahi was an influential figure in the days of  the struggle over Hawaiian sovereignty. His integrity, skills and connections made him a formidable adversary.

UH scholars Larry Lindsey Kimura, M. Puakea Nogelmeier, Jonathan Osorio, and Noenoe Silva took part in this documentary. Ka’upena Wong narrated in English; Kala’i Ontai narrated in Hawaiian. There are scenes in which Kalena Silva plays Joseph Nawahi.

And kudos to PBS Hawaii’s Daryl Harada, who did an exceptional job of editing the hour-long  documentary, working with only two and a half  photographs of Nawahi.