Kapaemahu is a 2020 animated short film produced and directed by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson with director of the animation Daniel Sousa. It is based on the long-hidden history of four healing stones on Waikiki Beach placed there as a tribute to four legendary mahu who first brought the healing arts to Hawaii.[1] The film is narrated in Olelo Niihau, the only unbroken form of the Hawaiian language. Kapaemahu premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, was screened in over 160 film festivals and 200 theaters worldwide, won multiple Oscar-qualifying jury awards, and was shortlisted for Best Animated Short Film at the 93rd Academy Awards®.[2]
The film was conceived in 2010 when Wong-Kalu introduced Hamer and Wilson to the stones of Kapaemahu, which she had known since childhood, while they were filming her in Waikīkī for the documentary Kumu Hina.[3] Recognizing the potential of the site to act as a monument to Hawaiian concepts of healing and gender diversity, the team began researching the history of the stones, which had long been hidden from the public. This led to the discovery of the first recorded version of the oral tradition, a handwritten manuscript in the archives of the University of Hawai'i that became the basis for the film script.[1] It was decided to narrate the film in Olelo Niihau, which is the only form of Hawaiian spoken continuously since prior to Western contact and closest to the language that would have been spoken by the healers. Sousa developed a hand-painted art style and palette for the project that is rooted in the Polynesian art forms of tapa making and lauhala weaving.[1]
Release and Receptionedit
The film world premiered at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival, where it was awarded the Special Jury Mention.[4] It received favorable reviews from several critics.[5][6] Sharmindrila Paul of AnimationXpress wrote “ The film looks like poetry in motion. The animation technique is unique and evokes a feeling of witnessing the legend and its history in person”.[7] It was characterized by Animation Magazine as “a vivid animation seen through the eyes of a child,"[8] by Filmmaker Magazine as a "rich standout,"[9] by Zippy Frames as a "thoughtful film about connecting the past to the future, inviting understanding, and executed in a uniquely empathetic way,"[10] and by IndieWire as "a transgender, Hawaiian breakthrough."[11]
Book, Documentary, Exhibition, and Monumentedit
The animated film was used as the basis for a children's picture book called Kapaemahu published by Penguin Random House. It was also used as the primary storytelling device for the moolelo in a PBS documentary film and an immersive multimedia exhibition at the Bishop Museum, both titled The Healer Stones of Kapaemahu. In 2023, the animated film was incorporated into the commemorative landscape of Hawaii through a permanent display about the stones at the Hawaii Convention Center[12][13] and new interpretive signage at the Kapaemahu monument in Waikiki,[14][15] both of which use the animated film as the storytelling device for the moolelo.
^ abcKa Wai Ola (30 March 2020). "Kapaemahu: A Lost Story Found".
^ ab"93rd Oscars Shortlists Announced". 9 February 2021.
^ABC Radio Australia (June 24, 2020). "New Hawaiian short film Kapaemahu celebrates indigenous knowledge and LGBT+ rights". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
^ abIndiewire (29 April 2020). "Tribeca Film Festival Winners".
^The Independent Critic. ""Kapaemahu" Screens as Finalist at Indy Shorts". theindependentcritic.com. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
^AnimationXpress (July 29, 2020). "Animated short, 'Kapaemahu' hails the healing powers of the four mahus (transgenders) - AnimationXpress".
^ abMilligan, Mercedes (June 5, 2020). "Animayo Wraps Virtual Edition with 35K Attendees; 'Kapaemahu' Wins Grand Prize".
^"Hawai'i International Film Festival 2020: Gathering Community". 24 November 2020.
^Zippy Frames (Jan 11, 2021). "Kapaemahu by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson". Zippy Frames.
^Desowitz, Bill (2021-03-08). "'Kapaemahu': This Animated Short Oscar Contender Is a Transgender, Hawaiian Breakthrough". IndieWire. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
^Dower, Linsey (2023-02-17). "Convention center unveils Hawaiian cultural exhibits". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
^"New cultural exhibit at Hawaii Convention Center". KHON2. 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
^"Honolulu tells story of healers with dual male and female spirit through new plaque in Waikiki". AP News. 2023-10-25. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
^Fernandez-Akamine, Puanani (2023-12-01). "Preserving the Original Story of Kapaemahu". Ka Wai Ola. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
^Variety (June 11, 2020). "15th Animayo Awards Top Prize to Hawaiian Short 'Kapaemahu'".
^"Foyle Film Festival Light in Motion Competition Winners Announced". 30 November 2020.
^"imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival". 8 April 2022.
^AmimationXpress (August 19, 2020). "'Kapaemahu' wins at BISFF; 'Avarya' and 'Radha: The Eternal Melody' secure second and third position". AnimationXpress. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
^New Zealand International Film Festival. "New Zealand International Film Festival: Nga Whanaunga Maori Pasifika Shorts Best Film Award Winner Announced".
External linksedit
Official website
Kapaemahu Channel on Vimeo
April 10, 2024
kapaemahu, film, kapaemahu, 2020, animated, short, film, produced, directed, hinaleimoana, wong, kalu, dean, hamer, wilson, with, director, animation, daniel, sousa, based, long, hidden, history, four, healing, stones, waikiki, beach, placed, there, tribute, f. Kapaemahu is a 2020 animated short film produced and directed by Hinaleimoana Wong Kalu Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson with director of the animation Daniel Sousa It is based on the long hidden history of four healing stones on Waikiki Beach placed there as a tribute to four legendary mahu who first brought the healing arts to Hawaii 1 The film is narrated in Olelo Niihau the only unbroken form of the Hawaiian language Kapaemahu premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival was screened in over 160 film festivals and 200 theaters worldwide won multiple Oscar qualifying jury awards and was shortlisted for Best Animated Short Film at the 93rd Academy Awards 2 KapaemahuDirected byHinaleimoana Wong KaluDean HamerJoe WilsonDaniel Sousa Animation Director Produced byHinaleimoana Wong KaluDean HamerJoe WilsonMusic byDan GoldenKaumakaiwa Kanakole Chant Animation byDaniel SousaProductioncompaniesKanaka PakipikaPacific Islanders in CommunicationsRelease dateApril 18 2020 2020 04 18 Running time8 minCountryUnited StatesLanguageHawaiian Niʻihau dialect Contents 1 Production 2 Release and Reception 3 Book Documentary Exhibition and Monument 4 Selections and awards 5 References 6 External linksProduction editThe film was conceived in 2010 when Wong Kalu introduced Hamer and Wilson to the stones of Kapaemahu which she had known since childhood while they were filming her in Waikiki for the documentary Kumu Hina 3 Recognizing the potential of the site to act as a monument to Hawaiian concepts of healing and gender diversity the team began researching the history of the stones which had long been hidden from the public This led to the discovery of the first recorded version of the oral tradition a handwritten manuscript in the archives of the University of Hawai i that became the basis for the film script 1 It was decided to narrate the film in Olelo Niihau which is the only form of Hawaiian spoken continuously since prior to Western contact and closest to the language that would have been spoken by the healers Sousa developed a hand painted art style and palette for the project that is rooted in the Polynesian art forms of tapa making and lauhala weaving 1 Release and Reception editThe film world premiered at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival where it was awarded the Special Jury Mention 4 It received favorable reviews from several critics 5 6 Sharmindrila Paul of AnimationXpress wrote The film looks like poetry in motion The animation technique is unique and evokes a feeling of witnessing the legend and its history in person 7 It was characterized by Animation Magazine as a vivid animation seen through the eyes of a child 8 by Filmmaker Magazine as a rich standout 9 by Zippy Frames as a thoughtful film about connecting the past to the future inviting understanding and executed in a uniquely empathetic way 10 and by IndieWire as a transgender Hawaiian breakthrough 11 Book Documentary Exhibition and Monument editThe animated film was used as the basis for a children s picture book called Kapaemahu published by Penguin Random House It was also used as the primary storytelling device for the moolelo in a PBS documentary film and an immersive multimedia exhibition at the Bishop Museum both titled The Healer Stones of Kapaemahu In 2023 the animated film was incorporated into the commemorative landscape of Hawaii through a permanent display about the stones at the Hawaii Convention Center 12 13 and new interpretive signage at the Kapaemahu monument in Waikiki 14 15 both of which use the animated film as the storytelling device for the moolelo Selections and awards editYear Festival Location Award Category2020 Tribeca Film Festival New York City NY Special Jury Mention 4 2020 Animayo International Film Festival Canary Islands Spain Grand Jury Prize 16 8 2020 Atlanta Film Festival Atlanta GA Best Animated Short 17 2020 Foyle Film Festival Derry Northern Ireland Best Animated Short 18 2020 Hiroshima International Animation Festival Hiroshima Japan Special Jury Prize2020 Nashville Film Festival Nashville TN Audience Award2020 Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival Los Angeles CA Audience Award2020 Rhode Island International Film Festival Providence Rhode Island Best Animation Short2020 Chicago International Children s Film Festival Chicago Illinois Children s Jury Best Animated Short2020 imagineNATIVE Toronto Canada Best Native Language Production 19 2020 Bengalaru International Short Film Festival Bangalore India Best Animated Film 20 2020 Boston International Kids Film Festival Boston MA Best Foreign Language Film2020 New Zealand International Film Festival Auckland New Zealand Special Jury Mention 21 2020 Annecy International Animated Film Festival Annecy France Nominated City of Annecy Award2020 Ottawa International Animation Film Festival Ottawa Canada Nominated Best Children s Film2020 Palm Springs International Short Fest Palm Springs California Nominated Best LGBT Short2020 Indy Shorts International Film Festival Indianapolis IN Nominated Grand Prize2020 Zlin International Film Festival for Children and Youth Zlin Czech Republic Nominated Golden Slipper2020 Melbourne International Film Festival Melbourne Australia Nominated City of Melbourne Award2021 93rd Academy Awards Los Angeles CA Shortlisted Best Animated Short Film 2 References edit a b c Ka Wai Ola 30 March 2020 Kapaemahu A Lost Story Found a b 93rd Oscars Shortlists Announced 9 February 2021 ABC Radio Australia June 24 2020 New Hawaiian short film Kapaemahu celebrates indigenous knowledge and LGBT rights Australian Broadcasting Corporation a b Indiewire 29 April 2020 Tribeca Film Festival Winners The Independent Critic Kapaemahu Screens as Finalist at Indy Shorts theindependentcritic com Retrieved 2020 08 25 The Queer Review 2020 05 16 Film Review Kapaemahu The Queer Review Retrieved 2020 08 25 AnimationXpress July 29 2020 Animated short Kapaemahu hails the healing powers of the four mahus transgenders AnimationXpress a b Milligan Mercedes June 5 2020 Animayo Wraps Virtual Edition with 35K Attendees Kapaemahu Wins Grand Prize Hawai i International Film Festival 2020 Gathering Community 24 November 2020 Zippy Frames Jan 11 2021 Kapaemahu by Hinaleimoana Wong Kalu Dean Hamer Joe Wilson Zippy Frames Desowitz Bill 2021 03 08 Kapaemahu This Animated Short Oscar Contender Is a Transgender Hawaiian Breakthrough IndieWire Retrieved 2021 03 10 Dower Linsey 2023 02 17 Convention center unveils Hawaiian cultural exhibits Honolulu Star Advertiser Retrieved 2024 01 09 New cultural exhibit at Hawaii Convention Center KHON2 2023 02 21 Retrieved 2024 01 09 Honolulu tells story of healers with dual male and female spirit through new plaque in Waikiki AP News 2023 10 25 Retrieved 2024 01 09 Fernandez Akamine Puanani 2023 12 01 Preserving the Original Story of Kapaemahu Ka Wai Ola Retrieved 2024 01 09 Variety June 11 2020 15th Animayo Awards Top Prize to Hawaiian Short Kapaemahu Atlanta Film Festival Foyle Film Festival Light in Motion Competition Winners Announced 30 November 2020 imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival 8 April 2022 AmimationXpress August 19 2020 Kapaemahu wins at BISFF Avarya and Radha The Eternal Melody secure second and third position AnimationXpress Retrieved 2020 08 25 New Zealand International Film Festival New Zealand International Film Festival Nga Whanaunga Maori Pasifika Shorts Best Film Award Winner Announced External links editOfficial website Kapaemahu Channel on Vimeo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kapaemahu film amp oldid 1217900737, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
