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Kumu Hina
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Wikipedia article
'Kumu Hina' is a 2014 American LGBTQ related documentary film co-produced and co-directed by Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson. It is based on the story of Hina Wong-Kalu, and stars Wong-Kalu, Haemaccelo Kalu and Ho'Onani Kamai. The film premiered at the Hawaii International Film Festival on April 10, 2014, and had its television debut on 'Independent Lens' in May 2015.
Synopsis
Hina Wong-Kalu is a 'mh' - a Native Hawaiian 'kumu' (teacher), activist and cultural icon. She lives her life "in the middle", in between the traditional ways of Hawaii's indigenous, third gender, 'mh' culture, 'and' as a modern transgender person in contemporary Hawaii, trying to preserve and pass on the indigenous culture to the younger generations. Before foreigners came to the land mahus were valued, respected as caretakers, healers, and teachers of ancient traditions who passed on sacred knowledge. After the missionaries arrived, they imposed their language and religious strictures across the Hawaiian islands, and pushed away from mahus.
During the year covered by the film, Kumu Hina mentors one of the students named Hoonani who also finds themselves "in the middle" when they want to join the all-male hula group in her school. The film also follows Kumu Hina's personal life as she seeks a committed romantic relationship with a younger man from Tonga, and travels into the hills to meet her elders, the traditional third gender 'mh' who live together on the land and provide her with spiritual guidance.
Cast
*Haemaccelo Kalu as self
*Ho'Onani Kamai as self
*Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu as self
Reception and release
'Kumu Hina' won the Documentary Jury award at the Frameline Film Festival and the Audience Award as the most popular documentary among voting viewers for the 20142015 season of 'Independent Lens'. In 2016, the film won Outstanding Documentary from the GLAAD Media Awards.
'Filmmaker' magazine called the film "a stunning eye-opener", while Indiewire considered it "incredibly poignant and moving", and 'YES!' magazine commended the film for "lifting the veil on the misunderstood and marginalized experience of 'other' gendered individuals whose identity cannot be defined by the broad strokes of contemporary Western categorization".
Release
The film premiered at the Hawaii International Film Festival on April 10, 2014, and had its television debut on 'Independent Lens' in May 2015.Education campaign
The filmmakers initiated an education campaign to bring Kumu Hina's message to diverse audiences. The campaign, launched at an event at the Ford Foundation, includes a short children's version of the film, 'A Place in the Middle', and teaching and classroom discussion guides.
Accolades
References
{{Reflist|refs=
[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3163238/awards Kumu Hina Awards]
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