Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 12, 1 December 2016 — PAʻA KE AUPUNI The Reel History of Hawai ʻi [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PAʻA KE AUPUNI The Reel History of Hawai ʻi

"PA'A KE AUPUNI: THE REEL HISTORY OF HAWAI'I" is an animated feature produced by OHA that endeavors to have Hawaiians tell their own story, while remaining steadfast~pa'a-to the facts. The film opens in traditional times, setting the stage for the era of Kamehameha and ends at the purported "annexation" of Hawai'i in the late 19th century. "We wanted to eome up with something that had utility for both Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians alike, a historical primer that could be used in a variety of settings," said producer Ryan Gonzalez. "How ean we get non-Hawaiians to support Hawaiians? How ean we better engage Hawaiians? It all starts with education and knowing the facts." "Pa'a Ke Aupuni" evolved out of a combination of group discussions conducted by trustees and community members, a 2013 Board of Trustees motion that committed OHA to providing education to the Hawaiian community and general puhlie on key points in Hawaiian history and eommunity feedback. It debuted in Honolulu on July 31, 2015. In addition, OHA hosted 24 screenings across the pae 'āina that were attended by almost 1,500 people. It also aired on KGMB and KHNL. Tens of thousands of people have watched this ground-breaking film, and it continues to be available online, on digital eahle, and for download.