Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 12, 1 December 1989 — New hui aims to promote native view in media [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]
New hui aims to promote native view in media
By Alani Apio Special to Ka Wai Ola O OHA How many of us have watched television programs, or feature films that included supposed "Hawaiians," or "Hawaiian culture," and been outraged by the misrepresentation of our culture and our 'aina? We are in the process of rewriting our cultural history from a Native point of view. We live in an age of mass media and it is essential that we record, and produce materials, using modern media from that same native point of view. If we do not, then we will continue to be faced with a distorted view of ourselves. The missionaries portrayed us as heathen in need of salvation. Modern American media has portrayed us as happy-go-lucky beachdwellers living in a Disneyland-like paradise. In the media of film, television, video, and theater, there is a sore laek of competently trained Hawaiians. Even more alarming is the ignorance and laek of interest in the power and influence of modern media. Hawaiians laek an awareness of the fact that modern media presents us with a way to promote and perpetuate our culture. The problem has always been that nonHawaiians have been the ones to do the promoting and perpetuating. Productions such as "Jake and the Fat Man," "Magnum P.I.", and now "Island Son" use Hawai'i as a beautiful backdrop, while providing loeal people with extra work or token roles while nonHawaiians and non-locals are given the leading roles. Could these types of productions, or productions of similar scope, be done by Hawaiians? I think they could. Our problem, as Hawaiians, is a laek of organization. So I am proposing the creation of a data base to list Hawaiians who are involved in the media of film, video, and theater. There are opportunities and revenue that we have not tapped into. Hawaiians need jobs, and Hawai'i needs to diversify its industrial base. By organizing our own media association, we will not only create jobs, but begin to turn the tide on how we, and in consequence the world, view ourselves. After a foundation has been laid by identifying those Hawaiians involved in the media, I suggest
the creation of a Native Hawaiian Media Association. The possibilities for an organization of this type are endless: a Hawaiian cable ehannel, a language series for adults, a Hawai'i-based sit-com, a series on traditions, myths, and symbols, playsfor our keiki dealing with language, culture, and the environment. We are not limited in what we ean do. But, we are far from using modern media to its greatest potential. The Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Program at the Bishop Museum has agreed to serve as the repository of a data base listing all Native Hawaiians involved in, but not limited to: film, television, video, and theater. This listing will include camera people, lighting, set, and costume designers, writers, actors, directors, producers, sound recordists, composers, musicians, dancers, models, photographers, make-up artists, pup-
peteers, artists, craft people and Hawaiians who want to be trained in any of the areas mentioned. All interested people may mail in a resume or summary of their work experience in media and/or a statement of field of interest to: Native Hawaiian Media Association, e/o Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Program. Bishop Museum, P.O. Box 19000-A, Honolulu, Hawai'i, 96817. Please list any equipment that you could make accessible. The information gathered will be made available only to organizations showing a definite need. For information eall 689-0755. Alani Apio is a free-lance writer, director, producer, actor and model.
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