MAUI, HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
Maui and the pristine landscapes of the Hawaiian Islands, in general, are celebrated around the world for their natural beauty, harmonious nature, and raw volcanic activity. Despite the natural beauties, Hawaii and its indigenous population have been dealing with an ongoing cultural crisis brought along with the occupation and hegemonic cultural domination of the United States. Like many other nations under the power of 'the other', Hawaii too is fighting to preserve its cultural heritage and its history.
This sentiment was very actively felt during the production of this video as while we were on-site, large scale protests were taking place on the Big Island at the Mauna Kea location, where a new observatory was planned to break ground on its build. This was happening all while the knowledge that the land where it was to be built, is sacred to the indigenous inhabitants of the island. The locals were showing actives signs of active dissent throughout the islands, by hanging their flags upside down, vocally and visibly displaying the acknowledgment that their country, is still at war.
