Ipo and Kunani Nihipali work with children to create a mural at Kainalu Elementary School that reflects and interprets the cultural and natural history of nearby Kawainui marsh.
The children research and then paint the native birds, plants and sea creatures associated with the marsh, including the mythological mo‘o, Hauwahine. In the process, they learn the values of aloha ‘āina, love for the land, and alu like, working together.
NĀ MAKA O KA ʻĀINA
We are Joan Lander and Puhipau (1937-2016) of Nā Maka o ka ‘Āina (“The Eyes of the Land”), an independent video production team that, since 1981, has focused on the land and people of Hawai‘i and the Pacific.
We exist to document and give voice and face to traditional and contemporary Hawaiian culture, history, language, art, music, environment and the politics of independence and sovereignty. Our over 100 documentary and educational programs have been seen on PBS, Hawai‘i public and commercial television stations, public access cable channels, and broadcast/cable networks in Canada, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Japan, Mexico and Europe.
Our award-winning productions have been used by teachers and scholars in classrooms in Hawai‘i and throughout the world, and our iconic footage of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement has been featured in numerous documentaries by other producers.
