Produced by Nā Maka o ka ʻĀina
Located on the western tip of the Hawaiian island of O’ahu, Makua beach has long been a place of refuge for Kanaka Maoli (native Hawaiians) pushed out of modern society.
Because it is one of the last undeveloped valleys on the island, Makua has become a home for the houseless, the unemployed, the working poor, the drug addicts, the victims of spouse abuse, the sick and those that simply want to live the Hawaiian lifestyle.
With the upper valley used as a gunnery range by the U.S. military, beach residents struggle to survive in the blistering sun, relentless wind, salt spray and pounding waves.
In spite of the obstacles, Makua’s residents prove that they can solve their own problems, build their own living spaces, grow their food, share their labor, clear industrial waste and trash, and even police themselves-all without big government programs and money.
Makua offers a place for healing, a pu’uhonua, a place of refuge, not only for a few but for the larger Hawaiian community, which is crying out for answers to cure its social ills. But the occupying forces of the U.S. and their agent, the state of Hawai’i, have continuously evicted people from Makua, from shortly after Dec. 7, 1941 until today. A 1983 eviction was also documented by Na Maka o ka ‘Aina.
This documentary was produced to try to ward off another threatened eviction by the state of Hawai’i. The eviction finally took place in June of 1996.
Featuring David Henry Rosa, Sparky Rodriges, Virginia Bernard, Reggie Crawford, Kaimana Kyle, Joseph & Keoni Victor, Barbara Avelino, Sia Vaana and Eddie Keo.
Produced and directed by Puhipau and Joan Lander of Nā Maka o ka ʻĀina
To purchase this DVD and to support Nā Maka o ka ʻĀina’s digital archiving project, please visit their website.