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The challenges that come with childhood are addressed in these short films through a variety of genres and tones. From fraught relationships with parents to struggles among peers, these stories capture the ups and downs of growing up.
This screening features 8 films. Toggle between film descriptions by scrolling and clicking on the buttons on the top right.
A mixed-race Native Hawaiian/Micronesian middle-school student navigates her first day at an elite private school in Mānoa Valley, where she faces unexpected racism in the form of micro-aggressions and exclusion. Based on the real-life experiences of our two student writers who are Native Hawaiian and Chuukese.
Director Biography - Layla Yamamoto, Michi Yorkston
Layla Yamamoto is a mixed-race Native Hawaiian filmmaker from Honolulu, Hawai'i. She loves creating films, particularly about young women facing real-life struggles. In Fall 2024 she will be a junior at Mid-Pacific Institute.
Director Statement
Leihana is a very personal film that we've been working on as a class all year long. Racism is unfortunately a reality for many Pacific Islanders here in Hawai'i and our film depicts real situations that have sadly happened to my classmates. We hope this film will make people think twice before assuming negative things about people because of their race or the way they look.
- Year2024
- Runtime8 minutes
- DirectorLayla Yamamoto and Michi Yorkston
- ScreenwriterKira Wainit and Fynnagen Mell
- ProducerKailey Holbrook
- CastChloe Kaulana Chargualaf, Kaipo Dudoit
The challenges that come with childhood are addressed in these short films through a variety of genres and tones. From fraught relationships with parents to struggles among peers, these stories capture the ups and downs of growing up.
This screening features 8 films. Toggle between film descriptions by scrolling and clicking on the buttons on the top right.
A mixed-race Native Hawaiian/Micronesian middle-school student navigates her first day at an elite private school in Mānoa Valley, where she faces unexpected racism in the form of micro-aggressions and exclusion. Based on the real-life experiences of our two student writers who are Native Hawaiian and Chuukese.
Director Biography - Layla Yamamoto, Michi Yorkston
Layla Yamamoto is a mixed-race Native Hawaiian filmmaker from Honolulu, Hawai'i. She loves creating films, particularly about young women facing real-life struggles. In Fall 2024 she will be a junior at Mid-Pacific Institute.
Director Statement
Leihana is a very personal film that we've been working on as a class all year long. Racism is unfortunately a reality for many Pacific Islanders here in Hawai'i and our film depicts real situations that have sadly happened to my classmates. We hope this film will make people think twice before assuming negative things about people because of their race or the way they look.
- Year2024
- Runtime8 minutes
- DirectorLayla Yamamoto and Michi Yorkston
- ScreenwriterKira Wainit and Fynnagen Mell
- ProducerKailey Holbrook
- CastChloe Kaulana Chargualaf, Kaipo Dudoit