SONS OF HALAWA - 2015

56min

 

Halawa Valley is one of the oldest inhabited locations in Hawaii. At the age of five, Pilipo Solatorio was chosen to be the carrier of Halawa’s ancient traditions. Now in his seventies, Pilipo is the last of his generation living in the isolated valley. He needs to find a successor to replace him as the carrier of Halawa's cultural treasures before they are lost forever. Will Pilipo's son, Greg, come home to take on the responsibility of carrying traditions forward, or will Pilipo’s two hanai (calabash) sons (Josh, a taro farmer, and Jason, a musician from New York) be left with the challenge? The struggles of modern life make it difficult for any one of these sons of Halawa to carry on a legacy that has been passed down for many generations. Only through true commitment and sacrifice will Halawa’s story and sacredness be kept alive.