The MACC will be collecting donations for the Maui Food Bank during this event. We ask that our patrons bring non-perishable items for those impacted by the wildfires. Donation bins will be located near the MACC's main entry gates.

The 45th Annual Hawai`i International Film Festival (HIFF) presented by Halekulani returns to the islands! The Fall Festival will feature an exciting slate of feature documentary and short film premieres from around the world, with a special focus on Asia, the Pacific, and Made-in-Hawai`i productions.

For more information, visit www.HIFF.org

Saturday, November 8

 1:00 PM |  WHAT WE CARRY  |  16 MINUTES  |  DRAMA  |  DIRECTED BY: LINDSAY WATSON  -  SHOWING BEFORE THE PRICE OF PARADISE

After years of heartbreaking miscarriages, Sala and her husband are losing hope of becoming parents. But when tragedy and fate collide, Sala finds herself confronted with an impossible choice. Torn between the weight of her losses and the possibility of a new beginning, she must decide if opening her heart again will bring healing—or a pain too heavy to bear.

Watch Trailer HERE

THE PRICE OF PARADISE  |  57 MINUTES  |  DOCUMENTARY  |  DIRECTED BY: ANABELLA FUNK

At the age of 55, a woman discovered the truth about her identity and the existence of her birth family. Lindamae was born on the Island of Moloka`i on the peninsula of Kalaupapa, where people suspected of having Hansen’s Disease were forcibly isolated. She was among the children of Kalaupapa taken away from their mothers at birth and placed for adoption. Lindamae and her newly discovered family set out on a journey to uncover the truth behind their forced separation. Their quest sheds light on a little-known chapter of Hawaiian history— that reflects the exploitation of the islands and the erasure of cultural identity.

Watch Trailer HERE

3:00 PM    |  SHORTS PROGRAM   |   72 MINUTES

BACK TO THE LOKO   |  16 MINUTES   |  DOCUMENTARY   |   DIRECTED BY: RICKY - THOMAS SERIKAWA

A group of indigenous Hawaiians come together to not only revitalize a native fish population in their local fishponds, but also the next generation of indigenous leaders in their ancestral grounds through the merging of traditional and modern practices.

Watch Trailer HERE

MEMORY AS MISSIONARY POSITION   |  4 MINUTES   |   DRAMA   |  DIRECTED BY: BRIGITTE LEILANI AXELRODE

Through the language of poetry and the art of movement, a Pasifika wahine reawakens her connection to the land and her body, confronting colonial histories while celebrating ancestral power and eroticism.

HOʻOMAU    |  4 MINUTES   |   ANIMATION   |  DIRECTED BY: HANA MCEVILLY

Hoʻomau is an animated short that explores grief, love, and the eternal bond between mother and daughter. After the devastating loss of her mom, a young girl struggles to comprehend mortality and the vastness of existence. Through memory, spirit, and self-discovery, she begins to find her mother again in the lessons left behind. The film reflects on how love transcends death, offering hope and connection beyond loss. 

MĀLAMA MĀKUA    |  48 MINUTES  |  DOCUMENTARY   |   DIRECTED BY: MIKEY INOUYE 

Set in Hawai‘i’s Mākua Valley, MĀLAMA MĀKUA reveals a sacred land where Native Hawaiian creation stories root deeply in earth and sky. Once abundant with life, it was seized by the U.S. Army after Pearl Harbor and scarred by decades of military bombings. Today, Mākua stands as a symbol of resilience, fueling grassroots movements for its return to Native stewardship—an urgent call for peace, environmental justice, and the restoration of a place whose spirit endures.

 6:00 PM  |  LĀHAINĀ RISING  |  92 MINUTES  |  DOCUMENTARY  |  DIRECTED BY: MATTY SCHWEITZER

Produced and directed by Maui residents with deep Lāhainā roots, LAHAINA RISING is the definitive documentary delving into the life-altering events of August 8th, 2023, when the historic town was devastated by the largest wildfire in American history. The fire obliterated the entire town, displacing over 13,000 residents who continue to face ongoing hardships. This film not only sheds light on the injustices faced by Lāhainā natives in the aftermath of the fire, but also systemic issues posed to the people of Hawai’i for generations. Through devastation and destruction, a community comes together and rises from its ashes.

Watch Trailer HERE

Sunday, November 9

1:00 PM   |  HAWAI`I PACIFIC HEALTH SHOWCASE SHORTS  |  102 MINUTES  |  DOCUMENTARIES 

TWISTED BRAID  |  5.29 MINUTES  |  DIRECTED BY: RICKY-THOMAS SERIKAWA

A love letter to a little town built on culture, connection, and creativity. In `ōlelo, the word Hilo is defined as “to twist” or “to braid”. It also happens to be the place name of an iconic and culturally significant landmark on the island of Hawai`i, where a tight-knit community has found a way to keep meaningful ties with each other and the environment around them, evident in the members who help it to thrive. Inspired by a unique artist-in-residence by Temple Children LLC held in Hilo, Hawai`i, this poetic film explores the way in which a foundational love for creativity, culture, and community can bring light into a world that is seemingly becoming larger and more distant.

Watch Trailer HERE

NOHO`ANA FARM  |   25.50 MINUTES  |  DIRECTED BY: DE ANDRE MAKAKOA TAKAHASHI

Noho`ana Farm is a documentary told through the voices of father and son, a decade apart, honoring 20 years at Noho`ana Farm in Waikapū, Maui. Once overgrown, the land was revived by the Pellegrino `ohana and community into a living classroom and stronghold of Hawaiian agriculture. Through archival and new interviews, the film highlights how food sovereignty and ancestral connection inspire the next generation of mahi`ai and leaders.

Watch Trailer HERE

HUI O WA`A KAULUA  |  20 MINUTES  |  DIRECTED BY: MATT YAMASHITA

Formed in 1975 out of Lahaina, Hui O Wa`a Kaulua (the group of the double-hulled sailing canoe) is an untold story of cultural awakening and community building. 

Watch Trailer HERE

INDIGENOUS NA`AU | 51 MINUTES | DIRECTED BY: KU`ULEI KAILI

Through the voices of elders—cultural practitioners, fishers, and canoe builders—Indigenous Na`au reveals how the wa`a (canoe) serves as a metaphor for community, with each person and role being integral. The film invites us to reclaim ancestral ways of knowing, fostering belonging, shared responsibility, and a future where cultural identity and ecological care are inseparable.

3:00 PM  |  KULEANA  |  98 MINUTES  |  DOCUMENTARY  |  DIRECTED BY: GEORGIA SCOTT

Plastic pollution threatens to overwhelm our oceans, with projections that by 2050 it could outweigh all marine life. Directed by Georgia Scott and narrated by Woody Harrelson, KULEANA uses Hawai`i’s fragile beauty as a backdrop to explore this global crisis. Former MLB player Chris Dickerson and athletes like Kolten Wong, Kai Lenny, Kimi Werner, and Mike Coots join scientists and NGOs to reveal both the wonder of Hawai`i and the urgent call to protect it.

6:00 PM  |  RAISED BY WAVES  |  76 MINUTES  |  DOCUMENTARY  |  DIRECTED BY: ALICE GU

From award-winning filmmaker Alice Gu (THE DONUT KING), RAISED BY WAVES follows teenage surfing prodigies Justin (15), Eric (15), and “Baby” Steve Roberson (14) as they prepare to conquer Maui’s legendary JAWS. Blending breathtaking ocean footage with intimate family moments, Gu captures a powerful coming-of-age story of courage, cultural heritage, and the enduring bonds between generations, celebrating the Robersons’ legacy and the spirit that drives Hawai‘i’s next generation of big-wave riders.