The documentary film, “Na Kupu Mana’olana: Seeds of Hope” will make its broadcast premiere on PBS Hawaii at 9 p.m. on Thursday.
The documentary film, “Na Kupu Mana‘olana: Seeds of Hope” will make its broadcast premiere on PBS Hawaii at 9 p.m. on Thursday.
Presented by the Hawaii Rural Development Council and written and directed by Big Island filmmaker Danny Miller, the 56-minute PBS version of the film tells the story of Hawaii’s return to local and traditional methods of growing food.
Narrated by Puanani Burgess, the film features interviews with Hawaii Island residents including farmer Richard Ha, educator Nancy Redfeather, ranchers Monty and Tim Richards, educator Dr. Manu Meyer, dairy farmer Ed Boteilho, educator Keoni Turaldi, and scientist Dr. Dennis Gonsalves, who created the first genetically modified papaya.
“The television broadcast of our film is coming at a perfect time,” Miller said. “The film offers real solutions to growing more local food in a sustainable way. We cover current land use issues, including showing both sides of the GMO debate and the importance of protecting Hawaii’s vital agricultural resources for future generations.”
Filmed throughout the islands, the documentary shows how the rising cost of shipping food across vast oceans has created new incentives for the people of Hawaii to grow more food at home.
The personal stories of the farmers and educators featured in the film bring to life the lessons of Hawaii’s agricultural legacy and the urgency to educate and inspire a new a new generation of farmers.
“I hope this film will inspire young people to consider a career in agriculture,” Miller said. “And, as Nancy Redfeather says in the film, ‘Each school garden is a seed of hope.’”