We'll meet Uncle Walter Paulo, esteemed kupuna (elder). In 2006 Uncle Walter was recognized as one of Hawaii's "Living Treasures" for his expertise in opelu fishing. The village is famous for this fishing technique, which involves 3 people, a canoe, and a 40-foot net. Family members knock loudly on the side of the canoe to let the fish know they are there, and then throw palu (chum) into the water. After several months of feeding the fish–without taking any–the fish have had time to grow big and reproduce. The beginning of the fish harvest is marked by a ceremony, in which bones are dropped into the water, and the ancestors are thanked through chant.
Uncle Walter and his friends, including Eugene "Uncle Geno" Kaupiko (pictured) are the last living experts in opelu fishing, and their knowledge of the ocean is intimate. The Last Fishing Village follows their quest to pass along their knowledge of the ocean to a new generation. Along the way, they meet numerous obstacles, not the least of which is age–Uncle Walter is 82.
The young leaders of the village, on the other hand, face difficulties of their own. The nearest school is an hour away. Drop-out rates are high, and an insidious form of crystal meth ("Ice") is wreaking havoc on families.
In the end, learning more about their history as stewards of the sea may give the youth the sense of pride they need to succeed.
Help make this movie and
preserve traditional Hawaiian knowledge!
Or mail checks* to:
International Documentary Association
c/o "Hawaii: The State of Fishing"
1201 West 5th Street, Suite M320
Los Angeles, CA 90017
* Donations made through the IDA are tax-deductible.
- When The Last Fishing Village movie is released, a portion of each DVD sale will go to cultural and drug prevention programs for Miloli'i youth.
- We plan to archive our raw footage and oral histories through a Hawaiian research institution for the benefit of the Hawaiian people.
- We are developing an interactive DVD about opelu fishing and traditional Hawaiian marine management for classroom use.
Phoebe Shackeroff, Director/Producer, has a passion for telling stories about people and their relationship to the environment. Her documentary short, Rupert The Black Swan, sold out screenings in record time at the Newport Beach Film Festival. Phoebe has produced commercial shoots, worked on a Sundance-winning feature film, a major CBS TV show, for the History Channel, and for a boutique design and production company, Cyberia Media. Phoebe has an MFA in Film and Television Production from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, and a BA in Literature from Yale. Prior to film school, she worked at World Wildlife Fund in Washington, DC. Phoebe is also the Founder of USC Women of Cinematic Arts, an alumnae organization with more than 600 members.
Taran Reese, Cinematographer, was born in Hawaii and raised in Los Angeles, where he lives today. He holds an MFA in Cinema-Television Production from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, and a BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Pomona College. Telling stories with the latest digital technology is his passion. In Silicon Valley, he developed and marketed award-winning software and managed online businesses used by tens of millions of people around the world (the precursors to YahooGroups). Taran now works as a filmmaker and multimedia storyteller. Taran currently does cinematography, editing, and visual effects as Head of Post Production for Cyberia Media. When he isn't in front of a computer or behind a camera, he likes to spend his days sailing in Newport Harbor, California.
George Watson, Associate Producer, is a filmmaker, SCUBA instructor, and founder of the Big Island Filmmakers network. Among many other things, George serves as a cultural consultant and spearheads our underwater videography unit.
FEBRUARY 2006
Featured Alumnus Article by the Orange County High School of the Arts
(.pdf file)
We currently accept funds in two forms:
- PayPal: Click the "Make a Donation" button to the right. Funds can be transferred via credit card or bank account.
- Checks mailed to the International Documentary Association (address listed to the right). Donations sent via the IDA qualify as IRS-approved charitable contributions. For more information, please contact us.
