A reflective and emotionally powerful film with relatable experiences of the generational history and sacrifices made to survive in Hawai’i.
Ho’omaika’i and Mahalo nui to everyone who had a part in making this amazing film! Inheritance is a short film Directed by Kanaka Maoli Filmmaker Erin Lau, Produced by Zoe Eisenberg, Paula Weinstein, Nina Chaudry with Screenwriter Justin Omori, Cinematographer Michael Tanji and Editor Sara Schultz. Premiering at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival in New York, Inheritance is an extraordinary film that shows us the reality of what it’s like to be surrounded by the beauty of Hawai’i and face the economic and emotional hardships of dealing with the destructiveness of colonization, the greed of the commercial sector and the suffocating of a rampant tourist industry that has exploited Hawai’i to this day. The phenomenal actors of this film include Dann Seki (Albert Akioka, grandfather), Aoi Takeya (Kelsey Akioka, father), Jaden Murakami (Scottie Akioka, son), and Brandon Finn (Edson, friend). With this in mind, I’m happy to present to you my review of Inheritance.
Towards the opening of the film, there is a heartbreaking quote in kanji when translated to english reads: “Hawai’i, Hawai’i, I came, chasing a dream, Now my tears flow, In the cane field.” Several black and white photos of the sugar cane fields and workers in old Hawai’i are shown as well. For those that may not know, for over a hundred years, the sugar industry existed in Hawai’i. Many families and individuals immigrated from countries like Japan, China, Philippines and Portugal to work at sugar cane plantations and mills around the islands. Having left their homelands, they were separated into different living areas while working at the mills. There were no schools to learn any of their languages. As a consequence, the Hawaiian Pidgin language was formed and used to communicate between all of the laborers. These families sacrificed so much in pursuit of a better life, including parts of their own culture.
The film then takes us to the Kalapana lava fields where Kelsey Akioka, a photographer and our main protagonist in the film is out with his photography equipment taking various pictures of the majestic and impressive lava flows of Hawai’i. As he moves about trying to find just the right moment to capture a photo of the beautiful lava before him, there is a sense of calmness and tranquility in the air. Cinematographer Michael Tanji does an amazing job of capturing the grace and power of the lava. When I was younger, I remember traveling with the ohana to see the Halema’uma’u crater and lava caves nearby. Watching these scenes brought back many fond memories of our visit there.
Further into the film, we see canopies of multiple tents with various vendors that are set up along the dirt road. Kelsey is here, selling the photographs he took earlier out of his tent to tourists that stop by. He does this to make a living, not just for vacation photos or to increase his follower count on social media. As he tries to make money to support his ohana, there are two tourists he encounters. The first tourist seems to have a genuine interest in the photos. She speaks in Japanese to him, and unfortunately, Kelsey doesn’t understand her as he was never taught or learned the language. Shortly after, they are both rudely interrupted by a wealthy tourist who only wants to make money off Kelsey’s photographs of the lava flows. He even asks for a discount. At the end of the day, Kelsey, Scottie and Albert are the ones who suffer financially. These scenes and interactions give us a glimpse of what it’s like to survive and make a living in Hawai’i. Repeat this over and over in your life, and it can make anyone feel angry, disappointed and certainly unhappy to say the least.
In one particular scene, Edson, Kelsey’s friend, and him talk story about how Edson is moving to provide a better life for his family. Kelsey begins to think about his current life path and wonders if what he is doing now is worth his time and effort. It’s something we can all relate to. Many life changing events (moving, jobs, relationships), will effect our lives, for better or worse. Whether seeking our dreams or having to deal with the results of a failed endeavor, whatever the reason may be, it may often end up not being at all what we envisioned or expected. Choices will be made that we often wonder were the right decision or not, and at times even regret them. As the day comes to a close, this is the kind of thinking and mental anguish that is going on in the head of Kelsey.
At night outside, both father and son, Kelsey and Albert, are having a heart to heart conversation with one another. While they watch Scottie play in front of the sugar cane fields, Kelsey has a blank somber expression on his face. Something has a hold on him and it’s bothering him deep inside. He isn’t able to articulate the internal and emotional feelings he’s experiencing. Albert can tell something is wrong with his son Kelsey, he’s seen it before. He tells his son about the history of how their patriarch of the family first came to work and live in Hawai’i. It was supposed to only be for a few years before he returned home. This never happened. As Kelsey looks at his son Scottie playing, we hear a loud SNAP! These feelings of sacrifice, loss and pain have been passed down for generations in their family. Does he really want his son Scottie to have to deal with this as well. Symbolic of Kelsey’s inner feelings, the snap is a clear sign of the pain he has inherited. He’s also met his breaking point and certainly had enough. At the end of the film, Albert, Scottie and Kelsey are all outside with his camera equipment ready to take a photo. Kelsey shows his son Scottie how to use the camera to take a picture. We hear a different snap, the snap of the photograph being captured of the three of them together. This is the inheritance that truly matters.
I really enjoyed watching Inheritance and would definitely like to see more of the story continued. Inheritance is truly a thoughtful and remarkable film that highlights what many indigenous and immigrant families have confronted for generations while living in Hawai’i. Surviving through a long history full of greed and exploitation, the feelings of loss and sacrifices that our ancestors have endured in the past still effects us today. Besides the outrageous pricing to live in our own homeland, our beautiful aina is sold to businesses, commercial developers and millionaires who don’t care about Hawai’i or Kanaka Maoli. Many of us no longer live in Hawai’i because of this. Upsetting and depressing as it is, our kupuna have faced this head on. For the sake of our own emotional health and for future generations to come, we must pass on the invaluable things that are important in life that truly make a difference: our stories, knowledge, skills, language, art, music, cultural traditions and most importantly, aloha for Hawai’i and our ohana.
If you haven’t seen this film yet, you can buy tickets to stream it at home by going here.