Hawai'i Film Festival Unveils Opening and Centerpiece Films for 46th Edition
The Hawai'i International Film Festival will open with the world premiere of Jordan Manley's documentary 'The Navigator,' about Nainoa Thompson's historic Polynesian voyage. The film follows Thompson on a 2,400-mile return trip with a new generation of wayfinders. The festival also named 'Drifter' as its centerpiece selection.
The 46th Hawai'i International Film Festival marks a significant return to tradition with its opening night at the Hawai'i Theatre Center, a venue it has not used for this purpose since before the pandemic. The festival's selection of a locally made documentary about Polynesian wayfinding underscores its commitment to showcasing stories rooted in Hawaiian heritage and the broader Pacific region.
"The Navigator" chronicles Nainoa Thompson's pioneering 1976 voyage, which reestablished a cultural practice dormant for six centuries. The film captures his recent 2,400-mile journey with apprentice navigators, trained in techniques passed down from master Mau Piailug. The festival also announced "Drifter" as its centerpiece selection, rounding out a program that pairs cultural documentation with narrative cinema.
This programming choice could strengthen public awareness of Indigenous navigation knowledge and its transmission across generations. By spotlighting Thompson's work, the festival may inspire younger audiences to engage with traditional practices, while the return to the Hawai'i Theatre Center could signal renewed community gathering around shared cultural experiences. The selection may also elevate conversations about preserving Pacific Islander heritage in contemporary media.