#ProtectMaunaKea

Last year I had the great opportunity of filming in Waimea on the Big Island of Hawai'i. There I got to witness the true meaning of Aloha ʻĀina in action as the people and land continuosly protect and provide for each other. Many of the friends I made during that trip are now engaged in a battle to protect their Mauna Kea. All week people have been protesting the start of construction for the $1.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) on the peak of Mauna Kea. Mauna Kea is one of the most sacred places for the Hawaiian people and this telescope will further its desecration.

This footage is from an upcoming documentary on artists Estria Miyashiro and John "Prime" Hina and their Mele Murals project. Uncle Kalani Flores and Auntie Pua Case explain the sacredness and importance of Mauna Kea to a group of students from Kanu o ka 'Āina Learning ʻOhana (KALO) and the Mele Murals staff.

Editor: Tadashi Nakamura
Camera: Justyn Ah Chong & ʻĀina Paikai
Music: Misty Mountain by Humble Soul

Budokan of Los Angeles Video

I had the pleasure of making this video for The Budokan of Los Angeles, a massive project headed by the Little Tokyo Service Center. Nine years ago I made a similar video for the campaign as this gym in Little Tokyo has been something that the community has been organizing around for over 20 years.

Please watch and help spread the word about this epic community effort.

JANM screening of Life on Four Strings with Jake

Photo by J.K. Yamamoto/Rafu Shimpo

The Japanese American National Museum, Angry Asian Man, First Pond Ent. and Visual Communications hosted a fun screening of Life on Four Strings. This was the first time Jake and I did a public Q&A session in LA and as expected, it got a little goofy. It had been a while since we talked about the film so we shared a lot of funny behind-the-scene stories. You can read a very detailed write-up about the event in the Rafu Shimpo.

Jake treated the crowd to an intimate performance.

My first (and best) Xmas gift! The Mike & Mike aloha shirt 
that they made for Jake when he was on their show.

Holiday screening of Life on Four Strings in LA with Jake!

A very special Los Angeles screening of Life on Four Strings featuring a guest appearance and performance by Jake Shimabukuro himself on Dec. 21st! The show starts at 3p so it's a perfect event for all ages.

Pilgrimage screening at UC Irvine - Oct. 27th

I'll be presenting Pilgrimage at UC Irvine on October 27th at 10:30a. The screening and discussion will take place in Prof. Julie Cho's Asian American Documentary Practices class but is open to the public.

Japanese American Historical Society of Southern California's Final Program - Oct. 25

Excited to participate in the Japanese American Historical Society of So. California's last public program on Saturday, October 25th in Torrance, CA. JAHSSC and Iku Kiriyama have been one of the biggest supporters of my films from day one.

The event will focus on "the future of Japanese American community engagement and activism" as different pairs of community members will pose questions to each other. The pairs will be:
Professors Glenn Omatsu & Allan Aquino
Community organizers Kristin Fukushima & Evelyn Yoshimura
Me & my mom Karen Ishizuka

The event is being organized by Traci Akemi Kato-kiriyama and her mom Iku and will be emceed by Sean Miura and Kathy Masaoka.

Yuri Kochiyama Tribute Video

I had the honor of creating the tribute video for the Yuri Kochiyama memorials held in Oakland, LA and NY. Family and friends provided the photos and Blue Scholars provided the track. Yuri was a hero of mine and a great family friend, as are all members of the Kochiyama family. Her passion and commitment to the liberation of all peoples continues to inspire my work. 

PBS National Re-Broadcast of Life on Four Strings in May

 

I'm happy to announce that PBS will re-broadcast Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings nationally starting on Friday, May 9th. 

Broadcast dates and times vary in each city so please check your local listings. The easiest way to find the film is to search "Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings" on your cable box or your local PBS station's website. You can find your local PBS station here:
http://www.pbs.org/about/faq/station-finder/

Los Angeles, KOCE - 5/9 @ 10P
Bay Area, KQED - 5/10 @ 6P
Boston, WENH & WGBH - 5/9 @ 10P
New York, WEDW - 5/12 @ 4A
Phoenix, KAET - 5/9 @ 9P
Houston, KUHT - 5/14 @ 8P
Dallas, KERA - 5/9 @ 9P
Minneapolis, KAWB - 5/9 @ 10P
Philadelphia, WHYY - 5/9 @ 10P