Kama'āina (Child of the Land) | Award-Winning LGBTQ Short Film about Teenage Homelessness

After suffering abuse from her stepfather, a queer sixteen-year-old must navigate life on the streets, until she eventually finds refuge at the Pu’uhonua o Wai’anae--Hawaiʻi’s largest organized homeless encampment.
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Kama'āina (Child of the Land)
Directed by Kimi Howl Lee
/ kamaainafilm
"With its picturesque beachy landscapes, the Hawaiian archipelago is at the forefront of many minds as a desired location for a dream vacation. However, with one of the highest homeless rates per capita in the US, as well as one of the highest rates of homeless youth, life for the residents of the islands can be quite different from the one that tourists encounter. In Kama’āina (Child of the Land), writer/director Kimi Howl Lee takes us to Wai’anae, a predominantly native corner of the Oahu island, where influencers rarely venture. Following Mahina, a young woman who had to flee her abusive household, Lee’s thought-provoking and insightful 17-minute film offers a sensitive and authentic approach to chronicling the unfortunate reality and resilience of many LGBTQIA teens.
The motivation for Lee’s film comes from a personal place. As a teenager, spending her summer in Oahu, the director had a fling with a local boy that she came to realize was living out of his car. “Having been romantically involved with someone my age - who was ostensibly homeless - remains one of the most profound, thought-provoking experiences of my life.” she tells us while dwelling on the inspiration behind her film.
Being confronted by this hidden side of the island led her on a journey of self-reflection, sparking a will to shed light on the harsh poverty and homeless crisis, that eventually materialized into the story for Kama’āina. By centering the story around a teenager, the narrative is deepened with a coming-of-age layer. Allowing the situation to be explored with both innocence and understanding, while giving depth to Mahina, the main character, and increasing the audience’s emotional engagement.
Despite how tragic and traumatic the life experience of some of these kids can be, Lee does not use it to serve her narrative by fetishizing poverty. Instead, opting for a realistic process, she cast mostly homeless, first-time actors, including the outstanding and magnetic lead Malia Kamalani - whose life story is the basis for Kamaʻāina. Having permission to shoot in the community adds an extra, essential layer of authenticity to the film and ultimately draws the audience further into her emotive narrative.
Re-enacting her own experiences (to some extent), Malia Kamalani feels like a natural in front of the camera. Portraying a complex, compelling character with a strong personality, she plays the role with perfect subtlety, never pushing for an overly dramatic reaction. Lee captures slight but defining moments from her day to build her character, which Kamalani then injects with a rare sensibility.
The emotional release at the end Kamaʻāina came as somewhat of a surprise, as Lee doesn’t push forcefully on the emotional trigger throughout the film. Cleverly using the contrast between the location and the trauma her character has endured to highlight the unjust situation (both in the film and in real-life), it was the emotional climax of her facing the water, that had me turn on the waterworks.
Kamaʻāina was an official selection at Outfest Fusion and won Best LGBTQ+ Short at the Palm Springs ShortFest ahead of its online release under the Nowness flagship. Kimi Howl Lee was selected for Film Independent’s 2019 Episodic Lab, she is currently a story editor on Netflix’s Locke & Key and was recently staffed on Amazon’s upcoming and (very much) awaited The Expatriates.' - S/W Curator, Céline Roustan
Cast & Crew:
Malia Kamalani Soon - Mahina
Aria Alexander - Cashier
Twinkle Borge - Twinkle
Nainoa Brown-Kahananui - Nainoa
Sabina Friedman-Seitz - Shayla
Alex Suvusa - Alex
Scott Ray - Cinematographer
Evita Yup Zhoe - Editor
Austin Lau - Gaffer
Elliana Moore - 1s AC
Aubrey Woodiwiss - Colorist
Briana Brackett - Assistant Colorist
Colin Lee - Location Manager
Michael Alemania - Composer
Miya Colleen Lee - 1st AD
Kiki Matsu - Prop Master
Nick Hallbisback - Sound Recordist
Aidan Reynolds - Sound Mixer
Alex Vazelakis - Music Supervisor
Keila Roberts - Graphic Designer
Special Thanks:
Justyn Ah Chong
Mac Arvee Lopez Blue
Walea L. Constantinau
Richard Hamasaki
Jennifer Dang
Annie Li
Adam Luafalemana-Fuiava
Queenie Marcello-Filo
James Pakele
Loretta Soon
Sight and Sound Studios
Erin Uchida
City and Country of Honolulu
Reproduced on this channel with the permission of the filmmakers.

[@JuanLopez-tp7hj]

As a Hawaiian in Hawaii homelessness is always a thought hanging over you’re head and all these people some my family are my every day reminder about what cloud happen to me at anytime for any reason .those communities exist because mainland Americans come here with there money and decide oh we wanna live of base like real locals not realizing that they will displace a family or some native peoples it’s fucked up but it’s life for us just like auntie twinkle says welcome to life

[@tawnydannybell2617]

I didn't want it to end. Kimi Howl Lee did a beautiful job sharing a real experience that many just so happen to find themselves in by no fault of their own. This is a real Pu 'uhonua that Mama Twinkle has created. She is the most compassionate person I have ever heard of.

[@shortoftheweek]

Thank you for the lovely comment. ❤️

[@buzzvideochannel]

There's a powerful authenticity brimming through the film - really well done.

[@user96790]

Godlbless aunty twinkle. True Kanaka Maoli 🙌🙌

[@HAZ3YRADIO]

SO MUCH COMPASSION WRAPPED INTO 16mins💜 Absolutely phenomenal.

[@detrajackson5992]

You know I was wondering about the refuge and if it was an actual place because it looked so authentic. Auntie did not seem like much of an actress. That part seemed more like a documentary to be honest. This short film was very moving. Good job to everyone in this film and who worked in the creation of it!

[@KagatoIuchi]

Thank you Short of the Week for showcasing this. Hawaii has an ever increasing problem with people being unable to afford a place to stay and well-meaning but underfunded and ineffective support systems.

[@JarredCordova]

I have never once felt so moved and inspired by a short this way... That lady, who put up the village... That's something powerful. I'ma find a way to do something similar, it's hard though you can quickly find yourself in a slum.

[@shortoftheweek]

If you would like to know more about the residents of Pu’uhonua o Wai’anae please visit: www.alohaliveshere.org/

[@Gaganator]

Truly beautiful. A treat every second. Really powerful. Thank you.

[@sanjana441]

Great video beautifully designed amazing best editing blessed to be one LGBTQ community winner of future

[@jordanalexander4331]

It’s the iPhone X for me😭, besides that very grate film, very touching and very relatable

[@PracticalPerry]

Great film. Very raw. The song at the end is beautiful, just like the ocean scene. ; ) Thanks Auntie Twinkle for helping the least of these. "When you have done unto the least of these you have done unto me, thus, sayeth the Lord". BTW, the song at the end, after doing some research, is "Phenomenon" by Odie, if you wanna look it up on KZbin; glad I saw that at the end on the film credits. RE: Moe aikāne: Moe aikāne is a term used in pre-colonial Hawaiʻi to refer to intimate relationships between partners of the same gender, known as aikāne. There was no shame or stigma connected to same sex attraction, what the white man calls "gay", until the white man missionaires came (organized religion) to Polynesia and messed it all up. Arrghh.

[@healthyellowfish]

Beautiful !!!

[@lyn-cm2eu]

made me feel less alone

[@kstaten1341]

Loved this short! Very well done!

[@jaydeeppandya1473]

It’s so amazing

[@surendharsuren7637]

Super good continue, எனக்கு மிகவும் பிடித்திருந்தது👍🏿

[@jscott45]

Loved it

[@mosacanite4533]

REAL FKN LIFE!!💯

[@alpeshjaybajrangbalip4054]

its change Hawaiian Islands objects are very different as they appear

[@AllenKll]

Looks pretty realistic. I applaud the filmmaker in showing that there are so many facilities for the "homeless" they just need to get over themselves to get help.

[@vanessarae4746]

You clearly missed the message that the foreign ʻhelpʻ is not help, that hawaiians need to do it their way, that the islands were literally stolen from them. Auntie twinkle in this video is a real person and the village you see here is her actual real life village for hawaiian homeless to come and homestead and live together… the message is not about hawaiians ʻgetting over themselvesʻ. That takeaway is offensive colonizer mentality bs.

[@Hi-imTyler]

I know this is in America but it is the same here in the UK, nothing but red tape that puts off Ann frightens young people

[@jhamelromeo7229]

✌️💓❤️🌺

[@sandunikaalsh4787]

Her accent, appearance and action very close to a boy.. Also nice hair style #

[@barblundgren498]

Homeless with an iPhone? How does that work? Free gvt phones for the homeless never include iPhones. She’s making money somewhere. Or stealing it. Lots of flaws in this doc.

[@luiscavalcanti3431]

Ha ha ha It could’ve have been worst... I thought she was he... Ive just realized it after her period calls up

[@angelesramos4779]

She was homeless for four days. All she walked away with was probably what was on her back including the iphone. Just because you see someone stealing food does not mean everything and anything is stolen. And yes, if someone gives you an old iphone you can use it as a government phone. This film is actually pretty darn realistic. Take care.

[@agorapanologia]

It's very apparent that you don't know what consistutes homelessness if you think that having a smart phone means you can't be homeless. Just having a smart phone is literally something anyone can have. Even if it has service on it, you can still be homeless. Seriously, please think before writing.