A Place in the Middle

USA, 2014
Length
25 minutes
Director
Dean Hammer
Cast
  • Joe Wilson

Content

She feels more like a boy than even most boys. This documentary follows eleven-year-old Hawaiian
girl Ho’onani who dreams of leading her school’s traditional hula group. Hula is a mixture of dance
and theatrical performance that is central to the culture of the Hawaiian people and requires a lot of
practice. Here too, Ho’onani would like to dance on the boys’ side. Normally she wouldn't be allowed
to do so but Ho’onani is fortunate to have as her teacher the charismatic Kumu Hina, who assigns
Ho’onani a special place in the middle. In ancient Hawaii there was always a life between genders,
and a place for those who embrace both men and women. Kumu Hina knows what she is talking
about for, twenty years ago, she was a man. Kumu Hina uses her profound knowledge to convey to
her pupils the culture of their ancestors – a culture that has not been forgotten, in spite of years of
influence by Christian missionaries. The magic word is ‘aloha’, meaning a life in harmony with nature.
It also means that every man and every woman should be loved, respected and valued.
 

Gallery

Credits

Production company
Qwaves, Haleia, Hawaii 96172
Original title
Kumu Hina