Hawaii's Big Island to Host Ocean Film Festival

Coming very soon to the Big Island of Hawaii: The Waimea Ocean Film Festival!

The festival, which will take place from January 6, 2011 through January 9, 2011 promises "four and a half days of film, presentations, exhibits, jumping whales, and turqouise water" to attendees.

Venues include the town of Waimea on the Big Island, and the Fairmont Orchid and Mauna Kea resorts.  A smaller, more intimate version of the festival will show again at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai January 13-15, 2011.

TICKET INFORMATION – Film, Event, Contributors and Hualalai passes for the festival may be purchased by calling 808-960-9744 or via email by contacting info@waimeaoceanfilm.org

According to the festival's organizers:

The film festival will feature screenings of 30-40 documentary films and exclusive footage by local Hawaiian flimmakers. The festival includes inspiring paddling footage and surfing films, important and thought provoking documentaries, stunning nature films, and films about island history and culture. A few of the films to be shown include Melali, 180˙ South, Waverider, Sun Come Up, I Am, The Watermen Experience, Papa Mau, Bag It! and Ocean Voyageurs.

The festival will also host presentations by experts and industry leaders, such as Tom Shadyac, director of Ace Ventura Pet Detactive and the Nutty Professor, to speak on the making of his first documentary film, I Am, and Flip Nicklin, photographer and author reknown for his work on humpback whales. Filmmakers will be on hand for Q&A sessions after many of the films.

Attendees also can participate in many other activities, such as yoga on the beach, outrigger canoe paddling lessons, and breakfast talks by filmmakers and other speakers.

There will be art exhibits, including a work in progress by artist Aurora Robson made from plastic debris collected on Kamilo Beach as part of a volunteer clean-up and an exhibit of photography by the National Geographic photographer who traveled with the Hokulea to Tahiti in 1976.

Also: Na Kalai Waa, the Hawaiian voyaging society on Big Island, will host sunset picnic talks each evening, with one evening on the ancient art of Wayfinding, and one evening with a traditional hula telling the story about the sail of Makali’I to Tahiti.

And, as a grand finale, participants can enjoy a lua'u feast at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, on one of Hawaii’s most beautiful beaches.

Click here to view the Waimea Ocean Film Festival brochure.

"Humpbacks from Fire to Ice" - Photo provided by the Waimea Ocean Film Festival