Moloka’i Bound 

An independent film festival presents works that expose audiences to diverse voices, to alternative political and social points of view, and to different ways of understanding the world. Moloka’i Bound exemplifies that ideal. Directed, written, and produced by Alika Maikau, the feature revolves around a father, Kainoa De Silva, who was recently incarcerated after having decided to deal drugs to support his family. The story is familiar, but Maikau’s patient narrative interweaves social issues with family dynamics. The director’s mother was raised in Moloka’i, where some of his family still reside. The film blends English and Pidgin, and underplayed performances are supplied by the all-Hawaiian cast, led by Holden Mandrial-Santosas as Kainoa. Maikau’s alluring film immerses us in the land, the language, the food, and the details of Hawaiian life hidden away from tourists.

Holden Mandrial-Santosas