In 2020, my students and I embarked on an environmental justice journey. We studied many of Hawaii’s challenges in terms of the damaging wake of the shipping industry, the introduction of invasive species, income disparities among ethnic groups, the placement of toxic sites, and the price of tourism. We created our own travel agency to “visit” these affected sites.

 

Along the way, we interviewed journalists, doctors, and filmmakers, conducted our own research, and settled on a theme for a three-minute film. The films dove deep into the problems our ‘aina and kai face. 

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In the end, one team’s film placed second in the Redford Center Stories' nationwide film competition. Another team took an honorable mention, and I was honored to be named “Best Teacher.” You can view one of the films here.