Down on the Street in Waikiki

2019 / 15 MIN / USA 

A janitor, frustrated with cleaning up after an endless parade of tourists, reflects on a memory that stirs awake a voice within. DOWN THE SIDEWALK IN WAIKĪKĪ is a narrative film inspired by a collection of poetry published posthumously featuring the work of Hawaiian poet Wayne Kaumualii Westlake (1947-84).

Screening Saturday, March 28, 1:00 pm

Justyn Ah Chong

Born and raised on the island of Oʻahu, Justyn Ah Chong is a Native Hawaiian filmmaker seeking to tell unique and culturally rooted stories. Justyn graduated from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts in 2011 with a B.A. in Film Production and a Minor in Business. Upon graduating, he returned home to Hawaiʻi where he began working as a full-time videographer and editor at ʻŌiwi TV – Hawaiʻi’s first and only indigenous television broadcasting network. There he had the opportunity to craft his skills behind the camera and in the edit bay on numerous mini-documentary projects, news pieces, commercial work and non-profit videos. Through ʻŌiwi TV he’s been blessed to travel the world, sailing with and documenting the Hōkūleʻa’s Worldwide Voyage and has collaborated on several PBS national documentaries, including the Nā Loea series, and Lets Play Music! Slack Key with Cyril Pahinui and Friends. Aside from his work at ʻŌiwi TV, Justyn has been working on his first narrative feature-length film, Wichita, with colleagues from USC and is currently in post-production with the project.