Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2011

The invading Americans once banned anything related to traditional Hawaiian language and culture, but it is flourishing now, thanks to efforts such as the Kamehameha Schools Song Contest, in which thousands of students compete with songs written in the islands’ own language. The film follows a handful of “student directors,” as they prepare and rehearse for the big day. This will mainly be of interest to, well, Hawaiians, as well as the many Japanese in love with the Aloha State. Cinematically it’s pretty pedestrian, almost home-move level, but the enthusiasm these kids display can be infectious.