After years of setbacks, Patsy Iwasaki, an assistant professor of English at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is bringing her long-awaited documentary on Katsu Goto back to life. The film is now in its final stages after delays caused by the loss of its original director and the COVID-19 pandemic. A fall completion date is now in sight.
Goto, a Japanese immigrant and plantation laborer, arrived in Hawaiʻi in 1885 and later became a businessman and labor rights advocate in Honokaʻa. His activism led to a tragic fate—he was found hanging from a telephone pole, lynched in Honokaʻa town in 1889. Iwasaki’s documentary, Honokaʻa Hero, tells his story through reenactments, interviews and historical research.
- Related UH News story: Hāmākua Hero: UH Hilo observes legacy of lynched plantation champion, September 29, 2023
The project suffered a major loss in 2018 when director Danny Miller passed away during post-production.
“After taking time to process and heal from the great loss, it was another long journey to find an editor with the film and video skills, qualifications and heart to take on this very special project,” Iwasaki said.
New and rekindled collaborations
Iwasaki ultimately selected Ryan Kawamoto, an Oʻahu-based director from Kinetic Productions with ties to East Hawaiʻi to finish the project.
“The Waiakea High School graduate is a skilled director and cinematographer with a talent for storytelling,” Iwasaki said.
On January 19, cast and crew gathered for an 18-hour film shoot across multiple locations on Hawaiʻi Island. Jackie Pualani Johnson, UH Hilo emerita professor of performing arts, returned to oversee costuming and production coordination. Kristi “Kea” Kapahua, a UH Hilo dance lecturer, choreographed a ballroom scene.
Kimo Apaka, a UH Hilo theatre alumnus reprised the role of Goto in the documentary’s reenactment scenes. The cast includes UH Hilo students, alumni, and local community members, who also assist with hair and makeup.
For more on the documentary go to UH Hilo Stories.
—By Susan Enright, and photos by Bob Douglas
