10.11. Working Hawaii
29 min. © 1988
A look at "Work Hawai"i – a special project aimed at providing job and life skills training to Pacific Island teenagers in Hawaii, an building teamwork and confidence among the young participants. Project manager and executive producer of the video is Kilali Ala’ilima. (Sponsored by Samoan Service Providers.)
10.12. John Frum: The Big Death
28 min. (Films for the Humanities ans Sciences) © 1995
(Melanesian Cargo Cults. World War II and the Pacific Islanders). During the war, supplies for American troops were regularly unloaded on Tanna Island in Vanuatu by a pilot who introduced himself simply as “John from USA.” The islanders came to believe that ‘John Frum’ was a god who would bring riches from the sky. Later, when an American Red Cross medical officer visited the area, the Tannese associated his airplane with John Frum and took the insignia of the cross as their symbol. Films for the Humanities and Sciences.
10.13 Kula: Ring of Power (no year)
52 min. National Geographic Explorer
For countless generations, people living in a remote group of Pacific islands have been making epic ocean voyages in open canoes – not for conquest, not for commerce but to exchange shell ornaments with partners across the sea. The practice is known as KULA. This film documents KULA exchanges in the Trobriand Islands (PNG) in the modern era. One learns about the shell ornaments, the types of magic involved, and about innovation and changes that are occurring in the KULA today. A fascinating anthropological film. The Trobriand Islanders of Melanesia and the KULA are famous within the anthropological literature. (Sky Visuals Production, distributed University of Hawaii Press.)
10.14 Yap: Tuba Making
5 min. FSM Historic Preservation Office © 2006
Ethnographically documents how adolescent Outer Islander of Yap
collects the “tuba” or coconut toddy drink for his family. The task involves climbing the coconut tree, pouring out the already collected toddy from the coconut shell, shaving off a layer of the coconut flower pod, and retying the shell. Tuba is an important drink of Yap, that most men are involved in producing and drinking. The film is narrated in the first person by the young man.
10.15 Yap: Amach Men's House Ceremony
9 min. FSM Historic Preservation Office © 2006
Depicts the Amach ceremony for a men’s house in Gargey village, Yap Island, FSM. The Amach is the central ridgepole of the men’s house, and its placement is marked with a special ceremony. The house is completely made with traditional indigenous materials. No nails or imported materials are used. Yap Historic Preservation Office provides support for this project, and the HPO Officer explains in English about the event.
10.16 Yap: Wuluu' Mens House and Fish Weir Project
10 min. FSM Historic Preservation Office. © 2006
Documents a Men’s House in Wuluu’ community of Yap Island, Micronesia, and the construction of a traditional Yapese fish weir called Sabin. Mr. Francis Reg of the Yap Historic Preservation Office is on site to explain the Men’s House and the activities therein. The Men’s house is an important structure of traditional Yapese community life that the Yapese are maintaining. It is constructed only with traditional locally available materials, as is the sabin ( fish weir). The Historic Preservation Office assists communities to preserve their cultural traditions.
10.17 Take me to Your Island
32 min. Micronesian Seminar. © 1998
A look into the foreigners who came to Pohnpei, with their quirks and high hopes.
10.18 Voices of Pohnpei
32 min. Micronesian Seminar. © 1995
Tells the history of Pohnpei using legends and archaeology.
10.19 Suicide in Micronesia: Finding a better Way Out
32 min. Micronesian Seminar © 2004
A look into the rising numbers of suicide cases in Micronesia.
10.20 Yap: ...How Did You Know That We Like TV
56 min. Dennis O’Rourke © 1980
Follows the installation of a television network on Yap in 1979 by an L.A. based company and the social and cultural controversies it stirs up.
10.21 The Meaning of Food
PBS © 2004
3-part documentary series (56 min each) on the cultural meaning of food among various ethnic groups within the USA. Hosted by master chef, Marcus Samuelson.
Episode One: Features an Italian American family preparing a wedding feast and a South Asian group preparing of a feast following their religious observation of Ramadan.
Episode Two: Focuses on the theme of food as a means of communication and features segments on African Americans in South Carolina and their ‘rice culture’ (geechee), the traditional importance of whaling and whale meat among the Makaw tribe of Neah Bay (American Northwest Coast) and Chech Americans making the Kolachi (pastry).
Episode Three:Features Chinese-American, Japanese-American, Mexican-American, and Samoan groups in USA and the various roles of food in their daily, business, family and ceremonial lives.