{"id":212140,"date":"2025-03-11T23:30:24","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T09:30:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=212140"},"modified":"2025-03-11T23:30:48","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T09:30:48","slug":"uh-hilo-filmmaker-honors-katsu-goto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/03\/11\/uh-hilo-filmmaker-honors-katsu-goto\/","title":{"rendered":"UH<\/abbr> Hilo filmmaker ramps up production honoring 19th century Hawai\u02bbi Island hero"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Film
Ryan Kawamoto at the camera while producer Patsy Iwasaki records the scene on her phone (Photo credit: Bob Douglas)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After years of setbacks, Patsy Iwasaki, an assistant professor of English at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> 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.<\/p>\n

\"Katsu
Katsu Goto<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Goto, a Japanese immigrant and plantation laborer, arrived in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> in 1885 and later became a businessman and labor rights advocate in Honokaʻa<\/span>. His activism led to a tragic fate\u2014he was found hanging from a telephone pole, lynched in Honokaʻa<\/span> town in 1889. Iwasaki\u2019s documentary, Honokaʻa<\/span> Hero, tells his story through reenactments, interviews and historical research.<\/p>\n

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  • Related UH<\/abbr> News<\/em> story:<\/strong> H\u0101m\u0101kua Hero: UH<\/abbr> Hilo observes legacy of lynched plantation champion<\/a>, September 29, 2023<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The project suffered a major loss in 2018 when director Danny Miller passed away during post-production.<\/p>\n

    “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.<\/p>\n

    \"Filming<\/p>\n

    New and rekindled collaborations<\/h2>\n

    Iwasaki ultimately selected Ryan Kawamoto, an Oʻahu<\/span>-based director from Kinetic Productions with ties to East Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> to finish the project.<\/p>\n

    “The Waiakea High School graduate is a skilled director and cinematographer with a talent for storytelling,” Iwasaki said.<\/p>\n

    \"Two
    Jackie Pualani Johnson fits costume on lead actor Kimo Apaka (Photo: Bob Douglas)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    On January 19, cast and crew gathered for an 18-hour film shoot across multiple locations on Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Island. Jackie Pualani Johnson, UH<\/abbr> Hilo emerita professor of performing arts, returned to oversee costuming and production coordination. Kristi “Kea” Kapahua, a UH<\/abbr> Hilo dance lecturer, choreographed a ballroom scene.<\/p>\n

    Kimo Apaka, a UH<\/abbr> Hilo theatre alumnus reprised the role of Goto in the documentary\u2019s reenactment scenes. The cast includes UH<\/abbr> Hilo students, alumni, and local community members, who also assist with hair and makeup.<\/p>\n

    For more on the documentary go to UH<\/abbr> Hilo Stories<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

    —By Susan Enright, and photos by Bob Douglas<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\n