Hawaiian Culture Films

Inspired by the 2015-2016 Penn Humanities Forum Theme: SEX
2015-2016 Culture Films at the Penn Museum Theme: GENDER ACROSS CULTURES

Please come to to Penn Museum for a screening of two films that express the spirit of Aloha and traditional Hawai’ian values.

A Place in the Middle 
by Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson, 2014 (30 minutes)
A young Hawaiian girl who dreams of leading her all male hula troupe is inspired by her transgender teacher who knows what it is like to be “in the middle.”

Heart of the Sea 
by Lisa Denker, 2002 (50 minutes)
Called “a love poem to Hawaii’s matriarchal heritage,” this film tells the legend of Rell Kapolioka ‘ehukai Sunn, surfing champion and breast cancer activist. 

Hosted by Bill Wierzbowski, Keeper in the American Section of the Penn Museum (two-spirits expert) and Alexander Simafranca of the Penn Hawai’i Club.

Free with Museum admission and free to all Penncard holders.

Please thank our many sponsors for this program, including: the Penn Humanities Forum, the Penn Hawai'i Club, Natives at Penn, William Way LGBT Community Center, the University Library, Penn Cinema Studies,The Trustees Council of Penn Women, Alice Paul Center for Research on Gender, Sexuality & Women, Native American and Indigenous Studies at Penn, Queer Muslims and Allies at Penn, Penn Queer People of Color, OutEd, Penn LGBT Center.

For more information, see: Culture Films at the Penn Museum.