Page 8 - MidWeek - Dec 14, 2022

8 MIDWEEK DECEMBER 14, 2022
Sharing Culture Through Clothing, Film
Dear Darah,
We are so grateful to Aunty Nita Pila- go of Wahine Toa Designs for helping bring our Native Hawaiian delegation dignity and representation of the Ha- waiian culture through her clothing line.
tion of Pi‘ilani’s genealogy in ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, which was memorized by young actor, Kahiau Perreira, then followed by kumu Leina‘ala Fruean, who would quote Pi‘ilani’s words. With the sound of the conch, the mov- ie would then begin. After the film, the actors, kumu and filmmakers would conduct a Q&A with the audience.
port of our film and making everyone look their absolute
Dear David,
Thank you for your beautiful tribute to a wom- an who continues to give back to her community by spreading her aloha through her designs. Own- er and designer Nita Pilago started her clothing com- pany, Wahine Toa Designs, 12 years ago and runs her family business from her home in Kona. Her clothing is printed with original art drawn by herself, her hus- band Angel and their two sons, Kaleo and Che.
Pilago says, “Col- laborating family art tells a story and depicts experiences from each artist’s life lessons. We are surrounded by beau- tiful colors, from the mountain to the sea, and that’s where I get my inspiration. I design clothing to flatter all body types, and my goal is to make everyone feel beautiful.”
We feel blessed to have her beautiful fashions throughout the tour of our film The Wind & the Reckoning. Our dele- gation that included our lead actors, cultural team (kumu) and filmmakers traveled to various film festivals on the continent and throughout the Hawaiian Islands including O‘ahu, Maui, Kaua‘i and Moloka‘i. Awards include
It was beautiful to see Pila- go’s Wahine Toa Designs on the red carpet throughout the tour. Her designs that marry traditional Hawaiian prints with a modern and current look could not have been a better fit for The Wind & the Reckoning film festival tour.
Clothing from local company Wahine Toa Designs graced red carpets at The Wind & the Reckoning tour locations. PHOTO COURTESY DAVID CUNNINGHAM
the island you reside, phone number and, if possible, the phone number of the person you’ re thanking so she can contact him or her.
Hawai‘i International Film Fesitval’s Made in Hawai‘i Award for Feature Film and, in Hollywood, it was honored with the Ambassador of Cul- ture award from the Garifuna International Indigenous Film Festival. Additional awards bestowed on the film include the Audience Choice Feature Award and the Kumeyaay Award (usually reserved to recognize Native American films) at the San Diego Film Festival. It also won eight awards at the Boston Film Festival.
best.
David Cunningham director of The Wind & the Reckoning
The tour would include a Native Hawaiian protocol with a blessing for the audi- ence, as well as a presenta-
Mahalo nui loa, Aunty Nita Pilago and Wahine Toa De- signs, for your aloha and sup-
Mail letters to MidWeek c/o Ma-
halo Nui at 500 Ala Moana Blvd. Ste. 7-500, Honolulu HI 96813, or email mahalo- nuiwithdarah@gmail.com. Include your name, where on
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