May 7th 2027
CRB
The coconut rhinoceros beetle, an invasive species originating from Southeast Asia, arrived in the Pacific as an unwelcome stowaway. Since then, it has wreaked havoc across the Pacific islands.
In 2019, I relocated to O’ahu, Hawaii, to work at a summer camp for underprivileged youth from the Pacific Islands. At that time, the beetle was only present in a small area of O’ahu. However, it has since infested the entire island and spread to several outer islands, resulting in the destruction of thousands of trees and plants.
This film will take you on a journey through various Pacific Island nations, highlighting the uniqueness of these regions, the efforts being made to safeguard them, and how you can contribute to their preservation.
May 7th 2027
Producton
This film has been in development since 2019. Initially, I never imagined I would create a film on this topic because when I first arrived in O’ahu, I was filled with hope that it would be eliminated. However, as time passed, I began to witness its spread and decided to document it. This has proven to be the most challenging project I have ever undertaken.
Traveling across the Pacific Islands, meeting families, and sharing the impact of this invasive species with them has been heartbreaking. I had planned to embark on this trip right after my visit to the Marshall Islands in May, but emotionally, I found it difficult to return to the families I met three years ago in Samoa ,Fiji and Tonga to document the changes since then. Instead, I chose to work as a tour guide in Alaska.
Now that the summer tour guiding season has concluded, I am resuming my journey with plans for a film release in the summer of 2027.
While visiting these countries, I will also be producing short films on various topics, including art, music, dance, and everyday life. Additionally, I will be creating books that celebrate these vibrant cultures.
