Hawaii - Paradise Lost

For the native peoples of Hawaii, the natural wonders of these beautiful islands are the homes of the gods and the scenes of Hawaiian myths: the white strands of Oahu, the underwater cathedrals of Lanai and the green canyons of Waimea on Kauai all have special meaning to them. In this documentary we embark on a search for the old Hawaii. Belief in the fire goddess Pele is still alive today - on the edge of the active Kilauea volcano we watch an old sacrificial rite and the original form of the Hula dance, which has little in common with the dances performed for the entertainment of the tourists. With the Hula, Hawaiians express their life philosophy of tolerance and harmony with nature. In one of his songs, the big man Iz laments the old, lost kingdom of Hawaii. "What would our kings say if they returned today?", sings Iz. "If they could see how our land has changed. Our holy sites desecrated, our nation lost, our independence too." Hawaii was a kingdom up until the end of the 19th century, when the United States occupied the islands. Nowhere are the consequences of rampant tourist development more evident than in Waikiki on Oahu. Concrete blocks lined up one after the other, sparing little of the beauty of this natural bay near Honolulu. Only 150 years ago, Waikiki was a holy place and only the tribal leaders could surf here. Now, for many locals Waikiki is synonymous with the betrayal of Hawaii.

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