Tracing Lost Footsteps to Kalaupapa
When a family history search crosses paths with a dark chapter of island history, the personal becomes profoundly public. The journey of a former Hawaiʻi news anchor retracing her great-grandmother’s final footsteps is taking center stage, offering a glimpse into a century-old disappearance.
The documentary following former KITV4 news anchor Diane Ako as she searches for her family’s missing matriarch is premiering during the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival. The film, titled Pili Hou: Finding Helen, tracks the efforts to unlock the secrets surrounding Helen Maliu, who vanished from Honolulu in 1900 and ended up at Kalaupapa on Molokaʻi.
Following the Trail to Molokaʻi
Kalaupapa holds a heavy, distinct place in the history of the islands. Established in 1866 as a settlement for people affected by leprosy, the isolated peninsula on Molokaʻi became the home for many Native Hawaiians who were forcibly relocated. For Maliu, disappearing from Honolulu at the turn of the 20th century meant entering this secluded enclave, leaving behind a silence that lasted generations.
In a news release, Ako explained that she undertook the project on behalf of her relatives to pili hou—to rejoin—with the long-lost great-grandmother. Her genealogical search received vital assistance from Ka ʻOhana o Kalaupapa, a nonprofit organization that works to preserve the history and culture of Kalaupapa.
Martha Shade of Martha Shade Productions, who directed the project as her directorial debut, noted how quickly the personal quest broadened into something universal. Shade remarked, “When I heard my friend Diane talk about her genealogy search, I was drawn in by the mystery, and then fascinated by the finding. There are universal themes here of ʻohana and aloha.”
Documentary Screens Across Islands and Abroad
The documentary has mapped out a series of public screenings across the islands and abroad, allowing audiences to witness the family’s genealogical reconciliation firsthand. Following initial screenings on Oʻahu at Consolidated Theatres Kahala on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 1:45 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 1 at 1:15 p.m., the film heads to the Big Island for a screening on Nov. 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Kahilu Theater.
From there, the project crosses the Pacific for its international premiere. The Pasifika Film Festival will showcase the film on Nov. 29 at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, Australia, broadening the audience for a story rooted deeply in Hawaiian history. Tickets and additional screening details are available through the official box office portal.
