Currently in Production!


"LONO'S BOUNTY"


A documentary from World Class Productions LLC

In a world seeking to become more sustainable, at odds with its traditional agrarian history, eighty percent of all food consumed in the state of Hawaii currently comes from 3500 miles away.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:

From the moment of its discovery, Hawaii has been recognized as a stunningly beautiful, almost magical place floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The original Polynesian outrigger canoe voyagers who settled here in this pristine paradise founded a peaceful and agrarian society based on a sustainable system of agriculture. The importance of this connection with the “Aina” (Hawaiian for “land”) and to the growing of Taro is even highlighted in the native language. An interesting fact that the word for “family” in Hawaiian (“O’hana”) is actually a reference to the offshoot that propagates out from the Taro root.

Ken Love, a recognized agricultural expert interviewed in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii has this to say in the film: “In the sixties, 90 % of the food consumed in the state of Hawaii was grown here, then in the eighties and nineties it flipped to where 90% was imported. Now with the closer attention and lip-service being given to sustainability, it’s starting to shift slowly, but we’ve got to do more! And, if Hawaii were to be cut off from the mainland right now, any kind of disruption of shipping, we would be out of food in four days!”

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Filmmaker Al Cloutier has long been inspired by the celebration of natural food as a cornerstone of pleasure, culture, and community. Having managed in the restaurant industry for over twenty-five years, he has been impressed by many of the farmers, artisans, chefs, and other culinary industry professionals around the world who are contributing to the “Slow Food” movement. His vision is to create a documentary that could capture the essence and spirit of sustainable food production. As a long time resident of Hawaii, deeply respectful of native Hawaiian culture and traditional values, he borrows heavily from these to help steer the film in historical context, pointing a return to a more balanced life in harmony with the “Aina”. A return to a natural balance with the Earth, coupled with innovative “green” technologies that can champion the change vital to our collective prosperity.

HISTORY AND IMPORTANCE OF TITLE:

The documentary title Lono’s Bounty refers to one of the major gods of East Polynesia, all-powerful in the Hawaiian pantheon. The ruling chiefs especially worshipped this god, to protect the kingdom and the land against famine, pestilence, war or rebellion. Other gods were limited in their powers to specific areas or functions.Various attributes of the major gods came to be worshipped for their specific functions. Lono was invoked to ensure peace and productivity. Lono is seen, associated or visualized as clustering of dark clouds, as thunder, the partial rainbow, whirlwinds, and even waterspouts. As uncle makua to Pele, Lono is also felt as the earthquake. Lono is the rain that falls from the Kona direction. He is the god of fertility and the god of agriculture. He reestablishes the vitality of the land and nourishes the garden of the people.



In Lono’s Bounty Hawaii is viewed as an exaggerated microcosm of the Earth as a whole. While the economic principle of comparative advantage dictates that consumers should always purchase less expensive goods produced outside of Hawaii whenever possible, the immense carbon footprint created by shipping food in from 3500 miles away does not follow the cultural value of malama ka aina (caring for the land). Any possible disruption in shipping will have harmful effects on the island inhabitants who are so reliant on outside forces. This documentary will show how in Hawai’i, as on the mainland, sustainable farming practices and conscious consumer practices are not only vital to our collective survival; they are Pono (righteous)

Lono's Bounty is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions in behalf of Lono's Bounty may be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Send all Donation Checks to:

Al Cloutier
423 Kanekapolei Street
Suite 9
Honolulu HI, 96815