He Moʻolelo Wahipana (A Storied Landscape) is an experimental short documentary that breathes life into an ancient Hawaiian moʻolelo, tracing the migration of two sisters—ʻAnaehoʻomalu and Puakō—from lush Puna to the arid shores of North Kona and South Kohala on Hawaiʻi Island. Guided by their mother, a revered chiefess and kahuna (priest), the sisters seek husbands while confronting the forces of love, jealousy, and legacy. ʻAnaehoʻomalu’s union with a chief’s son renames a coastal village, while Puakō’s passion for octopus fishing leads to a turbulent romance. Interweaving myth, memory, and land, the film explores how place names anchor identity and how ancestral stories shape the present. Set against Hawai‘i Island’s vibrant and varied landscapes, He Moʻolelo Wahipana invites viewers to see the land not just as scenery, but as storied kin—a living archive of emotion, culture, and transformation.
