“Sea Creatures Strike Back” was produced during the fall 2019 youth filmmaking program and has since won a handful of film festival selections and awards. In this news broadcast parody, various sea creatures “strike back” against humans by subjecting them to the same problems that humans cause in the marine environment. The film was made by Bianca Haugg, Kiana Haugg, Malakai Karaca, Syden Smith, Isabella Salamone, and Katherine Salamon.

WAILUKU — On Sunday, May 22, from 7 to 9 p.m., Maui Huliau Foundation, an environmental education nonprofit serving Maui’s youth, will host its annual Huliau Youth Environmental Film Festival at the new Imua Discovery Garden in Wailuku.

After a two-year pause due to the pandemic, this outdoor family-friendly showing will feature 14 short environmental films created by their filmmaking students over the past three school years.

Students from multiple schools on Maui and Molokai will present their short environmental films ranging from documentaries, to comedies, to virtual field trips.

“We are so thrilled to finally be able to share our students’ work with the community again,” said Malia Cahill, executive director of Maui Huliau Foundation.

“This year’s showing includes a selection of films from the past three school years, including some of the virtual field trips students made to various sites on Maui when we first had to pivot our program due to the pandemic. In many ways, these films also demonstrate the resilience of our students and programs.”

“I’m so excited to be able to share the three films I’ve worked on with other talented student filmmakers and Maui Huliau over the past few years at this upcoming outdoor film festival,” said Kailani Ibanez, a junior at Baldwin High School.

“Film is an incredibly powerful way to advocate for causes one believes in, and I think there’s a lot to learn from the art we create.”

Advance reservations must be made on the foundation’s website along with a donation of any amount in support of its youth programs.

The showing will take place outdoors in the garden, and guests can bring their own blanket or chairs. There will be a food truck onsite to purchase food.

A festival program and more information can be found at www.mauihuliaufoundation.org/festival.