synopsis

On a summer evening shortly after Hawai’i’s official statehood is announced, two women attend a dinner at one of their family’s homes. Ruth, a spirited school teacher, and Grace, the pastor’s daughter, hide their love for each other while Ruth’s prim sister tries to set her up with yet another man from church.

Ruth doesnʻt want to be married; Grace doesnʻt want to be American. The two women spend a stolen moment together, considering a life where they don’t have to hide or pretend, even if it’s only imagined.

cast

story

GRACE is a love story set in Honolulu, 1959, the year Hawai’i became the 50th state. Based on a true story, the film follows Ruth, writer Elizabeth Rian’s grand aunt, and her relationship with Grace, a passionate and outspoken Japanese-Hawaiian history teacher at Hale’iwa Elementary.

Ruth represents the societal and familial pressures women often face to marry and conform. Grace's love for Hawai’i intertwines with the broader historical context of cultural suppression and colonial influence.

Inspired by the late Queen Liliʻuokalani, who used the motto “‘Onipa’a” (to remain steadfast) in her final address to her people after the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, GRACE embodies this spirit of unwavering determination in the face of adversity.

"Now my people, hear these words of mine that I say to you in our dark hour, Hold yourselves up high and be proud. For each and every one of you has much to be proud of, in yourselves and in your people. Hold fast to that pride and love you have for your heritage and your country. Yes, your country! For your nation— 'Onipa'a. Stand firm."

— Queen Lili'uokalani

impact campaign goals

Increase representation in media.

Representation is a foundational part of challenging colonialism, social norms and female stereotypes, especially in media and pop culture.

Forced assimilation is a form of cultural imperialism—the practice of a dominant culture (and often an occupying power) imposing its values and practices on a less powerful culture. It can involve using media to flood a country with the ideas and customs of a powerful nation.

By increasing the representation of local people and stories in media and leadership roles, we challenge the negative impacts of cultural imperialism that have led to unrepresentative industry standards, empowering long-silenced and misrepresented communities to tell their own stories.

Share the truth of intentional cultural erasure in Hawaii.

Indigenous and Pacific Islander communities have long faced the suppression of cultural identities by Western and missionary influence.

Hawaiians endured intentional cultural genocide and erasure, even before the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893.

In the early 1800s, the U.S. initiated a systematic effort to dismantle Hawaiian culture through forced assimilation. This policy forced Hawaiians to abandon their religion, language, traditions, and land ownership.

As one way to enforce this policy, the American government funded and operated seven boarding schools in Hawaii between 1819 and 1969 that punished children for practicing their culture.

Reclaim cultural identity.

People of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities have always been a part of Indigenous cultures and Pacific Island traditions.

When media and pop culture portray patriarchal and Western ideologies, they misrepresent the diversity of identities. This can lead to internalized homophobia and racism, where people internalize negative stereotypes and prejudices. This can manifest as self-doubt, shame, and a reluctance to openly express one's true identity.

The recognition of mahu, aikane, and same-sex relationships as integral parts of Hawaiian history challenges traditional Western notions of gender and sexuality.

timeline

DEVELOPMENT

Elizabeth Rian (Executive Producer/Writer/Actor) won the Hawaii Filmmaking Collective pitch competition in 2023. She then received a grant from the Pacific Islanders in Communications Shorts Fund in early 2024 and partnered with Jana Park to produce GRACE.