Los Angeles CA June 10th 2009 )The world premier of the documentary entitled: HAWAII A VOICE FOR SOVEREIGNTY debuted on Thursday June 4th at the Nation’s Capitol in the White House new CVC visitors center. The film has already built up a huge momentum about sovereignty rights with blogs, discussion and debate world wide. There has been articles in Honulu Advertiser and coverage coming from Voice of America, BBC and on USA today. The movie and event was a smashing success as the audience became educated and was moved emotionally about the compelling story of sovereignty. The feedback was rich as the documentary was so wonderfully captured and poignantly told through the eyes of photojournalist Catherine Bauknight. The screening also included a ritual that celebrated the new home of the statue of the legendary Hawaiian King Kamehameha in the center’s Emancipation Hall.

The notable attendees of this prestigious event included California US Representative Adam Schiff, Jaime of Nancy Pelosi’s office, NY Times Best Selling Author Gregg Braden, Tim Johnson Bureau Chief of the Office of Hawaiian affairs, Leon Siiu Minister of Foreign Affairs, from Hawaii, and Hanalei Colleado. Among the other event goers that weathered the rainy night to be a part of this momentous occasion were representatives from the American Film Institute,the FDA, and Department of Energy. People traveled from all regions of the country were inspired to attend the event including many Hawaiians.
“I was impressed by the perfect timing, the very thing that has happened to the Hawaiian People is now happening to Americans, caused by greed, and misuse of environmental resources and land throughout the world. Hopefully we can break this cycle and learn the importance of taking care of each other and the land during this new administration,” said Karen DuBois,,Psychiatric Nurse from Charlotte North Carolina. “This powerful film and it’s underlying message brought grown men to tears during this screening” she adds
“One of the main reasons that I am a messenger for the voice of the people is that I can take the story to a place where change can happen, that is here in Washington DC at the capitol” says the filmmaker Catherine Bauknight. This modern epic documentary, filmed over four years, contains rare interviews with Native Hawaiians in their homes, at sacred sites, in mountains and the rain forests. Along with the voices of these “ people of the land”, Professor Haunani-Kay Trask, Senator J. Kalani English, Grammy nominee Willie K and other Hawaii an leaders, take us into rarely seen ancient lifestyles where spirituality, culture, and care for the land form a sacred bond between humankind and the natural world. They reveal their quest to secure their Hawaiian rights as the host culture, and their economic, social, and ecological future. By bridging their ancient knowledge with modern technologies such as wind, solar, and wave renewable energy and agricultural land systems they move towards their goal of sustainability.
In the pinnacle of the over throw of the Hawaiian kingdom Lili’ last reigning queen of the Hawaiian kingdom made a plea to Christians of America Catherine Bauknight states, “I was happy to see the Hawaiians participate in the cultural exchange and offer their sentiments in support of the film”"It was significant and symbolic to hold this event in Emancipation Hall. This area is latent with statues of crusaders from individual states who labored to bring social justice or improvement to their particular region." stated Peggy Demaree, also of Charlotte.
Gregg Braden, author of NY Times Best Seller “Fractal Time. In the documentary Braden reveals that indigenous people gave us a path of how to take care of the earth, each other, and all living things through heart based living. "The key to our future lies in the wisdom of our past", Braden says.
Hawaii A Voice for Sovereignty has garnered global media coverage in the USA, China, Africa, and Germany. All nations are taking an interest in the plight of the Hawaiians. "Voice of America" radio covered the event to ensure global presence. The experience of the indigenous Hawaiian people is universal. They demonstrate that we are all connected and depend on the land and natural resources of the planet for survival. Actor Al Harrington and awarded Ambassador to Maui says “Hawaii A Voice for Sovereignty allows the grassroots people of the "host culture" of Hawaii to express their need for acknowledgment and respect for their contribution in making Hawaii what it is today and what it can be tomorrow. Imua Hawaii Imua. We the people of the 'host culture' are still here ''
Kahu Hanalei Colleado, kahuna pule, or priest, of Pu'uhonua 'O 'Iao attended the screening and is a subject in the documentary and says “ In regards to Catherine Bauknights documentary film. I would like to once again use the very words spoken by Hawaii's Queen: THE VOICES OF MY PEOPLE IS THE VOICE OF GOD! Kahu o hale pule o Pu'uhonua 'o 'Iao. end quote. Hear ye Him!!!''..To learn more about Hawaii A Voice for Sovereignty visit www.catherinebauknight.com
For press requests or to schedule an interview Catherine Bauknight
contact renata@rulapr.com 917-690-1275

Hawaii A Voice For Sovereignty premieres at Maui Film Festival

( Los Angeles CA Wednesday June 17th 2009 ) Maui Film Festival has announced that it will host the public world premiere of “ Hawaii A Voice for Sovereignty”, a documentary by award winning photojournalist Catherine Bauknight. This epic documentary will be showing as a Special Sunday Surprise film at 8:00pm on Father's Day Sunday, June 21st at the Solar powered SandDance Theater on Wailea Beach (below the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea). The 2009 Maui Film Festival, scheduled June 17-21 at the Wailea Resort and the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului, will honor Willie Nelson and Zooey Deschanel in person during the event. The festival is also scheduled to open with Academy
Award Best Foreign Language Film winner "Departures," along with "Highwater," and will close with "More Than a Game" at its outdoor Celestial Cinema screening.

"Hawaii A Voice For Sovereignty" explores the culture and spirituality of the native Hawaiian People and its connection to the land . The film first screened at a private event at the Nation’s Capitol Building visitors center several. Politicians, authors, the Hawaiian Community and notaries attended. The intention of filmmaker Catherine Bauknights' documentary screening initially in the capital was to honor the legacy that Queen Liliuokalani left after Hawaii was overthrown in 1893. Queen Liliuokalani devoted her life to furthering the cause of Hawaiian
rights in both Hawaii and Washington D.C. Now the documentary is coming home to celebrate these voices of the Hawaiian people that will resonate throughout the world.

Since the successful Washington screening there has been coverage world wide including Voice of America, Pasadena Weekly, and Honolulu Advertiser and resulted in unprecedented requests from the public to have "Hawaii A Voice for Sovereignty" premiere in Hawaii. Bauknight responded by calling Barry Rivers president of the Maui Film Festival 4 days before the kick off of the Maui Film Festival to request that the documentary be screened at the festival. River's quick response was astounding to Bauknght. She said that he coordinated the schedule so that the film could be included in full support of the Native Hawaiian Community and to get the educational and historical information out to the public. His heart is full of aloha for the Hawaiian culture and their journey to sustainability.

"Barry accepted the "short" version of "Hawaii A Voice For Sovereignty" in support of the Native Hawaiian community in 2007 when the word "sovereignty" was not a word that could freely be spoken aloud without ridicule. His last words to me in 2007 were to bring it back when I finished the full length," Bauknight says. He gave me hope at that time that it could be accepted as a film full of controversy but with a strong message of truth," Bauknight says. Bauknight says that she looks forward to sharing this historic screening of "Hawaii A Voice For Sovereignty" on the special island of Maui at the warm and community oriented Maui Film Festival. "I'm honored to be back in the homeland to share this great accomplishment of the people who created this documentary ” says filmmaker Catherine Bauknight.

This modern epic documentary, filmed over four years, contains rare interviews with Native Hawaiians in their homes, at sacred sites, in mountains and the rain forests. The movement for cultural, environmental, and economic sustainability, since the takeover is spoken in the voice of the Kanaka Maoli. Along with the voices of these people of the land”, Professor Haunani-Kay Trask, Senator J. Kalani English, Grammy nominee Willie K, Clifford Nae'ole and other Hawaii an leaders, take us into rarely seen ancient lifestyles where spirituality, culture, and care for the land form a sacred bond between humankind and the natural world. They reveal their quest to secure their Hawaiian rights as the host culture, and their economic, social, and ecological future. By bridging their ancient knowledge with wisdom and modern technologies such as wind, solar, and wave renewable energy and agricultural land systems they move towards their goal of sustainability.

As with all SandDance Theater screenings, this complimentary screening of "Hawaii A Voice For Sovereignty" during the Maui Film Festival's 10th annual event, continues a tradition of providing complimentary screenings at the SandDance Theater. Festival Founder and Director Barry Rivers noted that "The Festival loves providing complimentary screenings to our Maui 'Ohana and island visitors, as well as providing complimentary admission to keiki 12 & under to both this year's Opening and Closing Night Celestial Cinema triple features, and all we ask is that everyone understand that these free screenings are made possible by those who purchase a $10 or $20 ticket to our other screenings. We hope anyone choosing to attend any SandDance Theater screening will also choose to help insure that free screenings can continue by helping insure the event's vitality and longevity by also financially supporting the Festival this year."

About Maui Film Festival
Maui Film Festival was founded in 1998 by Barry Rivers and is built on the belief that great film making is pure alchemy. When filmmakers choose to tell compassionate life affirming stories they turn darkness into light. It is this belief in the power of creativity to enlighten as well entertain. That is the guiding principle that gives the Maui Film Festival character, its energy, and its soul. For more information and a festival schedule go to
www.mauifilmfestival.com
To learn more about "Hawaii A Voice for Sovereignty"
contact cbauknight@othilamedia.com,
visit www.catherinebauknight.com

For more publicity requests please contact Renata Lorenc
renata@rulapr.com or 1917 690 1275