ʻEwalu Industries Hosts Student Screenings of Keeper of the Bay to Inspire Hawaiʻi’s Next Generation of Ocean Stewards
ʻEwalu Industries, a nonprofit dedicated to serving Hawaiʻi’s youth, will host a series of student-only screenings of the award-winning documentary Keeper of the Bay to inspire the next generation of ocean stewards. More than 150 students from Kealakehe and Konawaena High Schools will attend the inaugural event on October 16, 2025, at the Kona Elks Lodge (former Hualālai Theater).
This event marks the launch of ʻEwalu Industries’ initiative to engage West Hawaiʻi youth in Hawaiʻi’s regenerative blue economy—a growing sector of ocean-based industries that blends culture, science, and innovation to restore ocean health and strengthen community resilience.
Keeper of the Bay highlights the intersection of Hawaiian cultural practice and modern reef science. The documentary follows Cindi Punihaole as she leads efforts to protect Hawaiʻi Island’s coral reefs through education and community stewardship, alongside Dr. Greg Asner, Director of ASU’s Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science. The two will take part in a student-led Q&A following each screening.
Through partnerships with local organizations such as ʻĀkoʻakoʻa, Symbrosia, and The Kohala Center, ʻEwalu Industries aims to connect the film’s inspiration to career exploration, mentorship, and hands-on training in career pathways that align with Hawaiʻi’s regenerative blue economy.
ʻEwalu Industries Hosts Student Screenings of Keeper of the Bay to Inspire
Hawaiʻi’s Next Generation of Ocean Stewards
KAILUA-KONA, HAWAIʻI — ʻEwalu Industries will host a private screening of the acclaimed
documentary, Keeper of the Bay, for more than 150 students from Kealakehe and Konawaena
High Schools on Wednesday, October 16, 2025. The screening, held at the Kona Elks Lodge
(former Hualālai Theater), will be followed by a live Q&A session with cultural leader Cindi
Punihaole, coral reef scientist Dr. Greg Asner, and documentary director/producer Ashley
LoFaso.
The screening, supported by Hawaiʻi Cesspool Conversion Company and Kona Elks Lodge,
marks the beginning of ʻEwalu Industries’ initiative to engage West Hawaiʻi students in Hawaiʻi’s
growing regenerative blue economy—the expanding sector of ocean-based industries that not
only sustains, but actively restores ecosystems and honors cultural relationships with the ocean
and traditional knowledge for future generations.
ʻEwalu Industries emphasizes that storytelling is a powerful tool for perpetuating culture and
shaping the next generation of ocean stewards. By witnessing the stories of those working to
heal and protect Hawaiʻi’s marine ecosystems, students gain both inspiration and a framework
for imagining their own roles in the future of their communities.”
“Our kūpuna taught us that when we care for the land and sea, they care for us in return,”
said Cindi Punihaole, Director of ‘Āina Advocacy, The Kohala Center. “By sharing these
stories with our youth, we are passing on not just knowledge, but kuleana. We’re honored
to partner with ʻEwalu Industries to inspire and empower the next generation of ocean
stewards.”
Premiering at the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival in 2023, Keeper of the Bay highlights the
intersection of Hawaiian cultural practice and modern reef science. The documentary follows
Cindi Punihaole as she leads efforts to protect Hawaiʻi Island’s coral reefs through education
and community stewardship, alongside Dr. Greg Asner, Director of ASU’s Center for Global
Discovery and Conservation Science, whose reef restoration work under the ʻĀkoʻakoʻa initiative
bridges science and culture. Directed by Ashley LoFaso, the film offers an inspiring portrait of
how Hawaiʻi’s people and reefs are deeply connected in the pursuit of a sustainable future.
Building a Pathway for Youth
The October 16 student screening precedes the public red carpet event of Keeper of the Bay on
Thursday, October 17, at the same venue. It also launches ʻEwalu Industries’ broader goal for
the school year: to provide every 8th-grade student in West Hawaiʻi the opportunity to view the
film as part of a larger introduction to ocean stewardship and blue economy careers.
The next student screening will take place the following week at Ke Kula ʻo ʻEhunuikaimalino for
students in grades 6-12, followed by other student screenings in 2026.
Through partnerships with local organizations such as ʻĀkoʻakoʻa, Symbrosia, and The Kohala
Center, ʻEwalu Industries aims to connect that inspiration to career exploration, mentorship, and
hands-on training in career pathways that align with Hawaiʻi’s regenerative blue economy.
To learn more, visit https://ewaluindustries.org/blueeconomy.
About ʻEwalu Industries
ʻEwalu Industries is a Hawaiʻi Island-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2022 with a mission to
guide and inspire the next generation of homegrown leaders who put Hawaiʻi first. Rooted in
local values, ʻEwalu provides youth with opportunities for mentorship and exposure to
high-impact career pathways that build Hawaiʻi’s long-term economic resilience. Inspired by the
eight pioneering Fellows of its flagship program, the Lead for Hawaiʻi Fellowship, ʻEwalu
Industries was created to address the urgent need to retain and empower local talent. Through
community-driven programs and strategic partnerships, ʻEwalu supports a cradle-to-career
approach, ensuring those who stay in Hawaiʻi are equipped to thrive, and those who leave
remain connected to and contribute to their island home. Learn more at
www.ewaluindustries.org.
