Merging personal memoir and photojournalism, Aloha Soul Food nostalgically explores decolonial foodways through the family life stories of six Pacific Island women. A transnational story set in Los Angeles, California, the documentary embodies an intergenerational love story to working class women deeply rooted in Hawaii while skillfully examining a century of how they navigated through the Chinese exclusion Acts, the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, 1960s school cafeterias, the United Public Workers Strike in 1979, and the Women’s Army Core. The film shows how generations can reclaim identity and historical spaces through recipes while reminding us of the deep ties that bind our families and communities together.

Credits

• Lani Cupchoy: Director, Truth Seekers, Urban Seeds, Food Medicine
• Lani Cupchoy: Writer
• Lani Cupchoy: Key Cast
• Eva Cupchoy: Key Cast
• Lani Cupchoy: Producer

Specifications

• Project Type: Documentary, Short
• Runtime: 12 minutes
• Completion Date: February 19, 2022
• Country of Origin: United States
• Country of Filming: United States
• Language: English
• Shooting Format: Digital
• Aspect Ratio: 16:9
• Film Color: Color

Screenings / Awards

• Marina Del Rey Film Festival Los Angeles
  United States
  June 17, 2022
  Official Selection
• Sacramento Asian Pacific Film Festival Sacramento, CA
  United States
  May 21, 2022
  Sacramento
  Official Selection
• Independent Shorts Award Hollywood
  United States
  Official Selection
• Filmmaker Life Awards Hollywood, CA
  United States
  April 12, 2022
  Best Women Film Award