The Ride

This is a great film for anyone wanting to know more about Hawaii and the aloha spirit. I was a bit skeptical about the prospect of seeing an independent film about a Hawaiian legend featuring a cast of unknown actors, but they blew me away with their talent. The dialog (including pidgin English) is wonderfully true to island cultural dynamics...both in aloha and in conflict. The depth of character development is exceptional, especially considering the youth of the writer. It is a fantastic "ride" on many levels...surfing the ocean and surfing time. Beautifully filmed and with outstanding costuming...an awesome film that I will recommend to everyone I know!

I saw this film at the San Francisco Premiere about a week ago. The film centers on an arrogant young (fictional) professional surfer, David Monroe and the father of modern surfing Duke Paoa Kahanamoku. David is into all the trappings of being a famous surfer. He is in need of an attitude adjustment and finds in a most unlikely way. Disoriented in the ocean waves, nearly drowned, he suddenly finds himself in turn-of-the-century Waikiki, next to the legendary Kahanamoku. This is all I will write about the plot.

As Hawaiian I just loved the way that director Nathan Kurosawa paid special attention to historical accuracy and Hawaiian culture.

Growing up in Hawaii through the 1950's and 1960's and surfing most of my life, this movie touched my soul in ways that few other movies have. Underneath the relatively simple plot the message is simple and pure - Aloha, as it existed in a much simpler time and could exist now if we would just let it, is the essence of being at peace with yourself and the world around you. In addition to this spiritual element, the scenery behind the story is incredible and I felt transported back to my childhood and further back in time as I've seen it portrayed in old photos. Just as important, the portrayal of Duke and his contemporaries was well done and felt authentic, with the echoes of their energy having rippled forward in time. If you have any feelings for Hawaii or surfing this is a must see.

My husband and I saw "The Ride" at the Hawaii International Film Festival at Restaurant Row in Honolulu. We were lucky enough to meet many of the cast members and discuss the film before and after the showing. The local actors were wonderful, especially Duke and Lehua (love her necklace!). In contrast, David's acting was very over-done in the beginning, but improved as the film went on. Beautiful views showing the simplicity of Waikiki at the turn of the century were magical. The costumes and music were exceptional. The surfing scenes were great - the use of wooden long boards added to the era of the picture. We enjoyed this glimpse of what life in Hawaii was like in Duke Kahanamoku's time. "The Ride" is a great escape back to Hawaii.

A must see for anyone who has lived in the islands for any length of time. The first thing you notice is the scenery, and the lack of buildings. And it's believable. You say to yourself " maybe this IS how is was in 1912?". This is not a surf movie. This is a movie about Hawaii and the Aloha spirit. It's so much more than a surf movie. It captures how Duke and his family and how they treated others. I saw this film with a friend, and the first thing I said was " I feel like I saw something really special" and she agreed. If you love Hawaii, you"ll love this film.I can't wait for it to come out on DVD. I plan to give them as Christmas gifts. I wish this film got more marketing and distribution here in Hawaii. I think it could become a local favorite if it was played in the regular theaters.