Ewalu Industries Hosts Student Screenings of Keeper of the Bay to Inspire Hawaii’s Next Generation

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 Thursday, 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 Friday, 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.