Huliau Environmental Filmmaking Program
Now in its 17th year, our filmmaking program is our longest-running program. The program assists students in making short environmental films ranging from documentaries to music videos. These films share the important work being done by community groups in Maui Nui to protect the ʻāina and empower youth voices on environmental issues. We also provide assistance to teachers who want to engage their students in creating films during school hours.
Make a Film with Us!
This school year, students in grades 7-12 can work in teams or individually to create an environmental film on a flexible schedule. You can propose your own topic or choose from a list of topics requested by the community and our program partners. Our staff will support you through the planning, filming, and editing process to bring your film to life. To get started, please complete the application below and we will respond with current options that fit your interests.
Documentary + Music Video Workshop for High School
Monday, October 12 | 1–3 PM | UH Maui College
After our September filmmaking workshop, we heard from students who were especially interested in learning more about documentary and music video production, so we’re offering an additional workshop focused on these two genres.
Get an inside look at the different processes involved in making documentaries and music videos, plus hands-on practice conducting an on-camera interview. Interested students can then choose to get support creating any type of environmental film this school year. Use the application link below to register for this free workshop open to grades 9-12.
Can’t make the workshop? Complete the form below anyway, and we’ll get back to you with options for getting involved. Students in grades 7–8 can also join our fall break filmmaking team or express interest in joining a middle school team later this year.
In-School Filmmaking Support for Teachers
In addition to our regular semester-long program, we will continue to offer filmmaking support to teachers and students during the 2026-27 school year. Teachers can use the form below to request support for film projects with their students which have an environmental or ʻāina-based focus. Examples can include documenting on-campus sustainability projects, exploring the ahupuaʻa where your school is located, student perspectives on an environmental topics, and more. Our staff will provide equipment and a combination of both virtual and in-school support for filmmaking projects for grades 7-12 in Maui County including planning, filming, and editing.
Maui Huliau Films
Serving youth from all Maui schools
We have served youth ages 12-18 from over 20 different schools on Maui and Molokaʻi! Your donations help keep our programs affordable for all students.
Over 100 films on YouTube!
Our YouTube channel now has over 100 student films with over 125,000 views! They empower the voices of Maui’s youth to educate our community and visitors about how they can help protect our island’s environment.
Award winning films!
The 100+ short environmental films produced by our filmmaking program have been selected over 180 times in 27 film festivals around the world! These films include documentaries, claymation films and even music videos.