Traditional Hawaiian Wa'a Navigator, Filmmaker and Music Meets Activism with Japantown Advocate

  • July 11, 2024
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RadioACTive the Talanoa Way, with Stephanie Mahina. Tune in as she talk story Utah's Pasifika community and traditional Hawaiian navigator and filmmaker Lexi Ku'uleimakamae Ka'ili of Hawaiian non-profit Kānehūnāmoku Voyaging Academy. Plus, Music Meets Activism Japantown special with Trey Imamura of SLC Next Gen Japanese Americans organization.

Malo 'Aupito for tuning into tonight's RadioACTive, the Talanoa Way with Radioactive Community Host, Valene MC as we feature the following people, organizations and/or events. Check them out and get plugged into your community!

Tonight's Guests:

Lexi Ku'uleimakamae Ka'ili is a film director and impact producer who creates documentaries and purpose-driven branded content that centers identity, culture, social and environmental issues. As a Native Hawaiian filmmaker, Lexi blends her background in traditional voyaging, environmental education, and documentary film to share stories about misrepresented communities who challenge the status quo.

She especially seeks out stories about Indigenous people and those with intimate connections to land, water and food. Lexi is a traditional Hawaiian wa'a (canoe) instructor at the Kānehūnāmoku Voyaging Academy based in Ka’alaea on O’ahu.

Organization name is:

Trey Imamura, of Salt Lake City Next Generation Japanese Americans stops by and talk story with Radioactive and shares his own soundtrack to his community and activism for Japantown.

  • PETITION: SLC Japantown — sign petition here
  • EVENT: Saturday, July 13 at 3:00 pm - 10:00pm The 2024 Obon Festival at Salt Lake Buddhist Temple 211 W 100 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Trey's Music Meets Activism Playlist:

  1. Tanko Bushi (Coal miner song) - many Japanese American (JA) immigrants came to Utah to work on the railroads/mines and this is a song we dance to at Obon that is a folk song from Kyushu, Japan.

  2. Mulan’s I’ll make a man out of you— lol Lets get down to business, we have put a lot of work into this and are focused and dedicating to making an impact for our community.

  3. Thousand Cranes by Hiroshima, Japanese American jazz group, song relates to the story of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who developed leukemia as a result of exposure to radiation from the atomic bomb the US government dropped on Hiroshima Japan.  She folded 1000 cranes while undergoing her treatment because in Japanese folklore, it is said that 1000 cranes brings well wishes.  Sadly she passed away however a statue exists in Hiroshima in her honor and people from all over the world leave cranes at her monument.  This song serves as reminder of an event that changed the lives of so many Japanese Americans. It helps us remember our past.

  4. Ichi Tasu Ichi meaning "one plus one", accumulation of many “ones” makes many. Success comes by meeting each small challenge and adding one good quality to another.

  5. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell another YBA song — also we are a resilient community, and are positive about the future and overcoming obstacles.

  6. Starting All Over Again (by Iz) — how we feel about the this process, cautious but the hope we have for the future.

  7. We Are family by Sister Sledge, the community we have is so strong, that is how Japantown came to be, after having everything taken away, we lean on each other, and this was a song our YBA group loves, we’ve come together.

Rallies & Resources Continued...

  • 7/13 - Obon Festival at Salt Lake Buddhist Temple

  • 7/13 - KLC DAY hosted by Kava Lake City 

  • 8/17- Polyfest

Guests' views, thoughts, or opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the board, staff, or members of Listeners' Community Radio of Utah, KRCL 90.9fm. Questions, comments, or suggestions for the show? Email radioactive@krcl.org. Tonight's RadioACTive team included:

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