The movement is more than a protest; it is a demonstration of what community and intergenerational healing can accomplish. The fight to defend Mauna Kea prioritizes love, balance, and cultural wisdom.

Standing Above the Clouds follows the story of three families, particularly the mothers and daughters, that were on the front lines of the movement to protect Mauna Kea from the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. It is told through the eyes and voices of Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) people who would be forced to face the afflictions of the telescope’s construction if it succeeded. Mauna Kea is more than a mountain to them, or just a piece of their native land—the Mauna is part of their creation story. While the film is a story of motherhood in relation to the families, it is also a depiction of the efforts to heal and shield the land as a maternal figure itself.

One of the most intriguing aspects of this film is the way in which contrasts and division are used to enforce the themes of resilience. Certain creative choices suggest divisions drawn between those who seek peace versus violence, as a montage of news reports featuring injustices against Indigenous Hawaiians, their land, possessions, and culture, as shown in a jarring, fast-paced fashion. This contrasts the slow panoramic scenes of the landscape and zoomed-in moments of community members interacting with the ʻāina (land). One evokes pain while the other connotes a sense of peace.

This contrast of peace and violence is mirrored in one scene where Kānaka police officers are sent in by the state during one of the protests to move and arrest people on the Mauna. One of the narrators expressed the great sorrow of having the government use members of their community against them as a tactic to divide them and weaken their morale. They were being prosecuted and violently taken from their sacred site by those they might have considered family. However, this violence was contrasted by the way protestors chose to respond to the police force. Elders offered leis as a sign of peace and love towards officers, asking them sincerely to let them be.

The Kānaka have a battle ahead of them, which is all the more stressful when combined with their hardships at home. From the trials of mental illness and pregnancy to unforeseen grief in their community, the mothers and daughters featured in this story hold the weight of the world on their shoulders. They fight relentlessly to safeguard their homeland while struggles emerge within their private homes. Although these scenes of trauma are shown in no shortage, the primary emotion that lingers throughout the film is joy. This creates another visible contrast in its often uplifting tone against the painful film content and injustice that prompted the movement. 

Standing Above the Clouds also looks deeply into the ways women’s wisdom and healing are shared intergenerationally, whether it be through laughter, song, or prayer. Their love for one another far outshines even the most painful moments, as their unbreakable bonds of sisterhood illuminate the film. Highlights that evoked strong audience reactions included funny and intimate moments between sisters Hāwane Rios and Kapulei Flores, as well as scenes of Pua Case—non-profit founder of Mauna Kea Education and Awareness—who shined as an embodiment of Indigenous wisdom. As reported jokingly by her daughter, Case is known to “work too much,” which is definitely true, given her persevering efforts to preserve the sacred Mauna. 

Further contributing to the uplifting tone throughout the film, the film features elegant chants and lively dance segments, reminding audiences that well-being and good spirits do not have to be lost at the hands of oppressive measures. Within the encampment on Mauna Kea, a temporary society emerges that is united under the goal of protecting their land. The scenes of these community interactions contain more vibrant colors, leaving a lasting impression of tranquility. Combined with originally composed music by T.J. Keanu Tario, each moment is infused with a little more delight. 

Some of the community members in the film speak to this idea as well, shedding light on the importance of sharing their good spirits as much as they do their traumas. Director Jalena Keane-Lee explained that “we wanted to be authentic to life” in response to how the team chose to balance joy versus trauma in the film. The title of the documentary continues to strengthen this image of power in unity in the face of oppression, as it inspires oppressed peoples everywhere to “stand above,” even when institutions seek to keep them down.

This documentary encapsulated all that makes storytelling such a powerful practice. It was clear it was the production team’s honor to do justice to these voices, made apparent through each intentional choice in the art itself and Keane-Lee’s insight. After the film, an audience member asked how living on the Mauna for the film may have impacted her. She expressed that her feelings “changed” by the healing experiences on and off the mountain. Surrounded by elders, creatives, and activists while building connections and developing her craft, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that Keane-Lee was open about. Coming from a family where the pre-colonial practice of sharing oral history is prioritized, she said part of what moved her heart so much was that she experienced a glimpse into “what decolonization feels like.”

Since the process of filming was over a long period of time, it was initially released in a short version to help gain visibility for the movement and the full-length film. With the movie now released, there is hope that it will move other audiences as it did ours and encourage the world to recognize an unfortunate truth: the fight is not over. The orders to construct the TMT are still active despite successful delays by land protectors. Keane-Lee shared the petition to completely prevent the TMT construction on Mauna Kea and extended her care and support to women everywhere, from those in Hawaii to the Columbia and Barnard students who have been protesting in support of Palestine. She spoke in support of unity during these uncertain times, leaving audience members feeling inspired to stand “above the clouds” in their own way.

Header via Athena Film Festival