Heart of the Sea: Kapolioka' ehukai

Five years in the making, this documentary of surf legend Rell “Kapolioka' ehukai” Sunn, who died of breast cancer in January 1998, is an inspired and moving tribute to a beloved community leader, activist, and sports hero. An avid surfer in her native Hawaii since the age of five, Sunn pioneered womens' surfing in the late 1970s. Filmmakers Lisa Denker and Charlotte Lagarde's lyrical style--enhanced by luminous underwater scenes shot by award-winning cinematographer Don King, vintage surfing footage, and traditional Hawaiian music--reflects Sunn's courage and grace, whether she's “hanging ten” or engaging in public activism for various causes close to home. The latter include her role as a community leader and mentor for at-risk youth in her hometown of Makaha, a beach town on Oahu beset with crime, drug abuse, and increasing school dropout rates. A single mother working as a lifeguard, Sunn established an annual surfing contest for kids, doling out her own trophies for prizes; she was also greatly admired for her skill as a hula expert and master fisherwoman who could dive 80 feet down with sharks hovering overhead while hauling in octopus, lobster, and numerous other sea creatures using only a three-foot spear. When, at the age of 32, Sunn was diagnosed with breast cancer, she learned that Pacific Islander women have the highest incidence of the disease in the United States and quickly became an activist for breast cancer awareness. Even following grueling bouts of radiation, Sunn--whose Hawaiian name “Kapolioka' ehukai” means “heart of the sea”--continued to surf five times a week. A final interview with Sunn two months before she died, reveals an inspiring strength of character and lack of self-pity that, along with the warm remembrances of family, friends, and colleagues included here, underscores the amazing spirit of this American legend. Enthusiastically recommended. Aud: C, P. (A. Cantú)