Polyp
Polyp is a not so sci-fi sci-fi short film that talks about what is currently happening within our oceans and what will happen if we continue down the path that we are on. Coral is one of the foundational building blocks for the ocean... once the reefs die, we die. However, there is hope.
Hawai’i Wildlife Discovery Center
Koholā Film Project teamed up with Inflatable Films to provide footage for an incredible immersive exhibit at Hawai’i Wildlife Fund’s newly opened Hawai’i Wildlife Discovery Center.
Smart Buoy Installation off Mala
Through a partnership with Sofar Ocean, aqualink, and with the help of Reef Dancer we installed Maui's first spotter buoy and smart mooring. This buoy will monitor, collect, and transmit data on the conditions (surface and bottom temperature, wind speed and direction, wave height and direction, etc) of the surrounding ocean every 30 minutes.
San Diego Undersea Film Exhibition
Heading back to San Diego...well, digitally at least. It's been about 4 years since I was last invited to the San Diego Undersea Film Exhibition, this year "the next generation" made the cut.
The Next Generation selected as Finalist!
The Next Generation was selected as a finalist in National Geographic’s 6th Annual Wild to Inspire Film Competition.
Koholā Film Project footage featured in Maui Ocean Center Exhibit
Koholā Film Project partnered up with Three Tree Creative to contribute humpback whale footage for the new Humpback Whale exhibit at the Maui Ocean Center.
Dead Battery, No Matter
Chris’s ability to maintain focus on the goal is the reason for much of the success we have had as a team. He spends the little free time he has between his two jobs patching and plugging Sylvia to keep us on the water the 1-2 days a week our schedules allow.
First encounter of the season!
We had a great start to the 2019 season. Check out the highlights from our encounter with this beautiful diving pair!
What are they doing? Resting? Communicating? Looking for a mate? Triangulating sound?We don't know... no one does.
Ring in the new year!
Ring in the New Years with one of these hand crafted, one of a kind, Kohola Bells. Made by the talented @shady.grove.creations.Part of the proceeds will come back to the Kohola Film project and will keep us on the water that much longer.
Maui Mugging
Check out these whale-tastic , handmade ceramic beauties! 🐋50% of profits made on this collection will go directly to the efforts of the Kohola Film Team! If you’re interested, inquire with the amazingly talented @shady.grove.creations
GoFundMe Featured Us!
Go Fund Me reached out to let us know that they dig our project! They connected us with photographer Elyse Butler, who flew over from Oahu to spend the day with us out on Sylvia.
Found a Whale Placenta
Being the first to film the birth of a humpback whale will involve a mix of luck, skill, and a lot of water time. A combination of these paid off for our team member, Anna Garner, on February 17th, when she found a placenta freshly passed from a mother whale. Here is her account of that day on the water.
Mariah!! Welcome to the Team!!
I am so stoked to say we have added a new team member to Kohola!
We are so lucky to add Mariah Gill to our ranks! Here is a little something to help you get to know our newest member!
Stepping up our freediving game
Watching the subject of your film dive majestically into the deep blue can be a beautiful sight...until you realize they are gone. Humpback Whales have the capacity to dive to depths of around 600 feet. Even though the Au'au channel's average depth is closer to 350 feet, we find that our whales are still able to out dive even the strongest free diver on our team.
Welcome to the team, Sylvia!
Thanks to a grant from National Geographic Society, and donations from the public on our GoFundMe page, we were able to purchase a boat!
Our team spent hours, days even scouring craigslist for a boat that met our criteria. Meaning a boat that was functional, big enough to fit the team, and within our price range.
Out on the Water? In the Water!
Using the funding we have received through National Geographic Society and our GoFundMe backers, we have been able to make it out on the water, and more importantly in the water with Humpback Whales.
GoFundMe
The team is assembled! Our permit (NMFS #20993) has been acquired, and we are ready to begin filming!
But wait.
There is at least one more critical piece.....oh yes, funding. The ever present need for funds to help us acquire cameras, housings, and a boat. As many people know the word 'boat' can sometimes stand for 'Break Out Another Thousand' as they always require fuel, some fixing, an array of equipment and tools to keep it up and running, not to mention the safety gear necessary for every sea going vessel.