Private Project

Pick It Up America: Life is a Beach

Filmed at Hawai‘i’s Hapuna Beach, one of the most beautiful and dangerous shorelines in the islands, Pick It Up, America: Life Is a Beach is a heartfelt call for stewardship, ocean safety, and respect. Through interviews with lifeguards, keiki, locals, and dive experts, this short documentary reminds us that caring for our oceans means more than picking up your trash it means picking up awareness, responsibility, and love for the ʻāina. A vital message for families, tourists, and communities everywhere.

  • Kimber Leigh
    Director
  • Kimber Leigh
    Writer
  • Kimber Leigh
    Producer
  • Richard Brown
    Producer
  • Ray Schmidt
    Producer
  • Ray Schmidt
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 6 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 21, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Iphone 16 pro max
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Kimber Leigh

Kimber Leigh is an award-winning independent filmmaker, author, and creative force based on Hawai‘i’s Big Island. Known for her ability to bring heartfelt stories to light, she uses film as a vessel for education, empathy, and empowerment. Her previous documentaries, Together in ALS: A Wife’s Perspective and Taking Your Crack at Filmmaking, have earned international acclaim for their honesty, humanity, and emotional impact.

In Pick It Up, America: Life Is a Beach, Kimber spotlights beach safety, environmental stewardship, and the voices of those who live closest to the land and ocean, including lifeguards, keiki, and long-time residents. Her commitment to truth-telling and community healing guides every frame, offering not only cinematic beauty but meaningful awareness for viewers of all ages.

Kimber’s work is rooted in a deep sense of responsibility to the places and people that shape her stories. With this film, she invites audiences to look beyond the surface and remember: every beach has a heartbeat, and every visitor leaves a footprint.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Pick It Up, America: Life Is a Beach is more than a beachside documentary, it’s a heartfelt offering of gratitude. After living on Hawai‘i Island for nine years, filmmaker Kimber Leigh returns to the shore not only to document, but to give back. This film captures the urgent need for awareness: watching wave patterns before entering the water, choosing reef-safe sunscreen, picking up your trash, and understanding the rhythm of the ocean. Through interviews with keiki, lifeguards, dive instructors, and long-time locals, the film becomes a voice for the island, educating visitors, honoring the ʻāina, and encouraging every guest to respect both the beauty and the boundaries of this sacred place.