Pidgin Kaua'i Style
"Pidgin Kauai Style" is a short documentary that explores the distinct dialect and accent differences of Hawaii Creole, also known as "Pidgin," as spoken on the Island of Kaua'i. The film features four women who candidly discuss regional aspects of the language and share their personal experiences and stories about how speaking Pidgin is a source of pride for them and their community.
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Erica ByersDirector
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Erica ByersProducer
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D. Leiko SomedaProduction Assistant
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Kent SakodaLanguange ConsultantPidgin : the voice of Hawai'i
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Erica ByersCinematography
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Erica ByersEditor
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Project Type:Documentary, Short, Student
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Genres:History, Culture, Documentary
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Runtime:7 minutes 20 seconds
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Completion Date:May 8, 2023
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Production Budget:0 USD
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Country of Origin:United States, United States
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Country of Filming:United States, United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:Yes - University of Hawai West Oahu
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Hawaii International Film FestivalHonolulu
United States
October 17, 2023
World Premiere
Official Selection, Honorable Mention in University Shorts Showcase -
Women of Wonders Film FestHonolulu
United States
March 8, 2024
Official Selection -
Nevada Women's Film FestivalLas Vegas
United States
June 23, 2024
Nevada Premiere
Official Selection -
Wyoming International Film FestivalCheyenne
United States
July 9, 2024
Wyoming Premiere
Official Selection -
Houston Asian American Pacific Islander Film FestivalHouston, Texas
United States
June 8, 2024
North American Premiere, Texas Premiere
Official Selection -
The Roxbury International Film FestivalBoston
United States
June 24, 2024
Massachussets Premiere
Official Selection -
ReadingFilmFESTReading, PA
United States
October 10, 2024
Pennsylvania Premiere
Official Selection -
Tri-Cities International Film FestivalRichland, WA
United States
November 1, 2024
Washington Premiere
Official Selection -
Mosaic World Film FestivalRockford, Illinois
United States
September 13, 2024
Illinois Premiere
Official Selection
Erica Byers is a filmmaker based in Hawai'i. in 2024, she graduated from the University of Hawai'i West Oahu with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Media. She lives on the Island of Kaua'i with her husband and three dogs.
Hawaii Creole English, commonly known as Pidgin, is a unique language spoken throughout the Hawaiian Islands. It is a controversial language that has had a stigma attached to it for over a century. Despite this, well over half of those born and raised in Hawaii speak it.
Many outside Hawaii are unaware that Pidgin is a legitimate language, complete with distinct accents, vocabulary, and grammatical structures that vary between islands and even neighborhoods. It's expressive, dynamic, and has interesting origins.
The inspiration for this film came from a conversation with a friend who was born and raised on Oahu. She grew up speaking Pidgin but said she found it difficult to understand the version spoken on Kaua'i because it sounded so different. This ignited my curiosity, and I started asking people in my community what they knew about the different variations of Pidgin.
As an assignment for one of my classes at the University of Hawaii West Oahu, I had to create a short documentary film. So I asked four women from my community if they would be willing to engage in a discussion about the Pidgin language they grew up with.
I hope this film will help the world gain a better understanding of this language and the people who speak it on the island of Kaua'i.