Private Project

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.

  • Erica Byers
    Director
  • Erica Byers
    Producer
  • D. Leiko Someda
    Production Assistant
  • Kent Sakoda
    Languange Consultant
    Pidgin : the voice of Hawai'i
  • Erica Byers
    Cinematography
  • Erica Byers
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Genres:
    History, Culture, Documentary
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 20 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 8, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University of Hawai West Oahu
  • Hawaii International Film Festival
    Honolulu
    United States
    October 17, 2023
    World Premiere
    Official Selection, Honorable Mention in University Shorts Showcase
  • Women of Wonders Film Fest
    Honolulu
    United States
    March 8, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Nevada Women's Film Festival
    Las Vegas
    United States
    June 23, 2024
    Nevada Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Wyoming International Film Festival
    Cheyenne
    United States
    July 9, 2024
    Wyoming Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Houston Asian American Pacific Islander Film Festival
    Houston, Texas
    United States
    June 8, 2024
    North American Premiere, Texas Premiere
    Official Selection
  • The Roxbury International Film Festival
    Boston
    United States
    June 24, 2024
    Massachussets Premiere
    Official Selection
  • ReadingFilmFEST
    Reading, PA
    United States
    October 10, 2024
    Pennsylvania Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Tri-Cities International Film Festival
    Richland, WA
    United States
    November 1, 2024
    Washington Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Mosaic World Film Festival
    Rockford, Illinois
    United States
    September 13, 2024
    Illinois Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Erica Byers

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.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

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.