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Words of Wisdom from the Rainbow State_

Journalist Jinyoung Lee Won explores the inspiring history of Koreans in Hawaii. 102 Koreans came to Hawaii on January 13, 1903, starting the Korean immigration history of the Americas. This small and forlorn group made incredible sacrifices and started the influx of Korean culture and heritage not just in Hawaii but in the world. Jinyoung meets various people in a look back on the lives of our ancestors, recording their wisdom so that it will not be forgotten. This is to shed light on one of the colors of the Hawaiian rainbow that is Korea and to discuss the values toward each other in this unique time of ethnicism amidst a pandemic.

This 19 minute documentary about the history of Koreans in Hawaii also includes a preview to the following episodes of the film: Interviews with local Korean descendants.

  • JINYOUNG LEE WON
    Director
  • JINYOUNG LEE WON
    Writer
  • JINYOUNG LEE WON
    Producer
  • DOYEON LIM
    Producer
  • CORI CHONG
    VIDEOGRAPHER
  • TRISTAN CUMMINS
    VIDEOGRAPHER
  • MIKE MULLENHOFF
    VIDEOGRAPHER
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes 26 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 15, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    18,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, Korean
  • Shooting Format:
    DIGITAL
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Hawaii International Film Festival
    HONOLULU
    United States
    November 10, 2021
    World Premiere
Distribution Information
  • Now Production
Director Biography - JINYOUNG LEE WON

< Words of Wisdom From the Rainbow State > is Jinyoung’s debut work as a director. Born and raised in Korea, she moved to Hawaii in 2005.
A graduate of Journalism department at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, Korea, she was captivated by the beauty of Hawaii on her first visit and decided to move to the islands for good the next year.
She has been working as a reporter for various press media in Hawaii, including Korean edition of <Hana Hou!> and <Korea Times Hawaii>. She also has published multiple books on Hawaii and her essays on life in Hawaii have earned her accolades in the Dongsuh Literary Awards and the Overseas Koreans Literary Awards. She is also the winner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs <Digital Contents Competition>, which funded major portion of the production of < Words of Wisdom From the Rainbow State >.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Living in Hawaii since 2005, I discovered some fascinating stories behind the beauty that the islands are known for. <Words of Wisdom from the Rainbow State> is about the story I had no clue existed when I first arrived here.

This is a recording of the past whilst seeking direction for the future, and will be an encouraging and inspiring message to the younger generations of today who are trying to navigate an uncertain present.

I personally have lived an ambiguous existence as an outsider in this foreign land, neither fully Korean nor fully Hawaiian. The wisdom of the first Korean immigrants ancestors in Hawaii have helped me to understand how differences and love do not have to be disparate, but can and have worked together in the Rainbow State.