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Heart of the Sea
Kapolioka' ehukai
~2002"Heart of the Sea" is a
touching portrait of Rell Sunn, who died in January 1998
of breast cancer at the age of 47. Known worldwide as a
pioneer of women's professional surfing, at home in
Hawai'i. Rell achieved the stature of an icon, not only
for her physical power, grace and luminous beauty, but
for her leadership in a community that loved her as much
as she loved it.
Rell grew up on the beach in 'Oahu near Makaha point.
Her grandmother gave her the middle name
Kapolioka'ehukai, which means "Heart of the Sea."
Instructed by surfing great Buffalo Keaulana, Rell began
surfing, diving and spearfishing at the age of 4.
Rell was Hawaii's #1 female amateur surfer for 5 years.
After a trip to California with Duke Kahanamoku in 1966
to attend a world championship, she began traveling
around the world to compete professionally. In 1975, she
co-founded the Women's International Surfing Association
(WISA), the first women's pro circuit, and the Women's
Pro Surfing (WPS) in 1979. In 1982, Rell was the #1
ranked woman's longboarder.
"Heart of the Sea" traces Rell's remarkable personal and
public life, interweaving her last interview in 1997 ˇX
two months before her death ˇX with breathtaking surfing
footage, archival news footage, home videos and
interviews with her daughter, friends, fellow surfers,
doctors and others in the community whose lives were
changed by the way Rell chose to live hers. Although the
cancer metastasized and was declared terminal during her
15-year battle with the disease, Rell never let her
cancer keep her from her love of surfing. "Heart of the
Sea" is a poignant testimony to one womanˇ¦s radiant
spirit that lives on in Makaha, throughout the Islands,
and in all who were touched by the life of Rell Sunn.
*Interviewees includes Malia Jones, Brian Keaulana, Fred
Hemmings, and more.
*Underwater Cinematography by the award-winning Don
King.
*Soundtrack includes music from Israel Kamakawiwoˇ¦ole,
Sonny Chillingworth, Sol Hoˇ¦opiˇ¦i, Ozzie Kotani, Ledward
Kaˇ¦apana, and more.
Running Time: 54 minutes.
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