Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 38, Number 11, 1 Nowemapa 2021 — Pacific Islanders in Communication Mourns the Passing of Beloved Executive Director [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Pacific Islanders in Communication Mourns the Passing of Beloved Executive Director

J HE HO'OMANA'O ^ I N MEMORIAM

>^^Leanne Ka'iulani Ellen Kang Ferrer^^^k

Aug. 27, 1967 - Aug. 12, 2021

By Cheryl Hirasa, PIC managing director and vice president of Programs Leanne Ka'iulani Ellen Kang Ferrer was a foree of nature. An inspiring and tireless leader, storyteller, mother, daughter, sister, ffiend, advoeate, and visionary, Leanne was a heaeon for the independent film eommunity in Hawai'i, aeross the Pacifie and beyond. She passed away in August surrounded by family and friends. The loss of her presenee is profound. We send her husband, daughter and son our deepest appreciation for sharing her with us. Leanne left an indelible mark on Hawai'i and countless Paeihe Islander media artists, as well as partners and collaborators across the film community. The legacy of her impact lives on in innumerable spaces: from Paeihe Islanders in Communication (PIC), where she was executive director, to the Hawaiian Media Makers that she spearheaded, to her early years at PBS Hawai'i. She nurtured and influenced the likes of Chelsea Winstanley, Heperi Mita, Heather Giugni, Sergio Rapu, Alika Maikau, Ciara Lacy, Lisette Marie Flanary, Ty Sanga, Kumu Hina, Erin Lau, and many more. Leanne's legacy lives on in the many people whom she cared for and mentored. "Leanne was my daily dose of inspiration," said filmmaker Heather Giugni. "She gave us the opportunity to reach our greatest potential. And she always made me laugh." "The first time I met her was on a visit to the PIC office," recalled filmmaker Lauren Kawana. "She was so warm and welcoming, and I will never forget - barefoot! I remember thinking...that is how I work in the ofhce, and how I always love to work! It was refreshing to see an executive doing the same. We talked story, and I left feeling inspired, thinking she exuded aloha in a way we all should aspire to." Leanne joined PIC in 2008 as a program manager, beeame the director of programming and in 2013 ascended to the role of executive director. In her 13 years of service she was a passionate advocate for puhlie media, its critieal role in a democratic society and its power to inform, educate and engage communities across the country. With her passion, Leanne navigated PIC to new horizons with a particular focus on normalizing Pacific Islander stories as part of America's, and the world's, grow-

ing ethnic and cultural diversity. She co-created Paeihe Heartbeat, the only puhlie television series by and about Pacific Islander people, culture and experiences, whieh has been running for 10 years. "I consider Leanne a dear friend and one of the great- ; est collaborators I have ever had the honor of working with," said PBS Hawai'i Vice President of Learning Initiatives Robert Pennybacker. "Our co-creation of Pacific Heartbeat is without a doubt one of the brightest moments of my career. Leanne had a big heart, whieh she ;

always shared openly and generously. She was a tireless ehampion for Paeihe Islander storytellers across the globe." Leanne oversaw numerous productions in partnership with the National Multicultural Allianee, PBS, the WORLD Channel, American Puhlie Television and the National Educational Telecommunications Association. As the digital world opened up to audiences far and wide, Paeihe Pulse was born to showcase Paeihe Islander stories and talent through innovative short films. Leanne's realization that connecting media makers to network and share knowledge was of the utmost importance to supporting a thriving creative community, whieh resulted in the PIC Media Makers Summit, Hawaiian Handbook for Media Protocol and the Hawaiian Media Makers Database. "With Leanne's passing, the Paeihe audiovisual eommunity has lost one of its most ardent defenders. She was an amazing woman and still is, through her legacy," said Festival International du Film Documnentaire Oeeanien Director Mareva Leu of Tahiti. "Committed and with exceptional kindness, she devoted her whole life to promote the Indigenous audiovisual industry, by Indigenous people. May her convictions turn into legacy for all of us who suffer tremendously from her loss. 'Ia maita'i i tō 'oe tere e Leanne. E mihi atu mātou 'ia 'oe. 'A fano ma te hau." Prior to joining PIC, Leanne worked for Disney Films and PBS Hawai'i. She also served as the previous Board President for Hawai'i Women in Filmmaking, founding member and advisory board member of the Hawaiian Media Makers and the Hawai'i Film Foundation at Nu'umealani. Through everything that she did, Leanne led with love, conviction, compassion and generosity. In a recent interview, Leanne said, "It is most critical to keep supporting content creators in telling Paeihe Islander stories. Without storytellers, we can't continue to preserve our heritage through the language of multimedia." Though we grieve, the PIC 'ohana is also celebrating Leanne's life and legacy by continuing to be champions and advocates for Paeihe Islander makers and content. Leanne had a vision for a thriving independent media landscape that's fair, inclusive, and equitable for Paeihe Islander media makers in front of and behind the eamera. Like Leanne, our work will be carried forward with authenticity, compassion, care, and aloha. ■

B|r Bh Leanne Ka'iulani Ellen Kang Ferrer - Photo: Courtesy