The Making of a Documentary: The Story of Katsu Goto

A few cast and crew pose for a photo on a production day at the Kona Historical Society’s Kona Coffee Living History Farm: (front) Kimo Apaka; (standing, l-r) Lawrence Mano, Patsy Iwasaki, Danny Miller (director), Mark Lewis (red shirt, camera crew), Tory Nakamura (UH Hilo student), Hoapili Mossman, Darrell Gabonia, and Baron Sekiya (camera crew). Photo by Bob Douglas.

Matinée presentation:

The remarkable story of Katsu Goto has its roots beginning in 1885 when, at the age of 23, he traveled to Hawai‘i to work as a laborer on a sugar plantation in Hāmākua.  Contract completed, Goto became a local businessman and leader in the small Japanese community in the town of Honoka‘a, where he opened a retail store and fought for the rights of his fellow community members working as plantation laborers.  But his business success and selfless service ultimately led to a tragic end:  on October 29, 1889, Goto was found hanging from a telephone pole, lynched in Honoka‘a town.

Today, 127 years later, his story is being given new life with the help of modern technology and the vision of filmmakers Patsy Iwasaki and Danny Miller.  Their presentation explores the research and making of “Honoka‘a Hero: The Story of Katsu Goto”—a back-and-forth journey between Japan and Hawai‘i spanning more than 130 years—featuring Goto’s incredible true story, a powerful saga of hope and inspiration arising from tragedy, and the story too of his niece Dr. Fumiko Kaya, who established the Goto Foundation.  Drawn from academic and historical sources, the film also features historical reenactments in collaboration with students from UH-Hilo’s Performing Arts Department and its Chair, Dr. Jackie Pualani Johnson.  Joining Iwasaki and Miller is Dr. Yoshinori Kato, a researcher who shares some of his important contributions to the film.  Learn more about this very moving chapter in Hawai‘i’s history on either of two occasions:  Monday evening, March 6, and a “matinée” on the following afternoon, Tuesday, March 7.

Admission to these wonderful programs is free to Museum members, and $3.00 for nonmembers. 

Please support the Museum by becoming a member, and enjoy all Saigo Series programs, all year round, at no charge! 

Seating is limited; first come, first seated. 

On Monday evenings only, additional parking is available next door at Hilo Union School, Kapiolani St. entrance; park, then walk through our green gate in the rock wall.

On Monday evenings, doors open at 6:30PM.  E komo mai!