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			HEART OF THE SEA: Kapolioka'ehukai

Tell us what you think about HEART OF THE SEA: Kapolioka'ehukai.

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12/21/2007
Candy Ransdell
San Francisco , CA

I loved "Heart of the Sea" about Rell Sun. I loved the music-I would love to find out more about the music. Is there a sound track that I could purchase, or a list of the music?. Thank You so much for bringing this brave, and beautiful story to us.

10/24/2007
Kalikiano Kalei
Kamiloloa Heights (Molokai)

I did not have the privilege of knowing Auntie Rell personally, but I was certainly aware of her efforts to help women finally achieve their due respect and honor in the world of he’e nalu for many years. Rell was one of those inspiring local sistahs who spring from ordinary circumstances and humble origins to achieve true greatness (in her case both locally and internationally) by virtue of their noble spirit and great character.

When I was a child, I did not have many personal heroes or heroines to look up to, but today (with the benefits of age and maturity) I offer a silent but sincere ‘mahalo nui loa’ to three people who touched me deeply with the greatness of their personal mana: Duke Kahanamoku, bruddah Eddie Aikau, and Auntie Rell. All of these extraordinary, ordinary individuals exemplified the essential matrix of what we still regard as ‘The Aloha Spirit’, despite the small-minded meanness that has regrettably replaced it in so many places on the islands today. All three of them gave from the heart in that unique and splendid way only those who are fully in touch with their ancient Hawaiian roots may, and it is that ennobling state of gracefulness, along with Rell’s joyful synergies with the Mother Ocean and her spontaneous love for life, that made Rell the singular example all of us may draw inspiration from in our own ordinary lives.

Back in the 1960s, a well known psychologist learned that he had contracted a particular deadly type of cancer that, as in Auntie Rell’s situation, led quickly to a dismal and hopeless terminal prognosis. This individual, drawing upon the same source of personal illumination Rell did, used the two remaining months of his life to write a book about what it was like to face death as it approached inevitably and rapidly. The book, titled ‘The Everyday Courage of Ordinary Life’, focused not on the sort of flashy ‘John Wayne’ fantasy image that we have all been led by Hollywood to identify with heroes, but on the down-to-earth, day-to-day courageousness and indomitable spirit that may create potential heroes out of any of us, at any time. Auntie Rell (putting aside her remarkable skills as a Hawaiian ‘waterwoman’) was one of those ‘ordinary’ heroines whose remarkable strengths and joyous regard for all life made her stand out above her peers so splendidly, despite the inalterable physical reality she faced. And it is that type of genuine, real, and substantial ‘heroism’ she demonstrated in her day-to-day life that still impresses me terribly.

Rell’s demise was a blow to all of us who held such high regard for her, but I take some comfort from knowing that in that great traditional manner of the islands, Rell has now rejoined her ancestors in the Mother Ocean that gave us all birth, as an aumakua for all people (not just those of Hawaiian blood) and a continuing inspiration to all of us to live this gift of life to the fullest, but always in the kindest and most generous manner the human spirit is capable of. Eia au, eia 'oe, me ke aloha pumehana, Aunti Rell!

11/11/2003
isaac
Hilo

aunty rell is missed queen of makaha heart of the sea and heart of hawaii

08/28/2003
Dan Perkins
dperkins7@austin.rr.com
Austin, TX

What an amazing job the filmmakers have done; to be able to allow Rell Sunn to continue to touch the lives orf so many people, to continue to be an inspiration to people who never met her in life, even after her passing, is a blessing for us all. I watched this documentary a couple of months ago, and Rell's story has stayed with me. The story of Rell Sunn has made me want to become a better person, to somehow honor her life and her spirit by more fully embracing life myself.

Duke

Scotts Valley, CA

Unfortunately, words can't possibly begin to describe what a gift from God Rell Sunn was to the people of Hawai'i and around the world! However "Heart of the Sea" does an amazing job of capturing how Rell lived her life and the effect she had on just about everyone that she made contact with. This is a must see documentary for everyone!!!!! Aloha Auntie Rell!!!

DAVID H. KANESHIRO (BUNYIP)

HERMOSA BEACH, CALIFORNIA

YOU COULD SEE IT IN HER SMILE. SPIRIT. THERE WAS A GLOW AROUND HER. I FELT SAFE WHEN I SAW HER. NOT THAT I WAS IN ANY DANGER..IS WAS A COMFORTING FEELING. KINDNESS MIXED WITH LAUGHTER. PURE. LIKE YOUR FIRST CHILD. RELL WAS DIFFERENT. YES, SHE WAS CONNECTED TO HAWAII...BUT SHE BELONGED TO THE UNIVERSE. IT WAS NEVER "HAWAII IS GOOD AND THE REST OF THE WORLD SUCKS"...SHE TAUGHT LOVE FOR ALL...YUP..A TRUE HAWAIIAN WITH TRUE ALOHA SPIRIT. I MISS HER................THANKYOU FOR MAKING THIS FILM..THANKYOU FROM DEEP INSIDE ME. THIS FILM, LIKE RELL, WILL COMFORT ME AND WILL BE A BLESSING FOR MY LITTLE "KAMEHANAOKALA" (THE WARMTH OF THE SUNN"/MY DAUGHTER). LOVE/DAVE

Marie

Ward, SD

Rell Sunn was and still is the role model for so many women as well as men, both surfers and non. She was so full of life, strength, courage and wisdom. In fact she had so much, it just naturally rubbed off on others, making them better humans - making them want to succeed in everything that they do and to love and cherish life. It made women want to follow her lead and pursue their dreams. Who could ask for a better role model? Rell Sunn will be remembered for her love of life, her love of Hawaii, and especially for her love of the ocean. She truly had a HEART OF THE SEA. Rell Sunn was Hawaii and Hawaii was REll. Being Hawaiian, one naturally has a love for the ocean, but Rell's was much deeper. The sea never left her heart, it was with her when she was surfing,when she was diving, when she was living and when she was dying. She fought like the mighty ocean waves until her heart finally succombed to the sea, but where else would Rell rather be?

PAM PERSHING

I HAVE JUST HAD THE PLEASURE OF VIEWING "HEART OF THE SEA," AND IT WAS SO MOVING THAT I HAD TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS ABOUT RELL SUNN. I HAD NEVER HEARD OF HER BEFORE, AND WHILE I WAS SURFING THE CHANNELS, I CAME UPON THIS SHOW. BECAUSE MY LOVE OF HAWAII IS SO STRONG, I DECIDED TO WATCH AND SEE WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT. RELL SUNN IS ONE OF THE MOST INSPIRING WOMEN I HAVE EVER SEEN. A WOMAN WITH SO MUCH COURAGE AND LOVE THAT HER BEAUTY WAS NOT ONLY SUPERFICIAL, IT RADIATED THROUGH THE SCREEN AND INTO MY HEART. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH HER STORY MEANT TO ME. SHE WAS SO GENTLE AND LOVING AND YET SHE WAS A WARRIOR. WE ARE ALL GUILTY OF TAKING LIFE FOR GRANTED, BUT RELL NOT ONLY LIVED EVERY MOMENT SHE SHARED HER LIFE, HER LOVE AND HER OCEAN WITH EVERYONE SHE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH. HER COURAGE DURING HER ORDEAL WAS ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE. HOW MANY OF US COULD ENDURE SUCH PAIN WITH SO MUCH DIGNITY, FAITH AND COURAGE? GOD SENDS US SPECIAL GIFTS DURING OUR LIFE TIME AND I BELIEVE RELL SUNN WAS ONE OF GOD'S MOST PRECIOUS IFTS. I FEEL SO LUCKY TO HAVE HAD THE GOOD SENSE TO WATCH HER STORY AND TO BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH ONE OF THE MOST INSPIRING AND LOVELY WOMEN I HAVE EVER KNOWN. TEARS FILLED MY EYES AS I REALIZED THAT SHE HAD LOST HER BATTLE WITH CANCER, BUT MY SPIRIT SOARS NOW THAT I HAVE WITNESSED A TRUE GIFT FROM GOD, RELL SUNN.

David Langan

New York, NY

Many surfers know about the untimely, tragic passing of Rell Sunn, Queen of Makaha, but few know of her lifelong passion for our planet, for our most precious resource, the children she loved so much. I, like the vast majority of surfers, never knew or even met Rell Sunn. But Rell Sunn's life, kind deeds, and Aloha spirit, chronicled in various surf publications over the years, are legendary, and have always been an inspiration to me. Her life is more than just a beacon of hope and caring. It is a perennial, selfless ideal which we all, surfers and non-surfers alike, should hope to embody, not just for our individual benefit, but for for the benefit of of every one and everything around us. Her passing was a great loss to the Hawaiian surfing community, but an even greater loss to the world at large. Her heritage and culture only made greater what was already an innate, deep sense of humanity, caring and kindness. Her LIFE's story is uncommonly uplifting and a lesson in empathy and involv ement and perserverance. It is only right and significant to mark and to mourn the tragic loss of her unselfish soul-- but the tragedy will be far greater if we, the living, should forget the effusive spirit and universal benificence with which she graciously lived, I believe she is one of the few among us who can honestly be called larger than life, and, refreshingly, for all the right reasons. So I'm happy to see her acknowledged and celebrated outside customary surf-media confines.

Trudy Ali

Metairie,La

I was totally moved by the life story of Rell Sunn. I did not know anything about her before seeing the show, but I was greatly affected by it. She was truly a special person. I think Rell paved the way for women surfers by being a remarkable rolemodel. I think she will be remembered as a courageous and free spirited women. Someone I would loved to have known. I feel Rell truly embodied the Hawaiian culture and shared it with everyone she met.I would like to know when she died and if there are any books out about her. Also, I would like to send God's Blessings to her daughter and family. Rell's life story really touched my heart. I was able to visit Hawaii last year. I hope to return one day and would love to go where Rell lived. I know she is with God in Heaven surfing away. May she rest in peace.

Barbara Brookwell

I just watched the show and I cannot stop crying.It makes me feel I need to go out into the world and make a differance.What a powerful woman.With such amazing strength/She was an inspiration to ALL woman.I pray I can be a strong woman as she was.In all aspects of life.Thank-you for sharing a wonderful show with the world.God Bless you,Barbara Brookwell

megan miller

tulsa ok

ABSOLUTELY INSPIRING!WHAT A TOUCHING STORY AND INCREDIBLY BRAVE WOMAN!WHAT AN EXAMPLE FOR US ALL.

Rock on Rell!!!!

Rell & her fellow pioneers showed the world that women are just as capable in taking up sports and performing with excellence. I think Rell will be remembered for her love and encouragement to all of the children, as well as her courage in dealing with cancer. Rell's connection to her Hawaiian culture had everything to do with her talents as a waterwoman ... the respect for the sea and land, life from the sea, healing from the sea, belief in the stories told in hula, and belief in the spiritual aspects handed down in Hawaiian culture. This is the second time that I've seen this show. It is very powerful!! Please continue to show it!

how did Rell Sunn get started on sharing the way to examin your breast-- was that through a grant? I have breast cancer and would like to be out of myself and share with others on how to check each month for a continues healthy breast. Rell will never be forgotten - she will be remembered for being a gift from God- how fortunate and favored you are that knew her- for all i have is that wonderfull film -thank you Rell & all of you for being so brave in sharing a complete story of a complete women.. I lived on Hickem air force base Graduated from Radfod High school 1967- always have wanted to come back --some day

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