Talented Hawai'i slam poets scream for acceptance
By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
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| The HawaiiSlam Team, left to right, Kealoha, Selah Geissler, Travis Thompson and Melvin Borja perform at the 2004 National Poetry Slam.
"Hawaii Slam: Poetry In Paradise" 8 p.m., today and Saturday The ARTS at Marks Garage $7 general, $5 students All ages 599-3931 Also: Doors open at 7 p.m. both nights with pre-show music by DJ Dawn (today) and DJ Rebel Girl (Saturday) |
And coming near the end of Honolulu filmmaker Kathryn Xian's smart new documentary of HawaiiSlam's journey to last August's National Poetry Slam, it's a moment to savor. Borja was a member of the first-ever Hawai'i team assembled for the annual granddaddy of slam competitions. HawaiiSlam's journey also marked the first time a team from our state had been invited to the national competition.
Xian's "Hawaii Slam: Poetry In Paradise" follows HawaiiSlam's four spoken word artists from individual wins at May 2004's First Thursdays final to national competition three months later. The film screens today and Saturday at The ARTS at Marks Garage.
Xian introduces each poet with their crackling First Thursdays finals performance. Borja brings steely-eyed intensity to his "Special Ed," a powerful piece centering on life lessons we could all learn from the mentally challenged.
Selah Geissler, a brilliant force of nature on stage, discusses her strict Baptist upbringing and only recent sharing of her poetry with her father off stage.
Travis Thompson, a fiercely intelligent poet as wickedly humorous as he is serious, sees his amazing flow as a catalyst for change via "exposing the current system and its flaws."
M.I.T. graduate Kealoha talks about following a nuclear engineering degree with First Thursdays, his monthly forum celebrating talented Hawai'i poets, emcees and hip-hop artists.
With the story of HawaiiSlam's journey to St. Louis and the wild success of First Thursdays as its emotional heart, Xian's film also touches on the struggles faced by all nonmainstream artists here in having their works seen, heard and respected.
Xian recognizes HawaiiSlam and First Thursdays — with its 500-plus monthly attendance, the largest registered poetry slam in the world — as important driving forces in changing mainstream bias toward nontraditional art and progressive young artists.
After coming together as a team, Xian follows the individual powerhouses as they learn to perform together. In St. Louis, we watch them move through preliminary competitions, share post-performance hotel-room discussions, witness their strategizing, and share in their successes and failures.
For loyal First Thursdays fans already familiar with the quartet's work, "Hawaii Slam" is an essential, often fascinating companion document to the real thing. For the unfamiliar, it's an engaging first look at the poets, their talent and the inspiration for their wonderful flow.
Quibbles? The inclusion of a few words from First Thursdays audience members would've been interesting to hear. Since the audience essentially hand-picked the HawaiiSlam team and continues to be a huge part of First Thursdays success, finding out what draws them to spoken word is essential.
I also would've liked learning even more about the poets personal lives and personalities than Xian is able to fit into her crisply edited 60 minute film.
Still, Xian does offer ample opportunity to watch our home team impress Mainland audiences with their inspired flow and very real teamwork.
That HawaiiSlam eventually misses the national competition's semi-final round means little to the film's dramatic flow. The team's real victory was proving Hawai'i slam artists had the stuff to compete with the best in the country. In the end, HawaiiSlam wins by getting what Borja hoped they would: Respect.
Hana hou, Selah, Melvin, Travis and Kealoha. Hana hou.
Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8005.
