I’m so excited! I still cannot believe what has been accomplished over the last two years! Something that once existed only as an idea has grown into seven projects, dozens of collaborators, and countless hours of work. And this upcoming week, that work will finally come to life.
When Graham and I first ventured deep into the rain-drenched wilderness of the Alakaʻi Plateau to film When Silence Becomes the Song, the silence settling over the canopy felt overwhelming. Yet beneath that quiet lay a story of fierce, breathtaking persistence. Recently, the island of Kauaʻi came together to honor that exact spirit: Pakele, the last known wild ʻakikiki. Marking one year since she was last seen on August 29, 2025, Mayor Derek Kawakami issued an official proclamation and the Kauaʻi County Council presented a certificate celebrating Pakele’s extraordinary life and recognizing the tireless biologists at the Kauaʻi Forest Bird Recovery Project (KFBRP) who fought along her side.
Yesterday, I received an email from PBS Hawai’i, letting me know that they have scheduled “When Silence Becomes the Song” for broadcast on Thursday, October 8th at 8:30 pm (HST), with a repeat on Sunday, October 11th at 1:00 pm (HST).
The 2026 “Discovery in Action Showcase” was held at the Tangeman University Center’s Great Hall on March 31st. Organized to showcase student research projects, innovative teaching tools, and real-world applications within the many disciplines of the College of Arts and Sciences, the event brought together hundreds of attendees and guests over the 2-hour event.
The 2026 Celebration of UC Film and Media Arts took place at the TUC Cinema on March 25th. A big THANK YOU to Nancy, the Niehoff Center for Film and Media Studies, and the Office of the Provost. The program of the evening was diverse in formats, lengths, styles and genres, displaying a variety of talent, imagination and skills.
Hi everyone,
The VOTING is now open for UC’s “DISCOVERY IN ACTION Showcase”.
As I posted on February 17th, I’ll be presenting our “Forest Calls 2.0” transmedia project to the University of Cincinnati’s College of Arts and Sciences ‘Discovery In Action Showcase”.
Finalists with the most votes in the graduate category will be awarded the ‘Bearcat Buzz Award’.
The “Discovery in Action Showcase” is an event designed to bring the UC College of Arts and Sciences community together. It provides a platform for each academic unit and center to demonstrate how they embody the spirit of “Discovery in Action.”
As such, I was invited to present “Forest Calls” on March 31st and let everyone know how our transmedia project involves science, arts, and traditional wisdom and knowledge.
We have been busy lately, promoting “Forest Calls” and gathering momentum, as we continue to secure partnerships with scientists, artists and cultural practitioners – both in the Greater Cincinnati area and in Kauaʻi / Hawaiʻi.
On January 30th, as part of the ‘2026 UC Sustainability Week’ events, “When Silence Becomes The Song” was projected at the Niehoff Family Auditorium. It was followed by a Q&A session with students, faculty and members of the general public.
