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We’ve been working hard for the last two years to make this happen. All this time, our rallying cry has been “Imua”, which in Hawaiian, translates to “forward,” “ahead,” or “onward.” Like most Hawaiian words, “Imua” carries deeper meaning. In this case, the expression conveys advancing with courage, striving toward a goal, or pressing onward through adversity (“go forward,” “charge,” or “keep moving ahead”). And that’s what we did through all the “ups and downs”.

Last week, Hawai’i was hit by Hurricane Lowell. The peak of the storm reached Kaua’i late Monday night (September 7) and lasted through the pre-dawn hours of Tuesday morning (September 8). During that window, the core of the storm made its closest approach just west of Niʻihau and Kauaʻi as a Category 2 hurricane, tracking northward.

On August 21, 2026, Ella and Derek went to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens to do b-roll video of the Zoo’s action-packed free-flight demonstration called “Ameritas Wings of Wonder”. Footage from that day will be used in an upcoming full length documentary, written and directed by Ella.