Jacob Aija Aini Hawkes' 'Iakwe: Hello, Goodbye' Draws on His Own Marshallese Adoption Story at Bentonville Film Festival

Summary

Jacob "Jake" Aija Aini Hawkes stars in the Marshallese-themed short film "Iakwe: Hello, Goodbye," directed by Nathan Fitch, which premiered at the Bentonville Film Festival. The film draws heavily from Hawkes' own life story — he was born in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, adopted by an American family, and raised in Utah. As an adult, he returned to work in the Marshall Islands, and the film reflects about 80-90% of his real-life experiences. The piece explores themes of identity, cultural heritage, adoption, and homecoming.

Source

DeadlineJacob Aija Aini Hawkes' 'Iakwe: Hello, Goodbye' Draws on His Own Marshallese Adoption Story at Bentonville Film Festivaldeadline.com