New Film Wins Award for Depicting Polynesian Cultural Center and BYU-Hawaii as Sanctuaries

Tad Walch covers religion, focusing on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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The new documentary Sharing Aloha, which highlights the Polynesian Cultural Center and BYU-Hawaii, took first place for Best Documentary Feature at the 2025 Zions Indie Film Fest on Saturday, just days after its world premiere at the Scera Center for the Arts in Orem, Utah.

One aspect of the film that wasn’t included in the initial story about the premiere is the historical significance of the location. The Polynesian Cultural Center and BYU-Hawaii are situated near an ancient Hawaiian “pu’uhonua,” or place of refuge. Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles referred to this concept in a campus devotional at BYU-Hawaii, which is located in Laie.

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“History tells us that in ancient times, Laie was a ‘pu’uhonua,’ or sanctuary where those who broke laws could seek redemption,” Elder Christofferson explained. “Like Israel’s cities of refuge, these sanctuaries were important in early island society, making Laie an ideal place of refuge for Latter-day Saints.”

In Sharing Aloha, a historian recounts an ancient tale about a warrior reaching the wall of Laie’s pu’uhonua just as his enemies closed in. He managed to scale the wall, and the enemies halted, respecting the sacredness of the place. It was a sanctuary for non-combatants during warfare and for lawbreakers seeking forgiveness from a priest.

Each major island had its own pu’uhonua. On the opposite side of Oahu from the Polynesian Cultural Center is Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, where many Hawaiians fled for refuge. The park’s website notes that individuals often swam to this safe haven after escaping pursuers on land.

Pu’u refers to a mound or hill, while Honua represents the land or earth, a concept central to Hawaiian culture, which views land as protective and life-giving, as explained by Tevita Ka’ili, a BYU-Hawaii professor of culture and history.

Laie, though a small village, housed a pu’uhonua.

“The pu’uhonua transforms those who enter it. Leaving it, they are entirely changed,” says Cy Bridges, a BYU-Hawaii graduate and historian, in Sharing Aloha. Thousands of students have experienced the spirit of the pu’uhonua, which continues to influence them.

The director of Sharing Aloha expressed that winning the Zions Indie Film Fest award will help him find a larger audience for the documentary in the coming months.

“The Zions Indie Film Fest is gaining recognition, so winning Best Documentary is significant, especially with such strong competition,” said Blair Treu, director of Sharing Aloha and the 2015 film Meet the Mormons.

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Sharing Aloha was also named an “official selection” for the London International Visionary Festival, Treu informed the Deseret News.

Treu plans to continue showcasing the film at festivals around the world, hoping to secure a deal with major streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or Hulu. All proceeds will benefit scholarship funds for students.

Director Blair Treu poses with the Zions Indie Film Fest award for Best Documentary Feature for Sharing Aloha.

Blair Treu, the director of Meet the Mormons, poses with his first-place award for Best Documentary Feature at the Zions Indie Film Fest in Orem, Utah, on March 1, 2025. | Courtesy Zions Indie Film Fest

“We’ve also been nominated for ‘Best Documentary’ and ‘Best Director’ at the upcoming International Christian Film Festival in Orlando, Florida,” Treu shared. “That’s thrilling, but ultimately, we created this film to be seen and to support the students working and performing at the Polynesian Cultural Center.”

About the Church

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