A Hawaii story for helping global coastal communities.
The Line Where Water Meets Land is a short documentary set across the shorelines of Hāna, Maui and the North Shore of O‘ahu — where rising seas, stronger storms, and disappearing coastlines meet the people choosing to stand with the water rather than against it.
Through the voices of a Hawaiian master builder, a firefighter-veteran, an Indigenous Polynesian cultural preserver, and a flood-modeling scientist, the film traces a single throughline: ancestral wisdom and modern science, working as one, build the most resilient coastal communities on earth.
It is a Hawaii story — and a blueprint for every shoreline that comes after.
“We are caretakers, not owners, of the gifts entrusted to us.”
Born and raised in Hāna, Maui, Kumu Palani served nearly 30 years in the U.S. Air Force before dedicating his life to reviving the traditional Hawaiian arts of kūkulu hale, uhau humu pōhaku, and sacred heiau restoration. In 2022, he received the National Heritage Fellowship Award — the United States' highest honor in the folk and traditional arts.
“We don't fight the water. We learn to live with it.”
U.S. Air Force veteran, Hawaii firefighter, and founder of the Battle Scar Initiative. Evan leads boots-on-the-ground volunteer efforts supporting families impacted by environmental disasters — connecting communities with recovery resources while building long-term resilience across the islands.
“We honor our ancestors, our ‘ohana, and our ‘āina and moana.”
Indigenous Polynesian media producer, public speaker, and cultural educator rooted in her Tahitian heritage. Guided by aloha, aroha, mana, and mālama, Hiriata uses storytelling to bridge cultures and generations — advocating for environmental stewardship and the preservation of Indigenous voices.
“Practical, community-driven tools for a coastline under pressure.”
Earth Science PhD candidate and Associate Scientist at Integral Consulting in Haleiwa. A lifelong surfer and spear-fisherman, Brian builds low-cost flood monitoring tools, shoreline mapping systems, and coastal camera networks designed to improve evacuation warnings and prevent future flood-related fatalities.
“Surfing is culture, healing, friendship — the heartbeat of community.”
Respected Hawaiian waterman and entrepreneur. Following the devastating ‘99-Year Storm’ that impacted Waialua and Haleiwa, Liam and North Shore Surf Shop partnered with the Battle Scar Initiative through the ‘99 Boards for 99 Keiki’ Community Recovery Initiative — returning the ocean to children who lost their connection to it.
A Hawaii-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by U.S. Air Force veteran and Hawaii firefighter Evan Moon. Battle Scar empowers veterans, first responders, and vulnerable communities to transform adversity into resilience — developing coastal flood warning systems, connecting families with emergency support, and supporting cleanup and recovery on the ground.
Visit BattleScar.org →Rising seas. Stronger storms. Disappearing coastlines. Together — through Indigenous wisdom, modern science, and community action — we can build a more resilient future. This film aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Coming 2026 · Digital Aqua Films
Douglas Kaplan is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and certified environmental scientist with over a decade of experience leading international nonfiction productions. He has produced five feature-length documentaries from inception to completion.
His current focus is water security, marine biodiversity, climate resilience, and environmental governance. As founder of Digital Aqua, Douglas translates environmental science into scalable conservation solutions — uniting storytelling, technology, and impact finance to address global water and sustainability challenges.
Join us in bringing this story to global audiences and supporting the communities at the heart of it.
