Michelle Obama said, "You can't really understand Barack until you understand Hawaii."

President Obama spent 15 out of the first 18 years of his life in Hawaii.  Hawaii is where his character and personality were  shaped -- yet this fact is virtually unknown.  Through exclusive interviews with his childhood friends and teachers, close friends of his parents and grandparents, this movie tells the story of how Hawaii helped shape the life and worldview of our nation's 44th president. 

Project Video: Please watch the movie's Preview Demo Reel (above).

This is not a political film; it is a historical documentary that will clear up the many misconceptions about Obama's place of birth, his ancestry, and his religious beliefs.  Through the story of his childhood, we will see and understand Barack Obama in an entirely new way.

"You can't really understand Barack, until you understand Hawaii."   Michelle Obama's words speak to the fact that most people have never visited Hawaii, and often make assumptions about the place based on stereotypes. This film takes up Michelle's challenge by discussing Obama's youth in the context of Hawaiian history and culture, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s, the two decades when Obama was growing up in Honolulu.  The film will show that Hawaii was uniquely suited to nurture the first non-white man elected president of the United States.  In fact, if Barack Obama was not raised in Honolulu, he probably would not be in the White House today.

About the filmmaker

I was raised in Hawaii around the same time as Obama. The 60s and 70s brought many changes to America's new 50th state; the era was dynamic and progressive. I currently live in Washington DC, where most people still don't understand that Hawaii is part of the American fabric, and can't make the connection with the islands that greatly influenced Barack Obama's thinking, values and philosophy. 

Why make this film?

I decided to make this documentary to help clear up the many misconceptions about Barack Obama's background.  The moment came in the spring of 2008, when the cable news channels were right in the middle of the Reverend Wright implosion.  A raging and very bitter Rev. Wright forced the media to wonder, did Barack Obama hold the same militant ideas as his pastor?  Was the real Barack Obama an angry black man from Chicago?  The general public was uneasy. I kept telling my Washington friends to forget the angry black man stereotype: Obama is from Hawaii.  He was raised with "aloha," not anger and resentment in his heart.  (This film explains what "aloha" means.) 

Making this epic film

I have painstakingly researched Barack Obama’s life in Hawaii, and gained the trust of many of Obama’s childhood and family friends. I interviewed 42 people in eight different states and made 14 trips to Hawaii. It has taken four years to complete the research and film the interviews. 

Making this film has been a labor of love.  I boot-strapped most of the production myself and my friends and elderly parents chipped in to help with travel costs. Investors covered final production expenses.  Principal photography is complete, and we are currently in post production.

This film has spent $178,000 in research, travel, production, editing, and equipment during the past four years (June 2008-June 2012).

Completion Funds

I'm seeking support for post production including editing, paying to acquire the rights to archival news footage, and making a studio master. Editing the complete feature film, is budgeted at $168,000.  Since this is my first Kickstarter campaign, I am seeking to raise an initial $50,000 to edit Chapter One. 

Please watch our Preview Demo Reel (above)  

 The demo reel was edited by Dina Potocki.                                                            The writer was Julie Sloane.                                        

Please Join Us

BARACK OBAMA: MADE IN HAWAII is bringing to the screen many "I didn't know that" moments.  It has the facts and exclusive interviews that no one else has.  Now that we are at the stage where we feel comfortable going to the public, with the help of Kickstarter, this film's potential fan base can be reached and invited to get involved.   

Please accept my invitation to be one of the backers of this crucial documentary, and see how a uniquely independent film like BARACK OBAMA: MADE IN HAWAII can capture the attention of the public.  Thank you for helping us reach our initial $50,000. 

Aloha                                                                                                                         Gloria Borland

Pledges on Kickstarter are safely processed using AMAZON payments. Your credit/debit card will not be charged unless we meet our goal of raising $50,000. No pledges are charged until after the campaign is over on July 11. 

A Note about the Music 

The soundtrack used in our demo reel is from the Aloha Boys --  Glen, Irv, and Issac, three talented guys from Hawaii currently living in the Washington DC area. The Aloha Boys play "kanikapila" an acoustic backyard-style Hawai'ian music. www.AlohaBoys.net

The Journey... this epic film has taken 4 years to make. My daughter was 6 when I began, she is now a very tall 10 year old.  Imiloa came with me on most of my interviews.