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Celebrating connection through film, culture, and community
A cinematic evening honouring culture, connection, and the legacy of Duke Kahanamoku. The Land & Sea Film Series brings together ocean storytelling, local filmmaking talent, and Hawaiian cultural heritage in a powerful double-feature event. This special Duke’s Day program celebrates the deep relationship between Hawai‘i and Freshwater—a bond forged over 100 years ago when Duke first surfed Freshie’s waves. A Night of Culture, Community & Storytelling The Land & Sea Film Series honours the stories that connect us—from local shores to distant islands, from past to present. It’s more than film—it’s a shared community experience celebrating identity, heritage, and the ocean that brings people together. Kicking off the evening, we are honoured to welcome the Hawaiian Airlines Serenaders & Dancers who will open the night with the spirit of Aloha through music, song and hula. This special performance sets the tone for the evening connecting us to Hawaiian culture, heritage and the deep relationship between people and the sea, before we dive into the stories on screen. |
Event Details
Date: Friday 09 January 2026 Location: Harbord Diggers, Freshwater, NSW Time: doors open from 6pm grab a bite to eat, a drink, watch the Hawaiian Airlines Serenaders & Dancers, settle in for an evening of storytelling TICKETS: Free - HERE |
First film: Connected by Sea
We’re proud to present the short film by Freshwater’s own Jemma Pigott, an emerging filmmaker with a deep passion for surf, culture and environmental storytelling.
About the film Connected by Sea is a 2015 self-funded passion-project film by Northern Beaches local Jemma Pigott. It celebrates the bond between Sydney’s Freshwater Beach and Hawaiʻi’s Waikīkī. Jemma’s film tells a pan-Pacific story of communities united by their love for Duke. It is a tale of two lands, one sea, and one man’s legacy. The film also touches on Duke's connections to Olympian and WW1 Digger Cecil Healy and aquatic trailblazer Isabel Letham. During production, Jemma was the first successful applicant of the National Film and Sound Archive’s Take Three initiative for emerging Australian filmmakers. This gave her access to three minutes of rare archival footage, including images of Freshwater from the 1910s, when the beach’s namesake fresh-water stream still flowed into the sea. Jemma filmed, edited, and produced Connected by Sea while working full-time, with deeply valued encouragement from the late great surf filmmaker Jack McCoy, whose exquisite underwater cinematography and reflections on Duke feature in the film. After her 2015 screening in Hawaiʻi, Jack wrote a letter of reference for Jemma’s successful application to 7 Times World Surfing Champion Layne Beachley’s Aim for the Stars Foundation. This lifted Jemma’s filmmaking / “filmanthropy” dream and connected her to a sparkling sisSTARhood of support. With enormous gratitude to Jack and the community that shaped the film, Jemma dedicates the 2026 community screening of Connected by Sea to his memory. Yarning and Q&A with Jemma Pigott Following the screening, audiences are invited to enjoy an intimate yarn and Q&A with Jemma as she shares:
This is an exciting moment to support and celebrate a rising filmmaker. |
Feature film: WATERMAN
WATERMAN is a powerful and beautifully crafted documentary that chronicles the extraordinary life of Duke Kahanamoku—the Hawaiian icon whose legacy continues to shape surfing, sport, and global ocean culture. As a five-time Olympic medalist, world-renowned Waterman, and ambassador of Aloha, Duke Kahanamoku transcended sport. He became a bridge between cultures, introducing the ancient Hawaiian art of surf riding to the world and leaving an indelible mark on Australia when he first surfed Freshwater Beach in 1914.
About the film WATERMAN shares Duke’s courage, humility, and global impact, reminding us why his legacy still resonates deeply today. WATERMAN dives deep into Duke’s personal journey—from his roots in Waikīkī to international acclaim—exploring themes of perseverance, cultural identity, racism, and the profound spirit of Aloha that defined his life. The documentary reveals how Duke’s quiet strength and generosity helped him break barriers in sport, promote Hawaiian culture on a global stage, and inspire generations of surfers, ocean caretakers and athletes. Yarning and Q&A with Tom Pōhaku Stone The film features the insight and cultural knowledge of Tom Pōhaku Stone, a traditional Hawaiian board shaper, cultural practitioner and respected Waterman. Thanks to support from Hawai‘i Tourism and Hawaiian Airlines, we warmly welcome Tom after the screening for a yarn and Q&A sharing:
More than a biography, WATERMAN is a tribute to humility, courage, respect, and connection—values that resonate deeply in surfing and beyond. It invites audiences to reflect on Duke’s impact not just as a champion athlete, but as a unifying cultural figure whose legacy continues to shape communities from Hawai‘i to Freshwater and across the world. |
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