a place in the middle

Eleven year old Ho'onani dreams of leading the hula troupe at her inner-city Honolulu school. The only trouble is that the group is just for boys. She's fortunate that her teacher understands first-hand what it's like to be “in the middle” - the Hawaiian tradition of embracing both male and female spirit. Together they set out to prove that what matters most is what's in your heart.

A PLACE IN THE MIDDLE is at the center of an extensive strength-based education and outreach campaign for gender diversity and inclusion. The film and educational toolkit are available for free on the official website, and additional curriculum materials are available at Teaching Tolerance and PBS LearningMedia.

Premieres: Berlin International Film Festival; Toronto International Film Festival for Kids. Broadcast: PBS Hawaii,World Channel. Winner: 6 Children's Film Festival Awards.