A small Maui film team has won two regional Emmys for a documentary about off-grid living, a bright spot for Hawaiʻi storytelling and for the case that self-sufficient housing is practical, not just a luxury.

• "Journey Be On The Grid," directed by Stephen Booker, took two regional Emmys after a run through film festivals and a PBS airing in Colorado.
• The project started in 2021 as a pitch for off-grid homes being cheaper and more sensible than people assumed.
• The 2023 Lahaina wildfire changed the story — filming stopped for a year and the focus shifted to disaster preparedness and resilience.
• Hawaiʻi Off Grid and David Sellers donated architectural plans and built temporary solar-and-battery housing for burned-out families.
• The core lesson: how a house is placed against the trade winds and the sun decides how much energy it can capture.

Outlook: Expect more Hawaiʻi filmmaking aimed at sustainability and disaster readiness as rebuilding on Maui continues.