When Christen was born her Mother, a kumu hula or master hula practitioner, gave her a Hawaiian name that was over sixty letters. In the mid-80's at the age of eight Christen and her two younger brothers were separated from their Mother Elena due to a diagnosis as a schizophrenic. After the separation Christen moved to the continental United States and without her Mother Christen grew up feeling deep a sense of longing to know more about her Hawaiian culture. After graduating from NYU film school, Marquez resolved to return to Hawai`i and make a film that would document her journey back home.
E Haku Inoa: To Weave A Name is an elegant depiction of how the act of sharing indigenous knowledge can play a healing role in restoring otherwise estranged relationships. “Before
beginning this project I had only seen my Mother once in over 15 years. When I returned for the first time our interactions were strained because we were essentially strangers. I think what makes this story incredible is that over that course of the film you see the emotional changes not only in my Mother and I, but the gradual rebuilding of our relationship.”, says Director Christen Marquez.