Finding True North: Maui Short Film on Surf, Recovery, and Resilience

"Finding True North" arrives on Maui as a short film that traces one man's improbable route from elite snow-sports to ocean therapy. The screening takes place in Kihei at 1280 S Kihei Rd, Kihei, HI 96753, where local audiences gather to watch Matty Schweitzer's 40-minute portrait of Josh Bogle — a former pro snowboarder who lost all his limbs and found a new life through Hawaii’s surf and sea. The film opens with broad, sunlit seascapes: reef flats, shorebreak, and the black volcanic rock that frames much of Maui’s southern coast. Schweitzer edits tenderness into the frames — close-ups of hands learning to feel water again, long shots of paddlers moving across glassy blue, and the particular textures of coral and wave swell. These are the natural features that give the story its spine: wave-driven motion, nearshore coral reefs, and a coastline shaped by lava flows from Haleakalā’s ancient eruptions. This screening feels like more than a movie night. It’s a community moment where local surfers, adaptive-athlete advocates, and visitors converge to witness resilience in real time. The film balances personal candor with broader context: why the ocean matters to Maui, how adaptive paddling programs are changing access to water sports, and what recovery can look like on salty terms. For storytellers and outdoor travelers, the result is a potent reminder that recreation and rehabilitation share the same open-air classroom. Practical details matter: the run time is brisk at about 40 minutes, making it perfect for an evening program with Q&A. The meeting point address above pins you to Kihei’s easily reached storefronts and parking; many viewers combine a screening with a sunset walk along nearby beaches. Pro Arts Playhouse and local organizers often schedule monthly showings, so check the referral link for dates and booking. Why come to this particular screening? Because it foregrounds place-specific healing. Maui’s ocean is not a backdrop but an active participant — its swell, reefs, and trade-wind skies shape the rhythms of recovery on-screen. That sense of place, combined with Josh Bogle’s candid presence and Schweitzer’s careful cinematography, makes "Finding True North" a must-see for people who travel to learn from landscapes as much as to look at them. Expect post-screening conversation with local paddlers and adaptive-sports organizers when available, a chance to ask about techniques, adaptive gear, and how community programs operate on Maui. Visitors can pair the film with daytime ocean activities—observe green sea turtles on nearby reef flats or plan a seasonal whale-watch excursion off the coast—and return to Kihei for dinner at an eatery. The screening's runtime and strong local focus make it ideal for travelers who want an emotionally rich experience that connects cinematic craft to real-world outdoor practice.