Aloha not getting the aloha it deserves

The movie 'Aloha' opened in America this weekend and is loaded with Hollywood stars: Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams, Bill Murray, and Alec Baldwin. It was filmed in Hawaii and showcases the beautiful scenery. But many native Hawaiian people say they will not see the movie. One glaring reason, the title. "It could not have come at a worse time in the Hawaiian community for somebody to nationally use one of our most cherished words for money making," says Hawaiian activist Walter Ritte, who says using the word 'aloha' for a film that has nothing to do with Hawaiian culture is insulting. "It is synonymous to the scientists coming to our most sacred mountain and using it for science without any concern about the sacredness of that mountain," Ritte says referring to the TMT being constructed on Mauna Kea. So what? This movie could actually be a good thing for the state - according to the Hawaii Film Office, the producers did pump millions of dollars into the state's economy. More than 400 local people were hired to help with filming. The producers also went above and beyond the tax credit donation requirement, by contributing money to three public high schools for their arts programs: Radford, Farrington, and Kailua. And it will all be worth it when it opens in New Zealand.