Aloha Surf Hotel Movie, Stefan Schaefer

2020-12-02

I talk to Writer Director Stefan Schaefer about the Aloha Surf Hotel Movie coming out Friday at the Regency Movie theater in Kihei. At the start of Stefan C. Schaefer’s “Aloha Surf Hotel,” Tai Alonzo (played by stand-up comedian Augie Tulba) has hit rock bottom. Alonzo, a one-time surf legend-turned-college-student, has just lost his support from a university, is unemployed, has a daughter to support and a van with everything he owns being towed away. His one shot at redem...

I talk to Writer Director Stefan Schaefer about the Aloha Surf Hotel Movie coming out Friday at the Regency Movie theater in Kihei.

At the start of Stefan C. Schaefer’s “Aloha Surf Hotel,” Tai Alonzo (played by stand-up comedian Augie Tulba) has hit rock bottom. Alonzo, a one-time surf legend-turned-college-student, has just lost his support from a university, is unemployed, has a daughter to support and a van with everything he owns being towed away. His one shot at redemption lies in becoming a surf instructor at a locally owned hotel, which is on the brink of closing.

This locally made independent film, beautifully shot on Maui by Dan Hersey and flush with local talent, is an underdog comedy with a warm center. Despite being fairly wholesome, it’s not above a scene where someone gets a tennis ball hurled into their crotch. It’s also not without imperfections, as the screenplay hits some choppy waters and is clumsy at times.

An ex surf pro is forced to take a job at a beachfront hotel teaching obnoxious tourists how to surf. Soon he's the tennis pro, the yoga instructor, the handyman - he might even be key to saving this family-run, Hawaiian-owned hotel.

Directors: Stefan C. Schaefer, Fairai Richmond

Writers:Stefan C. Schaefer (Story by), Stefan C. Schaefer (Written by) | 1 more credit »

Stars: Augie T, Branscombe Richmond, Daniella Monet, Lauren Shaw |

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