My Partner

Two groups of Lahainaluna High School seniors clash over the fishing of the endangered ʻōpū. Kona confronts Zack, sparking a heated exchange that underscores cultural and personal tensions. The dispute sets the stage for the challenges they’ll face while learning to work together.

Ms. Thomas, the social studies teacher, assigns a final project that requires researching a food dish and presenting it. The two groups are paired, forcing Edmar and Pili to collaborate despite initial differences. This assignment becomes the catalyst for their evolving relationship.

Pili invites Edmar to meet his family, hoping to share Hawaiian traditions and values. Edmar agrees hesitantly, seeking to understand Pili's world. The weekend visit exposes Edmar to Pili's home life and community.

During loʻi kalo farming, Edmar experiences the labor and patience behind traditional practices. They make a lei, attend a luau, and sample ʻawa from a kanoa, deepening their bond. The experiences reveal the community's deep connection to land and culture.

Pili guides Edmar ma uka (the mountains) to see wai (freshwater) and explains how plantations damaged Hawaii's environment. He discusses the impact of sugarcane and pineapple on families and ecosystems and emphasizes conservation. The lesson broadens Edmar’s awareness of environmental and cultural history.

As the weekend deepens, Edmar begins to feel attraction toward Pili. Pili responds with subtle gestures, including gentle touches and cuddling after Edmar falls asleep. The moment marks a turning point from friendship to romantic tension.

Back among friends, Edmar bonds with Zack and Cedric, especially over a FIFA video game. Pili's presence helps bridge the two groups and broadens Edmar’s circle. The friendships widen the shared world they navigate together.

Edmar ends his long-distance relationship with his Ilocos girlfriend, signaling a commitment to exploring his feelings for Pili. Pili also ends his relationship, choosing to focus on their evolving bond. The breakups clear the path for their growing closeness.

Edmar and Pili's romance is tested when Zack and Kona's conflict escalates into a physical altercation. The incident layers tension within the friend group and challenges their ability to stay close. Despite the strain, they press on toward finishing their project together.

They commit to finishing the final project together, using collaboration to bridge their worlds. They plot ways to stay near each other despite tensions, blending research with shared cultural experiences. The plan signals a move toward unity.

On a beach camping trip, all six boys defend the coastline from polluting haoles, uniting their groups through a common goal. Edmar and Pili finally spend time together, sharing a first kiss in the tent. The night deepens their connection as they become more intimate.

Back in class, they present their final project, cooking poi and kalamay to honor both cultures. The two groups share stories about their ways of life, gaining mutual understanding and respect. The story ends with a romantic embrace on the beach, signaling a budding relationship between Edmar and Pili.