Emmy award-winning Maui filmmaker Dr. Tom Vendetti, a retired clinical psychologist and former director of Mental Health Kokua, became involved with Cambodia many years ago while treating native Cambodian Sam Khong for severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While he was serving in the Cambodian military, the 17-year-old Khong had been sent to the United States for gunnery training, but political upheavals in Cambodia prevented his return for 29 years. By that time, he could not locate his family. 

Vendetti explained, “When I met Khong, I realized that he needed to return to Cambodia to search for his family to alleviate his depression. That is how Maui became connected [with Cambodia]…The Mental Health Kokua staff and board members raised the money to take him home, and yes, he was joyously reunited with his family.” 

Returning Khong to his homeland led to other accomplishments. When Vendetti asked Khong’s mother, Van, if she wanted him to bring something from Maui, he expected an answer such as macadamia nuts, but she answered, “A school!” The Maui community led significant fundraising efforts with the help of Bernard Krisher, a journalist, founder of American Assistance for Cambodia, and advocate for free press in Cambodia. The school opened in 2006 in Kampong Thom province and continues to be successful. The sign for the school building reads: “The Van and Sam Khong School, donated by the Maui Hawaiʻi Community.”  

In addition, Krisher suggested that Cambodia could benefit from having its own film festival. Vendetti took the suggestion to heart and brought it to fruition. He recalled, “My experience with Khong inspired the film festival and its name, Angkor Wat, which is the world’s largest temple complex and the country’s national symbol.” 

Now, the school needs a playground. Vendetti and a Maui contingent, including renowned guitarist Keola Beamer and kumu hula Moanalani Beamer, have already fundraised for the project, and they will return to Cambodia in early 2026 to build the playground and put on another film festival, with hula and ʻukulele lessons for the children. 

Vendetti’s new film, Awakened From Darkness, shares Sam Khong’s story, highlighting the surprising and little-known connection between the Maui and Kampong Thom communities. PBS Hawaiʻi Broadcast will present the film on Thursday, September 25th at 8:30pm and Sunday, September 28th at 1pm.