Living Your Dying

The Rev. Dr. Mitsuo Aoki views dying as a work of art.  Over the years he has helped hundreds of terminally ill patients face and ultimately embrace their final journey in life.  His counseling has provided individuals with powerful tools to come to terms with their illness and the eventuality of death.  Living Your Dying, a 57-minute documentary created by Lotus Films in conjunction with PBS Hawaii, focuses on Aoki's work and his belief that death is a vital and inseparable part of life. 

Living Your Dying follows Aoki as he helps three patients- Joseph Michael Thomson, Fay Nalani Myers, and Martha Ululani Mendiola-find peace as they approach the final moments of their lives.  In each case, Aoki helps these individuals and their families cope with the emotional aspects of their terminal illness and eventual death.  He shows them ways to bring closure to their lives and die peacefully, knowing that they are embraced in the power of love.

Throughout the film, Aoki relates the experiences of his late wife, Lynne, as he discusses concepts such as the value of rituals and forgiveness, and the energy of love.  When Lynne was diagnosed with cancer, she allowed him to help her plan her dying.  He describes in detail the last moment of her life when the last words to her husband were "I love you".  Aoki acknowledges that because of the way she died, "I could go through my grief so quickly.  That was a gift to me."

Ten Years in the making, Living Your Dying is produced by Lotus Productions, with Didi Leong as executive producer, Robert Pennybacker as director/producer/writer, Joy Chong-Stannard as director of documentary footage, Diane Mei Lin Mark as producer/writer, Ed McNulty and Cynthia Lahilahi Verschuur as producers, Muffy Fong Gushi as associate producer, Gerianne Hong and Beverly Lum-Chow as consulting producers, Ken Libby as director of photography, and Mike Powell as editor.  Original poetry for the production was written by Gail Harada.