The Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival may be pau in Honolulu, but Big Island film aficionados are just getting started with their annual sampling of HIFF flicks.

The festival opened in Hilo last night with showings of "One" and "One Night in Mongkok" at the Palace Theatre. Screenings continue there through Friday.

Festivities in Kona start tomorrow at the Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu with a reception for director Lane Nishikawa and a screening of his independent film "Only the Brave." (Nishikawa will appear for a Q-and-A session after tomorrow's screening of "Only the Brave" in Hilo.)

The Kona screenings, which continue through Sunday, almost had to be canceled when the original venue, Hualalai Cinemas, went out of business 10 days before the originally scheduled start on Oct. 28. Fortunately for film fans, Aloha Theatre owners Krista and Guy Gonsales were able to accommodate the screenings this week.

While decidedly lower-key than its Honolulu counterpart, the Big Island festival has its share of special guests and events.

Director Cam Eason, a Big Island resident, will be on hand to answer questions following screenings of his film "True Love and Mimosa Tea," tonight in Hilo and Saturday in Kona.

Hawaiian musician and documentarian Eddie Kamae is also pulling double duty this week. He and his group, the Sons of Hawai'i, will perform a short set after screenings of his film "Keepers of the Flame: The Legacy of Three Hawaiian Women," tomorrow in Hilo and Saturday in Kona.

Kamae's film, which focuses on the remarkable lives and legacies of Mary Kawena Pukui, 'Iolani Luahine and Edith Kanaka'ole, won the Hawaiian Airlines Audience Choice for Best Documentary Film at this year's festival on O'ahu.

Director Ryan Kawamoto, whose film "Sand Island Drive-Inn Anthem," won this year's audience award for Best Short Film, is also scheduled to appear at both venues.

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.