Actor and producer Daniel Dae Kim has come on board as executive producer for Makawalu, a feature film created by eight Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) filmmakers, according to Deadline exclusive report. Spearheaded by the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF), Makawalu is set to be the largest independently funded film created by Native Hawaiian talent.
The project is backed by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the Asian American Foundation (TAAF), and Pacific Islanders in Communication (PIC), with over 90% of its funding coming from organizations outside Hawaii that are dedicated to social change. The film, currently in pre-production, is slated to begin shooting in spring 2025, aiming for an early 2026 release.
The eight filmmakers involved in the project are Justyn Ah Chong, Taylour Chang, Ty Sanga, Ciara Lacy, Āina Paikai, Erin Lau, Scott W. Kekama Amona, and Katherine Wong.
First presented in 2021, the Makawalu project went through an extensive selection process, resulting in a five-day filmmaker lab and retreat in Honolulu, where the directors worked with notable industry mentors.
Daniel Dae Kim, who has lived in Hawaii for nearly two decades and is known for his roles in Lost and Hawaii Five-0, started collaborating with the filmmakers during this retreat. The program also brought in mentors such as Kerry Warkia (Waru), Amy Hill (Magnum PI), and Kiel McNaughton (The Legend of Baron To’a).
“Makawalu represents an important step in recognizing Native Hawaiian filmmakers and the power of their stories. As someone who’s worked with this talented group firsthand, it’s been an honor to be able to amplify their voices and help this project come to life,” said Kim.
Following the retreat, the filmmakers participated in monthly workshops to continue developing the script under the mentorship of industry veterans, including Sean Baker, Sara Wayne Callies, and Dana Ledoux Miller.
Makawalu will explore a 4th July luau on Oahu, telling the story through eight different viewpoints. In modern ōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), “Makawalu” refers to seeing a situation from various perspectives, and the filmmakers aim to address critical issues Native Hawaiians face today.
“The filmmakers crafted a layered screenplay that will unpack many ongoing issues that modern Native Hawaiians face,” said HIFF Artistic Director Anderson Le. “From the exotification of Native Hawaiian culture in Hollywood media, to the repercussions of American colonization through capitalism and militarization of Hawai‘i, Makawalu explores what it means to be ‘Hawaiian,’ being priced out of ‘paradise,’ all on U.S. Independence Day,” added the director.
Makawalu marks a pivotal shift in how independent films are financed, aiming to give Native Hawaiian filmmakers full ownership over their stories.
HIFF Executive Director Beckie Stocchetti, also an executive producer for the film, emphasized the importance of empowering the filmmakers. “The intention of the Makawalu project is to provide an opportunity and access for these groundbreaking filmmakers to have full ownership over the telling of their story from their perspective. In order to make that happen, we also needed to fundamentally change the traditional financing structure of independent film.”
With production slated for early 2025, HIFF will also launch HIFF Studios to support future independent film projects in Hawaii. The studio will offer financing, legal support, and artist development programs aimed at building a career pipeline for Hawaiian and Pacific Islander creatives.
Producers Sarah S. Kim (August at Akiko’s), John Cheng of 3AD Media, and HIFF’s Anderson Le will join Kim in bringing Makawalu to life.
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