Christopher Kahunahana
Manager: Tarik Heitmann, Sam Sleiman
Hawaiian filmmaker Kahunahanaʻs debut feature WAIKIKI is the first fictional narrative feature film written and directed by a Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian). It just premiered at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival to rave reviews. Director Christopher Kahunahana’s eagerly awaited feature debut breaks down the enduring, stereotypical image of paradise we have of Waikiki to reveal a vulnerable and authentic portrait of indigeneity. Leaving behind the touristic image of paradise and island culture, WAIKIKI tackles the often-unspeakable generational trauma of postcolonial cultures through a mixing of genre conventions, experimental storytelling, and perspectives. — Lindy Leong
Kahunahana is a Sundance Institute Native Lab and Feature Film Program Alumni. As the founder of 4th World Film, he's written and directed LĀHAINĀ NOON and directed a short documentary for the Smithsonian Institute’s Asian Pacific American "A Day in the Life" project. For his commercial work, he's won 4 PELE awards from the American Advertising Awards. Prior to producing and directing films he founded Nextdoor (Honolulu), Cinema Paradise (Honolulu) and Punch Gallery (San Francisco).
He is currently shooting an immersive installation piece for the Honolulu Museum of Arts- ARTIST OF HAWAI’I 2021.