Pake Salmon
Pākē Salmon, Executive Direcctor of Menehune Film Academy, is a prominent force in indigenous creativity and cultural preservation, recognized as an award-winning Native Hawaiian director, filmmaker, and internationally exhibited artist based in Makaha, O'ahu. A skilled surfer and ocean cinematographer, she merges her deep connection to the sea with contemporary Pacifika storytelling, bridging ancestral wisdom and modern narratives.
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Vera Zambonelli, PhD
Emmy™ award winning filmmaker, educator, and researcher based in Hawaiʻi. Vera founded Hawaiʻi Women in Filmmaking in 2011 to promote gender equity with an intersectional lens in the film industry, and launched initiatives like the Wāhine in Film Lab and Making Media That Matters, providing support for thousands of women and genderqueer individuals in Hawaiʻi.
Michael Palmieri, Ed.D.
Entertainment Industry Executive
Michael Palmieri is an experienced entertainment industry executive, writer, producer, consultant, and educator. He has been leading workforce development and educational programs for creative entrepreneurs since 1997, using his curriculum, to which he holds a copyright. He has led programs in Hawai’i for the past 20 years and produced his first motion picture, “Six Days/Seven Nights,” on Kauai. He is partnering with Ku’ulei Maunupau, Dr. Kū Kahakalau, and her “Pedagogy of Aloha” to provide a culturally grounded program for Native Hawaiians.
Kū Kahakalau, Ph.D.
“Pedagogy of Aloha”
Kū Kahakalau is a Native Hawaiian educator, researcher, cultural practitioner, grassroots activist, songwriter, and expert in Hawaiian language, history, and culture. Kū-A-Kanaka LLC has partnered with Native Hawaiian Philanthropy and Michael Palmieri to develop an immersive Hawaiian Storytelling Screenplay Writing program that incorporates Kahakalau's “Pedagogy of Aloha.”
Moʻolelo Hawaiian Storytelling
Native Hawaiian Philanthropy has launched the Writing and Music Video Production program, collaborating with entertainment executives, cultural practitioners, entertainers, and nonprofits. This initiative aims to empower Native Hawaiian youth and adults with the skills to tell their own stories and adapt them into television, film, publishing, and streaming formats, ensuring that Native Hawaiian perspectives and narratives of history, culture, and social issues are authentically represented by the community.
Storytelling is the heart of Hawaiian culture. Through mo‘olelo (stories), we pass down knowledge about our lands, our ancestors, and the values that shape who we are. It’s how we teach aloha (love), kuleana (responsibility), and mālama (care). These stories keep us grounded in our identity.
Writing
The objective of the Native Hawaiian Storytelling Writerʻs Immersive Program is to help enhance the capacity of Native Hawaiian storytellers across platforms and support them in telling stories from a Native Hawaiian point of view, thus creating a vibrant community of creative entrepreneurs.
Michael Palmieri will lead the Screenwriting class for the Native Hawaiian Storytelling Program (NHSP) in partnership with Kuakanaka LLC, offering a culturally anchored approach to education and writing. The program will incorporate the Indigenous Storytelling Fellowship integrated with the Pedagogy of Aloha curriculum.
For more information, please email nhstorytellingprogram@hawaiianphilanthropy.org
Music Video Production Program
The Music Video Production
The Music Video Production projectʻs goal is to provide Maui youth with hands-on training opportunities in all aspects involved in developing a music video. Through this digital storytelling format, youth will gain skills in songwriting, Hawaiian history, videography, editing, and final production.
Menehune Film Academy, Hawaii Women in Filmmaking and Kukuʻi Wanaʻao will implement the music video production 3-week summer program on the island of Maui. Mana Maoli and Project Kuleana will provide mentorship to the ʻōpio participating in the program. Youth will work directly with native Hawaiian entertainers, musicians and performers throughout the program.
To register, please go to this link:
Moʻolelo: Hawaiian Storytelling Screenwriting Program
Partnership with Michael Palmieri, Ku Kahakalau, and Native Hawaiian Philanthropy
Hawaiian Storytelling Mentorship Opportunities
On-Set Training
Native Hawaiian youth and adults will have mentorship opportunities to work with local production companies filming for t.v. and film.
Screenwriting
Native Hawaiian youth and adults will have mentorship opportunities to work with indigenous screenwriters and Entertainment Industry Executive Michael Palmieri.
Music Video Production
Native Hawaiian youth and adults will have mentorship opportunities with native Hawaiian mentors from Project Kuleana and Mana Maoli.
Documentary Film Making
Native Hawaiian youth and adults will have mentorship opportunities to work with local production companies filming documentaries.
T.V. & Film Set Design & Construction
Native Hawaiian youth and adults will have mentorship opportunities to work with local production companies in the area of set design and construction.
Costumes & Sewing
Native Hawaiian youth and adults will have mentorship opportunities to work with local production companies for sewing costumes and set props.
Supported by
Menehune Film Academy
The Menehune Film Academy is a nonprofit organization with the goal to teach youth how to become creators in the creator economy. Workshops will teach them how to craft, produce, & distribute high quality content in today's digital world, empowering cultural leaders and innovators using storytelling to share our native stories.
Mana Maoli
Supporting Music and Video Production in Hawaiian Charter Schools
Mana Maoli is a native Hawaiian nonprofit that founded Hālau Kū Māna New Century Public Charter School, Kānehūnāmoku Voyaging Academy, and the Mana Mele Project, which has three key components:
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Meleana: A solar-powered mobile studio providing audio and video production for studio and live events.
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Music & Multimedia Academy: Offering over 70 classes at 20 schools across three islands, focusing on Academics, Business, and Culture through music and video production, alongside mentorship opportunities.
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Mana Maoli Collective: A network of over 200 Creative Industries Professionals who collaborate with youth to bring the mobile studio and Academy to life.
