Productions
1 hour
The Symphony of the Hawaiʻi Seas is a unique, place-based concert that brings together moʻolelo (Kanaka Maoli oral traditions) and marine science through original orchestral music and animation created by local composers and artists to inspire a deeper understanding of Hawaiʻi’s kai (ocean) and our pilina (relationship) with it Designed especially for 4th–12th grade haumana (students), this program invites learners on an immersive journey, one that sparks curiosity, cultivates pilina with the ocean, and nurtures a lasting sense of environmental responsibility and aloha ʻāina. This symphony is the third installment in a visionary trilogy of educational performances that combine science, culture, and the arts in a powerful, multisensory learning experience.
Role: Co-PI, Storyteller, Artistic Coordinator
HoMA: Crosscurrents
1 hour
Journey through the Honolulu Museum of Art with guide Kalilinoe Detwiler for a two-time event using spoken word and animation to shine new light on select artworks in the galleries and prompt art discussions. On the tour, visit the works of various artists including Jules Tavernier and Kaili Chun.
Developed with Hui Mauli Ola, the two sets of Mauli Ola Cards are an interactive resource designed to share healing ʻike with our community. Featuring the Hawaiian and scientific names of muscles and bones, these cards support both beginners and experienced practitioners in deepening their learning and practice.
Role: Illustrator, researcher
Animation
Pua Ka Uahi
6 min 32 sec
Indigenous animated short following Pele, a hot-tempered fire goddess, as she races her rival Kamapuaʻa, the shapeshifting trickster, across the island from Puna to Hilo.
Credits
Awards and Official Selections
ACM Production Award
Culture Animation Film Festival 2020
Hawaiʻi International Film Festival 2020
Maui Film Festival 2021
Kalakari Festival 2021
Asians On Film Festival 2021
HIFF Hana Hou Festival Waimea 2021
DisOrient Film Festival 2021
LTUE Film Festival 2021 (Fantasy Award Winner)
The John Hopkins Film Festival 2021 (Animation Category Honorable Mention)
Florida Animation Festival 2021
Wairoa Māori Film Festival 2021
Paris International Film Awards Finalist
GSA BAFTA Student Award nomination
ʻOhina TV
Writer and Director
Kalilinoe Detwiler
Producer
Tiffany Ganti
Kalilinoe Detwiler
Executive Producers
Lisette Flanary
ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Translation
Kaipulaumakaniolono Keala
Cast
Kaleihiwahiwaokalani Kaʻapuni as Pele
Kaipulaumakaniolono Keala as Kamapuaʻa
kuʻualoha hoʻomanawanui as Hina
Kalilinoe Detwiler as Hiʻiaka
Background Artists
Cori Tsurumaki
Kalilinoe Detwiler
3D Animation Director
Noah Domingo
Animators
Shayne Hayama
Molly Tapken
Gavin Arucan
Noah Domingo
Kalilinoe Detwiler
2D Effects Animator
Jared Louis
Sound Design
Alexis Nelson
Original Dialogue Recording Engineer
Samuel Spender, HCC MELE Program
Music by
William Watson
3 min 41 sec
Symphony of the Hawai‘i Forests brings together music, art, science, hula, and storytelling to better connect the keiki with the forests of Hawai‘i through an immersive performance that fully embodies the collaborative spirit. Come watch the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra as they perform new music and animation of newly created ka‘ao (folktales) that tell of unforgettable stories about the forests of Hawai‘i.
Movement 4 Kāmau tells the story of the sounds and silences of the Hawaiʻi forests through the character Kilohana and new bird friends as she journeys through time back to island creation and abundant forest growth. Kilohana returns to the current day with a renewed sense of responsibility to regrow the forest on land- and sound-scapes that had been taken over by the city.
Kalilinoe was the director, storyboard artist, and lead animator for this movement. She was assisted by animators Jared Louis and Xochitl Carnejo. Tonia Ko wrote an original musical composition performed by the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra.
12 min
In ancient Hawaiʻi, an arrogant demigod pursues the fiery volcano goddess of Hawaiʻi, who tires of his playboy exploits and calls upon her sister's female power for aid. She lures him to Oʻahu, and in an explosive frenzy, traps him in the crater known from then on as Kohelepelepe.
Credits
Directors
Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu
Laura Marguiles
Producer
Laura Marguiles
Executive Producers
Dr. Trisha Kehaulani Watson Sproat
Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu
Cultural and Story Advisor
Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu
Animation
Kalilinoe Detwiler
Elyse Chai
Sound Design and Audio Recording
Pacific Music Productions, Kit Ebersbach and Max Ebersbach
Editor
Oahu Films, Pawel Nuckowski
Storyboard
Elyse Chai
Kalilinoe Detwiler
Stop Motion, Background Paintings
Laura Margulies
Original Music: High on Life
Kepa Steward
Visual Effects
Oahu Films, Pawel Nuckowski
Initial Concept and Treatment
Dr. Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson
Poster Design and DCP
Oahu Films, Pawel Nuckowski
Screenings and Awards
Honolulu Museum of Arts Private Screening
Hawaiʻi International Film Festival – Made in Hawaiʻi Nominee
Los Angeles Animation Festival – Combo/Mixed Media Award
Māoriland
Palm Springs American Documentary and Animation Festival
Midnight Showing
10 min
Credits
Written and Directed by
Gavin Arucan
Produced by
Sophia Whalen
Executive Producer
Brittany Biggs
Cast
Justin Bendo as Angel
Music by
Joshua Namba
Animation Director
Chandelle Oliver
Story Artists
Jared Louis
Kalilinoe Detwiler
Sophia Whalen
Gavin Arucan
Stop Motion Animators
Bobby Renteria
Jayme Sugitaya
Jared Louis
VFX Supervisor
Alexis Nelson
“The Summoning” Cast
Jack Detwiler
Brenda Detwiler
Brandon Bravo
Original Dialogue Recording Engineer
Devon Lafoga
Assistant Dialogue Recording Engineer
Tim Hurley
Sound Editor
Alexis Nelson
Background Artists
Gavin Arucan
Kalilinoe Detwiler
BG Line Artists
Jayme Sugitaya
Alexis Nelson
Bobby Renteria
3D Model Artists
Bobby Renteria
Chandelle Oliver
Alexis Nelson
2D Animators
Chandelle Oliver
Sophia Whalen
Kalilinoe Detwiler
Alexis Nelson
Jared Louis
Gavin Arucan
Bobby Renteria
Jayme Sugitaya
Rotoscope Animator
Kalilinoe Detwiler
3D Animator
Alexis Nelson
VFX Artist
Alexis Nelson
Gavin Arucan
Kalilinoe Detwiler
Jared Louis
Additional Colorists
Tiffany Ganti
Mia Clause
Danae Naone
Molly Tapken
Daniel Oka
Noah Domingo
Nalu McFadden-Rios
Londy Tong-Lee
Blythe Yoshikane
Screenings and Awards
SIGGRAPH 2019
Hawaiʻi International Film Festival 2019
Animation celebration Fest 2020
Florida Animation Festival 2020
Open World animation Festival 2020
ACM Awards 2020:
Best Animated Film
Best Comedy
Best Directing
Best Character Animation
Best Character Design
Best Cinematography
Best Production Design
Best Editing
Best Sound
Audience Award
For more information please contact
Potluck
24 Hour Animation Contest Submission
A 30-second short film made in 24 hours by a team of 5: Sophia Whalen, Kalilinoe Detwiler, Gavin Arucan, Chandelle Oliver, and Mia Clause.
Uproot
2 min 26 sec
Ami stands in front of her mother's grave remembering the trauma she faced when she was alive and learning to accept her mother's mortality while searching for strength to move forward.
Credits
Writer and Director
Kalilinoe Detwiler
Executive Director
Brittany Biggs
Background and Storyboard Artist
Kalilinoe Detwiler
Animation and Effects
Kalilinoe Detwiler
Screenings and Awards
HIFF 2019
SIGGRAPH 2019 HIFF@Home 2020
Maine Student Film Festival 2020
