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Menehune Film Academy Hawaiʻi
Empower
Educate
Innovate

We're on a mission to turn at-risk youth along the Waianae Coastline into the next generation of digital creators, filmmakers, and storytellers preserving Hawaiian culture and their oral histories.

Join Us
35mm film strip or film material type 135
Ready to take the next step?
Join Our Community
Dive in to join, contribute and learn in our nurturing ecosystem. We will have media and content workshops and trainings not just for our youth but for our community members too!
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Our Innovative Programs

We offer a comprehensive curriculum designed to provide the necessary skills for content generation in the modern, digital world preparing them for the 500 billion dollar creator economy project in 2030.

Craft Narrative

We teach students to craft dynamic stories, documenting and archiving the histories of their community along the Waiʻanae Coastline and other Pacifika communities.

Production Skills

We will be providing cinema quality filmmaking tools, photography and design elements and using AI tools to help organize and structure their learning experience with a hands-on approach​.

Effective Distribution

We guide students on how to share their creations with the world in this ever changing eco system of social media platforms. Guiding them to discover which ones would be good for them to build content for.
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Targeted Training

Courses tailored to equip the students with real-world relevant skills.  Partnering with international artist throughout the Pacific to provide workshops for our kids.

Digital and AI Literacy

Instilling essential knowledge and competence in the digital realm.

Global Access

Dissolving geographical boundaries with our accessible online platforms.

Menehune Film Academy
We are a Not For Profit organization here in Hawaii determined to create a media agency where we teach at risk youth how to become creators in the creator economy. Teaching them how to craft, produce, & distribute high quality content in today's digital world. We are creating the next generation of creators who will become cultural leaders and innovators using storytelling to retell our native stories.
Empowering Youth at Risk

Our Initiative

Committed to creating a media agency focused on teaching at-risk youth along the Waianae Coastline, how to become creators in today's digital world.

Cinematography filmmaking conceptual image in between takes
The Art Of Filmmaking
We want to teach all the different elements of what it takes to make a film, with the end goal of showcasing their work on the big screen & film festivals in the Pacific.
storytelling, Filmmaker, or content creator concept.
Web Series
Our students will learn how to post their short stories online for the community engagement and cultural preservation through their short films.
Positive Social Media
Teaching critical thinking and positive social media practices, our students learn to create good campaigns, stand out, and be positive representations in the digital space.

Our Program

Our students will learn responsible social media management and engagement and how to use the different platforms for their work.

storytelling, Filmmaker, or content creator concept.
Life Changing
Joining Menehune Film Academy totally changed how I see things. It's not just about learning cool stuff - it's like a whole new world opened up where I'm not just watching videos, I'm making them!
-Koanui Keaualana

Our Vlog Channel

Discover the stories, behind-the-scenes, and creative journey of our young filmmakers

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Storytelling Workshop Highlights

Behind-the-scenes of our digital storytelling program

Video Coming Soon

Film Production Insights

Students share their filmmaking experiences

Video Coming Soon

Cultural Storytelling

Exploring Hawaiian stories through digital media

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Our Blog

Exploring the Intersection of Storytelling, Culture, and Filmmaking

Two young people holding professional cameras in a gymnasium with booths and tables in the background.

Empowering Youth Through Digital Storytelling

Explore how digital media is transforming the way young storytellers share their voices and cultural narratives.

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Group of people under a thatched roof examining a camera. One woman adjusts the camera, others observe closely.

Indigenous Filmmaking: Preserving Cultural Heritage

Discover how indigenous youth are using film to preserve and celebrate their cultural stories and traditions. Our Opio working with Aotearoa, NZ filmmakers Taro Patch Creative 2025.

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Outdoor interview setup with a man seated facing a camera on a tripod, a woman holding a tablet, and a person with a reflector.

The Power of Collaborative Filmmaking

Learn how teamwork and collaborative storytelling can amplify the voices of young creators and our kupuna histories.

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View All Blog Posts

About Menehune Film Academy

Located in Mākaha, Hawaiʻi, Menehune Film Academy empowers at-risk youth by teaching them to create and distribute high-quality digital content.

  • Close socio-economic divides through digital arts and Hawaiian culture.
  • Equip students with skills for the digital age.

Supporting us fuels empowerment and education for native youth.

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