Bio
Ku’ulei is a Hawaiian-Chinese-Filipino Director and Impact Producer who blends her background in nonprofit strategy, traditional voyaging, and environmental education to share scripted and unscripted stories about identity and culture. Born in Ko’olaupoko, Oʻahu, and raised largely in the diaspora, she crafts stories about nuanced relationships between self and place.
Ku’ulei most recently produced Grace, a Hawai’i-based short narrative about two women concealing their love as one resists her impending marriage and the other her countryʻs admission to the U.S. Previously, she co-directed and produced the award-winning feature documentary, Dream Chasers: The Fit to Recover Story, which explores health and wellness in recovering from substance use disorders. Ku’ulei was also an editor for an internationally recognized spearfishing YouTube channel from 2020-2021, featuring stories about food, family, and foraging in Hawai’i and Alaska. Her film work has garnered recognition and been published by Forbes, Patagonia, and Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Kuʻulei believes filmmaking has the power to help us understand how our choices impact both ourselves and the health of the world. For her, the storyteller's role is to share historical truths, perpetuate culture, and honor traditional wisdom – all while encouraging a strong pilina (connection) to place. Ku'ulei is always open to talking story about the intersection of our human experience and welcomes anyone with similar interests and goals to reach out.
