The short film Keao follows a young woman’s journey of self-actualization through the use of ancient cultural practices. A young Hawaiian girl goes to work at a hotel lu’au show where she dances with a cast of other young Polynesian dancers. It appears to be a usual evening at work until she is interrupted by a new addition to her costume: a coconut bra. Here’s a message from filmmaker Kaliko Spenser:

I am constantly seeking new paths to that Ao, or light, where I can see my cultural foundation as a Hawaiian, clearly and profoundly. In search of what is pono or what is right and balanced in our lives, I begin to consider these questions: Where do we as Hawaiians draw the line between the profane and the sacred? How do we protect our culture from corruption in this modern world we live in? And what is it that will help us to reach that enlightenment of how to preserve our culture in the purest form? This story was born out of these questions and experiences I have had in my life. It is a story that I hope will inspire other Hawaiians as well as other native peoples to ask themselves these same questions.

The light comes from within.

Keao : short film

Keao : short film (high quality)