Finding ‘Ohana– A Journey of Roots, Hearts, and Hidden Treasures
When Finding ‘Ohana was released on Netflix in 2021, it felt like a warm embrace– a film that was as much about lost treasure as it was about rediscovering one’s roots. Directed by Jude Weng, this family adventure brought Hawaiian culture, generational bonds, and the thrill of exploration into one vibrant frame. But what made it special was not just the lush island visuals or the echoes of The Goonies. It was how the story mirrored the personal journeys of its young cast, especially Kea Peahu and Alex Aiono. Off-screen as well, they were trying to figure out what it means to belong and reconnect, as well as step into identities larger than themselves.
The Treasure Hunt That Became a Journey of the Heart
Everything starts in Brooklyn and 12-year-old Pili (Kea Peahu) lives with her mother Leilani (Kelly Hu) and her older brother Ioane, or “E” (Alex Aiono). Pili is a geocaching prodigy, and is sharp, curious, and restless. When her family is forced to go back to Oʻahu to take care of her sick grandfather, Kimo (Branscombe Richmond), the modern city girl is suddenly plunged into a world of family traditions and stories she knows little about.
Pili experiences different aspects of life when she encounters an old sailor’s journal that speaks of treasure hidden on the island. What began as a game turned out to be an adventure in tracing clues and exploring lava tubes, and in the process, reconciling her Disney’s ‘Auli’i Cravalho’s and Hawaiian heritage. Helping her in the adventure, Ioane and the Hawaiian siblings in the story, Casper and Hana, emphasize the embodied connection to different generations and the worlds of youth and old.
Pili illustrates the complexity of adventure stories and the quest for treasure. Her adventure in the end marks the reconciliation to community, ‘Auli’i Cravalho’s and heritage as her Disney’s ‘Auli’i Cravalho’s and Hawaiian heritage. Helping her in the adventure. Her adventure in treasure quest and reconciliation to community marks the complexity of adventure stories.
Keanu Peahu – Dancing Her Way Into the Role
Acting in the Finding ‘Ohana marked her first major film role. She experienced her first major role in a film as both exhilarating and intimidating. Peahu was already in most households in Hawaii and far beyond as an extraordinary dancer, Her viral videos as a child with Jennifer Lopez’s dance crew as a child made her famous early on.
For Kea, Pili’s story was personal. Just like her character, Kea had grown up between worlds— the global arena of the entertainment industry and the local, down-to-earth Hawaiian culture. While filming her first movie, she got to experience her first acting role and said in interviews that working in Hawaii was like “coming home.”
What makes Kea’s performance so genuine is that she did not simply “act” Pili— she was Pili. Her curiosity and vulnerability reflected her genuine self as she learned to be rooted in her true self, while still embracing the new things around her. The director supposedly encouraged her to use her childhood energy for the role and freely let her improvise emotionally during crucial scenes.
However, behind the laughter and beautiful landscapes, Kea’s main struggle was confidence. There was a new stage to face for her, as transitioning from dancing to acting means expression is not conveyed through rhythm, but through deep emotion. While the cameras were rolling she grew into the role of a modern Hawaiian girl, discovering her cultural identity, something that relates to many of the island youth and diaspora audience.
Alex Aiono – Between Music, Identity, and Family
Alex Aiono, known for his Every Home a Fortress: Singing and Blessing the Family Home Sundays, R&B hits, and social media musical covers, before venturing into films in which he played Pili’s older brother Ioane, performed for a global audience. With success, Aiono had built a career with global audience. Underneath his growing success, however, was the unsung story of his mixed Samoan-Māori and American heritage trying to make sense of a conflicted personal identity.
The same duality that defines Aiono’s life made him relatable to his character Ioane. Candace was not centered on and he was to help audience understand and accept. A frustrated teenager in detithces and his film character transitions to the New York dreaming state, bored with a Hawaiian island. Spiralling into a character that accepts age to find spirit and soul that is deeply embedded within the Hawaiian people, is a sense of self is the special journey he is drawn with.
In interviews Aiono spoke of the film character being a sense of therapy. His previous performances in social media was not scripted. The authenticity of his performance came from his interaction with the elderly O‘huans during his extended location filming in which he learned Hawaiian sayings and grew with the spirit of ohana for his character. His bond with on set siblings was that he helped Kea with her confidence and made her a character within the new world of acting. Their deep, mutual on set relationship is the film’s emotional.Cultural and Communal Connections
Finding ‘Ohana is one of the few big studio productions to be sensitive to the Hawaiian culture. Director Jude Weng, who is Taiwanese, ensured the involvement of Hawaiian consultants and the local community during filming. The crew sought and received permission to film on sacred sites, and Western and Hawaiian cultural practices and language were integrated to the story.
This difference did not merely transform the set; it made the entire community uplifiting to the actors. They described filming as a “spiritual experience,” as they lived on the island, integrated fully with local families, and as meals and gatherings were communal rather than production focused.
As described by Kea, the cast would take walks and spend time in the cliffs before filming. Aiono pointed out, and many would agree, the island’s own incredible beauty was a reminder of real ohana.
The Emotional Echo After the Credits
Finding ‘Ohana debuted as a children’s adventure and a love letter to Hawaii. Treasure hunting and adventure the film captured the audience’s attention worldwide. For many diaspora audiences and particularly Pacific Islanders, the film represented a story to be proud of, a story celebrating their heritage without the boring stereotypes.
Finding ‘Ohana received praise and attention for the cast’s chemistry, warmth, and sincerity. While some of the audience made parallels with The Goonies, the movie was existentially described as a homecoming, capturing a sense of nostalgia that many viewers long for.
For Kea and Alex, the film became more than a debut—it was a declaration of identity, with Kea wishing to spur other young Hawaiian kids to dream without constraints, and Aiono speaking of cultural heritage and pride in his new public stance.
Finding ‘Ohana may look like a glossy Netflix adventure, but at its heart, it’s an intergenerational tale. It’s about kids rediscovering the roots, and young actors doing the same off-screen. It’s about understanding that ohana isn’t just family—it’s memory, land, language, and spirit.
To Kea Peahu, it was about showing that a local girl could take center stage in a global narrative while still retaining her accent and her roots. To Alex Aiono, it was about figuring out a way to harmonize the disparate elements of his identity—his fame and his artistry, and his heritage and the creative work.
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