ABOUT
Danny Kaleikini was, and always will be, an icon of Hawaii. His infectious and charismatic personality, combined with his musical talent, endeared him to thousands of fans and friends throughout his career and life. He truly embodied the spirit of the Ambassador of Aloha in every sense of the term.
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I had the honor of meeting Danny at the beginning of 2020, right as the COVID-19 pandemic began to take hold globally. I was searching for a spokesperson to appear in my Medicare insurance company’s television commercial. Since everyone was stuck at home in Hawaii during the pandemic, I thought a television ad might help us stay in business by encouraging customers to call in. After meeting Danny in person, he agreed to be in our commercial, which turned out to be far more successful than I had anticipated.
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As the following year unfolded and life began to return to normal, I continued to see Danny at various events, working on other small projects, and during personal time. What I had not realized was how funny he was. He shared personal stories of his travels and entertaining days that were both hilarious and captivating. I was fascinated by him and enjoyed his company immensely.
In the summer of 2021, I asked Pawel Nuckowski, the talented filmmaker who had produced my television commercial with Danny, if he would be interested in making a documentary about Danny, given the chance. He eagerly accepted the opportunity. We approached Danny and his loved ones with the idea, and they agreed it was time to share his story. We began filming our first interviews with Danny in October of that year.
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The stories that Pawel and I were blessed to hear over the next two years were extraordinary. They were informative, heartfelt, funny, and sometimes shocking. I knew we were entrusted with sharing the real story of Danny’s life, not just a tribute to him. Danny grew up in very humble beginnings and worked hard from a young age to help his family survive. His musical talent took him to the top of the music industry in Hawaii and beyond. After retiring from music, Danny devoted much of his time to giving back to his home state and supporting many others. He remained a prominent public figure until his passing in January 2023.
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As you can imagine, spending so much time with the Ambassador of Aloha left a profound positive impact on me. It reinforced the fact that what the world needs now more than ever is Aloha. During this time of turmoil in our country, there is no better opportunity to share Danny’s story than now. It is my hope that those who see this film will be inspired to live with and perpetuate the spirit of Aloha.
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I feel blessed to have known Danny. He helped me, as he did so many others, first by agreeing to be in my television commercial, and then by trusting me to share his story in this film. I am honored to present to the world Danny’s story of challenge, triumph, and inspiration. I believe you will find this documentary to be a unique and emotional experience, filled with more than just facts. I hope you laugh, cry, and walk away feeling inspired by the man we all know as the Ambassador of Aloha, Danny Kaniela Kaleikini.
Rest in Aloha “Uncle Danny”
Mahalo Nui Loa,
Mike Lum
Executive Producer / Co-Director
MEET THE TEAM
Mike Lum
This is Mike's first time producing a feature length documentary. For "Kaniela" some of his duties were as the co-director, producer and primary interviewer. However, he does have experience producing episodic television programs. He recently wrapped production on a two year series called Cool for Kupuna which was broadcast weekly on KHON2, the Hawaii affiliate of the Fox Network. Mike served as the creator, executive producer and co-director for this series. He was also the creator and executive producer for "Heroes: A Story of Inspiration", on Oceanic Cable's OC16 in 2004 and "No Shame" on Hawaii's K5 in 2003.
Pawel Nuckowski
For over 20 years, Pawel Nuckowski has conceptualized and created content worldwide, with a strong focus on social change. He has collaborated with government and non-profit institutions such as the Men’s March Against Violence, Na Leo Kane, Pacific Survivor Center, Hawaii Department of Education, the University of Hawaii Manoa, and many more.
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He co-directed, filmed, and edited the mixed-media movie “Tricked - It Looked Like Love,” which is now part of the curriculum educating and warning Hawaii youth about the mechanics of human trafficking. Additionally, he created a series of videos for the Men’s March Against Violence, including a documentary about the organization. He also co-directed, filmed, and edited the full-feature documentary “Kaniela: The Danny Kaleikini Story,” highlighting Hawaii’s Ambassador of Aloha.
Pawel has co-created, filmed, and directed shows and documentaries in both Europe and the US. Recently, he filmed and edited two seasons (56 episodes) of the TV show “Cool for Kupuna.”
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Currently, he is working with Leeward Community College on a re-indigenization project, building a library of videos that cover Hawaii's history, the overthrow and its trauma to Kanaka, cultural practices, and protocols of Hawaii. He also co-directed, filmed, and edited a pilot for the new TV show "Hungry for Hawaii."