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After visiting Hawaii many times I was compelled to explore more and travel to the most remote part of all the islands, the jungle area off the grid in east part of Big Island. This area, called Puna, has been severely hit multiple times by lava eruptions of the Kilauea volcano. Last eruption in 2018 destroyed many homes and split this area in two parts. Puna has always had reputation of not being safe and especially after this eruption, with the volcano still being active, tourists have been discouraged to visit. Locals enjoy their privacy, living secluded, and have been able to stay away from society for many years since the 70s when Richard Koob moved to this part of the island and started the retreat center called Kalani where EDance started.

After visiting the first time I was totally fascinated, discovered a completely different world than what I had heard and was determined to come back and learn more about the locals and their life styles.

After several trips to this part of Hawaii I was able to integrate with the local communities and eventually convince them to let me film them to share their stories and visions with the world. I then discovered many incredible stories and met inspiring people that showed me a new world.

Kalani is for example the place where E-dance (Ecstatic Dance) was created. Over the time many more incredible spiritual events have taken place here. Kalani faces one of most beautiful nude beaches in the world, Kehena, where for many years many different communities have lived and practiced yoga related activities and sound healing practices. This part of Hawaii is still untouched.
People live in a self sustainable way using solar power and collecting rain water. It is a very rare case of western civilization living in harmony with nature having embraced most of the Hawaiian culture and history, their aloha and their ability to love and to connect with nature, animals and plants.

This is my testimonial, my visual journey through this remote part of Hawaii, one of the very last jungles left untouched in this part of the world. Through talking about several spiritual practices and ways of living my film aims to raise the world consciousness. It is an inspiring story that allows the audience to learn about incredible practices, become more aware and how to live harmoniously respecting nature and all living beings.

I have dedicated a year of my life to produce this film. I shot and directed it pretty much on my own to self finance it on a small budget as my personal contribution to the world hoping to bring more knowledge, awareness and raise people's consciousness, a testimonial and a legacy to humanity I wanted to leave behind.

hristian Filippella is a producer, cinematographer and director, current member of the Producers Guild of America (PGA) and the Television Academy (ATAS/NATAS).

Filippella began working as an independent filmmaker in Spain and Ireland. He was accepted to the directing program of the prestigious Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome and was awarded his diploma in 2005 with his thesis film Thermae starring Claire Falconer and Carolina Crescentini. Subsequently, he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and completed MFA studies at the American Film Institute (AFI) in 2008. He holds then two masters in film directing.

Filippella has received twice the Philip Morris Cinema Award, the Panavision Award, the Sergio Corbucci Prize in 2006 and has been sponsored by ARRI and Fuji on many of his projects.

His first feature film Silver Case stars Academy Award nominees Seymour Cassel and Eric Roberts in the lead role of the Senator, and features Shalim Ortiz, Chris Facey, Brian Keith Gamble, Vincent De Paul, Fernanda Romero, Scarlett Chorvat and Claire Falconer.

Silver Case, which premiered at Rome International Film Festival. The movie has been released worldwide. The Los Angeles Times reviewed the film as "brisk, good-looking and never dull"

Mr Filippella has since then produced and shot several other feature films including Silver Case starring Academy Award nominees Eric Roberts and Seymour Cassel, Nandor Fodor and The Talking Mongoose (2023) starring Academy Award actress Minnie Driver, Christopher Lloyd and Simon Pegg and distributed by Paramount, Hellfire (2024) starring Oscar nominee Harvey Keitel and Stephen Lang, This is Our Christmas, Christmas Couples Retreat and Beverly Hills Christmas starring Dean Cain, John Savage, Ronn Moss and Academy Award Winner Margaret O'Brien, the multiple Emmy winning show The Bay (2023), Sheperd the story of a Jewish dog and many more.

In 2018 Filippella received the Halo Award and the Life Achievement Award from the Motion Picture Council in Hollywood.

After visiting Hawaii many times I was compelled to explore more and travel to the most remote part of all the islands, the jungle area off the grid in east part of Big Island. This area, called Puna, has been severely hit multiple times by lava eruptions of the Kilauea volcano. Last eruption in 2018 destroyed many homes and split this area in two parts. Puna has always had reputation of not being safe and especially after this eruption, with the volcano still being active, tourists have been discouraged to visit. Locals enjoy their privacy, living secluded, and have been able to stay away from society for many years since the 70s when Richard Koob moved to this part of the island and started the retreat center called Kalani where EDance started.

After visiting the first time I was totally fascinated, discovered a completely different world than what I had heard and was determined to come back and learn more about the locals and their life styles.

After several trips to this part of Hawaii I was able to integrate with the local communities and eventually convince them to let me film them to share their stories and visions with the world. I then discovered many incredible stories and met inspiring people that showed me a new world.

Kalani is for example the place where E-dance (Ecstatic Dance) was created. Over the time many more incredible spiritual events have taken place here. Kalani faces one of most beautiful nude beaches in the world, Kehena, where for many years many different communities have lived and practiced yoga related activities and sound healing practices. This part of Hawaii is still untouched.
People live in a self sustainable way using solar power and collecting rain water. It is a very rare case of western civilization living in harmony with nature having embraced most of the Hawaiian culture and history, their aloha and their ability to love and to connect with nature, animals and plants.

This is my testimonial, my visual journey through this remote part of Hawaii, one of the very last jungles left untouched in this part of the world. Through talking about several spiritual practices and ways of living my film aims to raise the world consciousness. It is an inspiring story that allows the audience to learn about incredible practices, become more aware and how to live harmoniously respecting nature and all living beings.

I have dedicated a year of my life to produce this film. I shot and directed it pretty much on my own to self finance it on a small budget as my personal contribution to the world hoping to bring more knowledge, awareness and raise people's consciousness, a testimonial and a legacy to humanity I wanted to leave behind.