Aloha Cinema

Keoni TeTawa Bowthorpe is an Emmy-nominated director and DP from Haleʻiwa, Hawaiʻi.

A frequent collaborator with Netflix, National Geographic, and Amazon, Keoni makes films driven by an intense fascination with nature, culture, people, and the worlds that shape them.

Of Pasifika and Polynesian ancestry, Keoni draws on the cultural traditions of the Pacific, a lifelong curiosity about the wider world, and his travels through it.

Working across documentary and narrative filmmaking, he has built a reputation for earning trust in challenging environments, from remote Indigenous communities and dangerous wildlife encounters to the intricate stunt design and fight choreography of major blockbuster films.

Keoni’s films have earned international recognition, including a 2026 Emmy nomination for Shark Whisperer and accolades from the Cannes International Independent Film Festival.

Keoni received the Carnegie Hero Medal after fighting off a 12-foot shark during an attack on a fellow surfer near his home in Hawaiʻi. The rescue was later featured by HBO Real Sports and the Netflix documentary Shark Whisperer.

Aloha Cinema is the creative home of Keoni and Ashley, who produce as a team when they’re not spending time on the waves or in the jungle with their four delightfully feral children.

Professional profile