Kuleana

If current trends continue, plastic pollution in our oceans will double within 15 years – and by 2050, plastic could outweigh all the fish in the sea. We are fast approaching an ecological tipping point. No longer confined to distant coastlines or gyres, plastic is now embedded in marine life, the food chain, and our bodies.

Narrated by Woody Harrelson, KULEANA journeys into the heart of this accelerating crisis, set against the backdrop of Hawai‘i – a place of profound ecological and cultural significance.

Situated between Hawaiʻi and California, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch spans an area twice the size of Texas, drawing plastic from every corner of the globe. Now, the Hawaiian islands find themselves on the frontline of a growing catastrophe. Told through the eyes of elite athletes – surf legends, freedivers, and MLB stars – KULEANA reveals startling new discoveries from leading oceanographers and exposes the unseen consequences of microplastic pollution on our ecosystems, our food systems, and our health.

At a time when environmental protections are being dismantled and scientific voices are increasingly sidelined, KULEANA uses the connective power of sport to break through the noise and reach new audiences. In the U.S. alone, the sport and entertainment industry is a major contributor to single-use plastic waste – with some major sporting events generating up to 750,000 plastic bottles each. By working with professional athletes who have seen the crisis firsthand, the film reframes environmentalism as something personal, accessible, and urgent.

“In Hawaiian culture it’s always thinking about more than yourself, it’s caring aboutthe land around you, caring aboutthe ocean, caring aboutthe ecosystem…it’s about the aloha spirit.” Kai Lenny, 7x World Surf Champ

At a moment when environmental protections are being stripped away and scientific voices are under attack, KULEANA uses the connective power of sport to engage new audiences and rekindle a sense of responsibility for our planet.

Visually striking, the film weaves underwater cinematography, sweeping drone landscapes, bespoke animated graphics, and poetic camera work into an unforgettable viewing experience. Its soundscape fuses classical violin, traditional Hawai’ian chants, hip hop, and the organic rhythms of the natural world, creating a sonic experience as layered as the story itself.

KULEANA is not just a film – it’s a call to conscience. A global invitation to rise, reconnect, and act while there is still time. “Here’s the truth: you are not powerless. Real change begins with the smallest choices made every day by all of us. Refuse plastic whenever and wherever you can.” WOODY HARRELSON