MOLOKA'I BOUND: Closing Night Screening & Reception

Directed By Alika Tengan

USA | Narrative | 111 min

New York City Premiere

Wrapping up the 48th annual Asian American International Film Festival will be the New York City Premiere of MOLOKA’I BOUND. This screening will be followed by a Q&A with lead actor Holden Mandrial-Santos and moderated by Stacey Young, founder and executive director of The Pacific Island Film Festival (PIFF).

Following will be a reception at Downtown Social (149 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003), with refreshments provided by the following:

  • Food: Raku, Very Cool Ice Cream
  • Beverage: Curious Elixirs, JuneShine, Mai Vino, Sanzo, Wild Mannered

And finally, all attendees are given the opportunity to win amazing raffle prizes from the following:

  • Fly by Jing
  • FUJI Bar
  • Lo & Sons
  • Maison Miru
  • Momofuku
  • Rooted Fare

Closing Night is presented by The Pacific Island Film Festival (PIFF) of NYC.

— About MOLOKA’I BOUND —

Kainoa De Silva, a wayward Hawaiian man, is on parole and committed to reconnecting with his family. Most important to Kainoa is rebuilding his relationship with his adolescent son, Jonathan, after years of being incarcerated. But acclimating to a normal life in Hawai’i is harder than it seems and Kainoa tends to do all the wrong things for the right reasons. In trying to prove himself worthy of his family and his native heritage, Kainoa’s journey is a story of both reconciliation and redemption.

Event Details

  1. Screening of MOLOKA'I BOUND

    Regal Union Square, Auditorium 14

  2. Filmmaker Q&A

    Regal Union Square, Auditorium 14

  3. Reception

    Downtown Social

This event is recommended for ages 14 and up.

Tickets

In-Person
    • Date and Time

      Sunday, August 10 2025

      7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

    • Venue

      Regal Union Square - Auditorium 14

      850 Broadway
      New York, NY 10003

    Film Details

    1. Strong language, Violence

    2. English, Native Hawaiian, Pidgin English

    3. English

    4. New York City Premiere

    5. 2023

    6. 111 minutes

    7. Drama

    8. Narrative

    9. USA

      1. Alika Tengan


      Alika Tengan is a Native Hawaiian/Asian American writer-director based out of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. In 2019, his short film MOLOKA'I BOUND won “Best Short” at ImagineNative, granting them Oscar Consideration in 2021. It also inspired a feature-length adaptation which garnered several awards since its premiere at the Seattle International Film Festival in 2024, including Best Made in Hawaiʻi at the Hawaiʻi International Festival and best Narrative Feature at San Diego Asian Film Festival. Alika’s feature-directorial debut, EVERY DAY IN KAIMUKĪ, had its world premiere at Sundance 2022.

      1. Nina Yang Bongiovi

        Jesy Odio

        Chapin Hall

        Alika Tengan

      1. Alika Tengan

      1. Holden Mandrial-Santos (Kainoa)

        Achilles Holt (Jonathan)

        Kawika Kahiapo (Aukai)

        Kalena Charlene (Jessica)

        Kamalani Kapelila (Olena)

        Hale Natoa (Parole Officer)

        Aina Paikai (Ke'ala)

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