Jaina Galves (she/her)

Jaina Galves is a Native Hawaiian director/cinematographer. Growing up in Hawai’i She learned from a young age the importance of advocating for the environment and amplifying indigenous voices. She found her love for filmmaking through watching documentaries and is intent on using her filmmaking skills as a tool to create change. She aspires to help share stories that challenge dominate narratives, foster connection, and prioritize diverse voices. Jaina moved to Seattle, WA in 2018 and graduated from Seattle University with a degree in film and environmental studies. For the past 3 years she has worked at a local production company and has recently began freelance filmmaking in Seattle. She has sailed throughout the Pacific aboard the E/V Nautilus as a video engineer helping to understand our oceans and study deep sea environments. Jaina’s most recent documentary “Am I Hawaiian Enough?” educates audiences on the struggles Kānaka Maoli face in maintaining their cultural identities after decades of oppression through an intimate phone call with her father.