International Cultural Arts Network (ICAN) is a non-profit 501(c) (3), established on April 13, 2023 in the State of Hawaii. Film industry veterans - Angela Laprete, Brian Keaulana and Robert Suka – co-founded ICAN to serve a mission - elevating, educating and empowering diversity with focus on Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) in Hawaii’s TV and Film Industry and bridging cultural connections globally in various forms of storytelling and entertainment.
ICAN will help create opportunities and develop placement goals by amplifying the experience of ongoing training of master classes in performing arts, industry crafts, and screenwriting for Hawaii’s entertainment community while building infrastructure within the State. The programs may expand as it grows into other areas of performance and storytelling.
ICAN will work with unions to heighten opportunities for local crew and talent and foster the next generation of filmmakers by providing shadowing, internships, and one-on-one meetings with industry mentors.
ICAN will collaborate with top industry professionals internationally to help streamline a path for success and an understanding on how to meet the demands of each industry.
OUR PARTNERS
Meet Our Program Director and Maori actress, Te’ao O’ Hinepehinga as she joins ICAN to support Kanaka Maoli, along with all Pacific Islander communities, in pursuit of an elevated level of training and creativity in Hawaii's entertainment industry. Classes will start October through December.
Phase 1: MANA I KA MANA
Video Footage by Alex Nguyen
THE LAUNCH OF ICAN
On May 13, 2023, ICAN launched its inaugural event bringing Hawaii to Los Angeles during American Asian Pacific Islander (AAPI) month. After the theatrical release of award winning film, “The Wind and The Reckoning” at the Laemmle, Santa Monica, a PAU HANA event took place at Blank Spaces.
It was an impactful evening as ICAN celebrated with the cast of “The Wind and the Reckoning”, Actors, Producers, Executives and Writers, representing Pacific Islanders. Special guest, American Idol winner, William “Iam” Tongi, stopped by and Miss Hawaii, Start Dahl-Thurston, greeted guests with lei as they arrived. Food was catered in bento boxes by Malama Pono and Kinaole Foundation joined in to support the evening with staff and island decor. Co-Founder, Angela Laprete welcomed everyone and shared ICAN’s mission and vision of elevating and empowering diversity in the entertainment industry with focus on creating more opportunities in casting and storytelling for NHPI. In Phase 1, ICAN will be bringing in industry professionals from New Zealand to coach ongoing master classes in acting starting with an intro class in September 2023. We will expand into screenwriting, stunt training, music and dance. The gathering is the first to bridge the connection between Hawaii and beyond.
Mahalo to our sponsors!
Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaii Media Inc.
Aloha Bites, Big Island Candies, Blank Spaces, MCA Tropicals, HiLuxury, Mananalu Water, Castle Signs and Graphics, The Orchid Lei Company, Waimea Herb Company, Hawaiian Sun, Maunaloa, ‘ili Hawaiian Scrub, Olukai, Hawaiian Host, Malie Organics, Manoa Chocolate Hawaii, Prince Waikiki, XLR8HI PreX
Special Mahalo to CAPE USA, Gold House, Oahu Economic Development Board, Kinaole Foundation
