ABOUT US
KAKAIA Productions is an audacious production company bringing Polynesian stories to life across Aotearoa (New Zealand) and French Polynesia. Founded by award-winning filmmakers Carrisse Uta'i and Kahu Kaiha, KAKAIA champions Indigenous narratives rooted in language, culture, and collaboration.
Our short film KÜĪ is currently captivating audiences at international film festivals, while our latest release, O Alofa Nei, O Alofa Nā, funded by NZ On Air/Day One Hāpai Te Haiata, debuted earlier this year. We're now in development on our debut feature documentary, Kakaia, Children Of Tiki.
Mālō Lava, Ka'oha Nui, Hello
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Mālō Lava, Ka'oha Nui, Hello 〰️
Carrisse Uta’i
Producer, Writer & Actress
Carrisse Uta'i (Si'umu, Aleisa) is a New Zealand based award-winning producer, writer, and actress of Sāmoan, Tuvaluan, Fijian, Cook Island, and German descent. Her producer debut, Find Where I Belong, won Best Short Fiction Film at FIFO Tahiti (2023) and was acquired by France TV. Her screenwriting debut, KÜĪ (Mother), won Best Indigenous Film at Flicker's Rhode Island International Film Festival (2025) and Best Short Film 16+ Youth Jury Award at Cinemagic Film Festival (2025).
She is currently co-producing Kahu Kaiha's debut feature documentary, KAKAIA - Children of Tiki, as well as a series pilot episode for PASC Ep1 Redux. Her most recent short film, O Alofa Nei, O Alofa Nā, funded by NZ On Air/Day One Hāpai Te Haiata, was released earlier this year (2025).
As co-founder of KAKAIA Productions, Carrisse is dedicated to championing Indigenous and Pacific Islands narratives on screen. She received the 2024 Day One Vista Foundation Spirit Award.
Kahu Kaiha
Kahu Kaiha (Ua Pou - Iles Marquises) is a Marquesan multi-hypenate, and award-winning Actor, Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Marquesan Haka Choreographer AND Marquesan Haka music composer.
His directorial debut short film 'Find Where I Belong' was a self/crowd funded project which won ‘Best Fiction Short Film’ at the FIFO Film Festival. His second film, KÜĪ, has garnered international acclaim, winning Best Indigenous Film at Flicker's Rhode Island International Film Festival (2025) and Best Short Film 16+ Youth Jury Award at Cinemagic Film Festival (2025).
Kahu continues to create ambitious and culturally centered films through his production company, KAKAIA Productions. He is deeply committed to preserving and promoting Marquesan culture, through sharing the stories, traditional dances, and music of his homeland with a broader audience via his work on screen, as well as being a regular participant in festivals and workshops. He received the 2024 Day One Imagezone Vision Award.
Director, Writer, Actor, Haka Choreographer, Haka Composer & Cultural Advisor
What does KAKAIA mean?
KAKAIA is derived from the word KAI-KAIA. KAI means "to devour," while KAIA means "in a ferocious way."
It was also the name of an ancient HENUA ENANA (The Marquesas Islands) tribe known for being fierce and worshipping TIKI, an ancient Polynesian divine entity.
Today, we define KAKAIA as someone who is audacious, bold, and unafraid to lead. These values form the core foundations of our production company.