Pilina First is a Hawaiʻi-based strategy, content, and communications firm connecting clients with audiences through meaningful relationships grounded in our unique perspective as people from this special place.
This global center for indigenous language excellence is bringing prominence back to indigenous languages — and Pilina First helped lay the foundation for that.
Pilina First’s partners and associates have worked with ʻImiloa for over a decade on various communications, public relations, and educational outreach efforts.
Pilina First was honored to produce for the Merrie Monarch Festival from the end of 2019 through 2021. The festival is the largest locally produced broadcast in the State of Hawaiʻi that includes 20+ hours of live programming, wrap-around content, and a significant social media presence, the composite of which did 16.5 million impressions in 2021.
Pilina First’s partners and associates have worked with ʻAha Pūnana Leo in varying capacities over the last 20+ years, advocating alongside and in support of its leadership to advance their vision of E Ola ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi….
Pilina First, its partners, and associates have worked with ʻAha Pūnana Leo in varying capacities over the last 20+ years, advocating alongside and in support of its leadership to advance their vision of E Ola ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiian Language Shall Live.
Pilina First’s partners and associates founded and led ʻŌiwiTV and Pilina First continues to collaborate on content creation for the station and its clients.
Pilina First’s partners worked closely with ʻŌiwiTV, the key media partner for Hōkūleʻa’s 2013 - 2019 Worldwide Voyage. That effort produced 4,000 hours of footage, 500,000 still photos, earned-media in markets and 4 billion impressions.
Pilina First was honored to produce for the Merrie Monarch Festival (MM) from the end of 2019 through 2021. MM is the largest locally produced broadcast in the State of Hawaiʻi that includes 20+ hours of live programming, wrap-around programming, and a significant social media presence, the composite of which did 16.5 million impressions in 2021.
County of Hawaiʻi, Community First
Pilina First worked with Community First and the County of Hawaiʻi to develop the OurKuleana brand, marketing, and public relations platform; a community-based effort to mobilize Hawaiʻi during critical times of need, initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pilina First’s partners and associates helped to develop and lead this Global Center for Indigenous Language Excellence including message and marketing, educational program development, and event marketing, planning, and execution.
Pilina First has worked with Kamehameha on projects including researching and assessing enhanced ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi programming and developing and implementing strategies for program transformation for its Kapālama campus.
Pilina First’s partners worked with HMSA on projects including the messaging and marketing of their payment transformation campaign as well as event planning, marketing, and coordination support for their hosting of the Western Leadership Conference of leading health plans.
Pilina First’s partners and associates have worked with ʻImiloa for over a decade on various communications, public relations, and educational outreach efforts.
In 2023, Pilina First partnered with the County of Maui and Mayor Richard Bissen to develop video messaging supporting the phased reopening of visitor travel following the Maui wildfires.
Pilina First led the creative development and design of interpretive signage for a trail preservation project along Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway in North Kona, Hawaiʻi Island.
Pilina First produced Aloha Maui, a show presented by the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation to creates space for Maui’s people to share their stories.
In 2023, Pilina First produced and developed messaging to support the Hawaiian Council’s Kākoʻo Maui initiative, which provides resources to Hawaiian and local communities impacted by the Maui wildfires.
