Netflix debuts 'Finding Ohana,' Imagine "The Goonies' set in Hawaii

The cast of 'Finding Ohana' looks like Hawaii.

Imagine the classic Goonies, set in Hawaii with a Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and Asian American cast. Fun!

The movie Finding Ohana follows a Hawaiian family from Brooklyn, New York City spending the summer in Hawaii. It's a culture clash mixed in with the  good ol' adventure, thrills and fun associated with the 1985 classic film The Goonies. 

Written by Korean American Christina Strain, and directed by Jude Weng, the famly-friendly movie is available for streaming on Netflix today

Finding Ohana includes a cast loaded with Asian American and Pacific Islander actors based in Hawaii, including Hawaii-native Kelly Hu.

The entire movie was shot mostly in Hawaii and sought to emphasize the Hawaiian heritage. “The pidgin, the spam musubis, it’s real Hawaii that you see,” said Filipino American actress Lindsay Watson who plays Hana, one of the leads in the film.

Hawaiian culture consultants were also hired to guide production of the film. Viewers will be able to catch over 100 olelo Hawaii words used throughout the movie.

“Seeing it all come together as a Hawaiian and the first time I watched it, I had Hawaiians with me. I think our jaws dropped, because we’ve never seen ourselves represented on screen like that,” said Watson, a graduate of Kamehmeha Schools Maui.

It was important to Netflix that the movie be cast appropriately.  The brother and sister in the film are played by newcomers Kea Peahu and Alex Aiono, both from Hawaii.

They're joined by “The Good Place’s” Marc Evan Jackson, the aforementioned Watson and Hu, Owen Vaccaro, Ke Huy Quan, Ricky Garcia, Ryan Higa, Mapuana Makia, Brad Kalilimoku, X Mayo, and Kyndra Sanchez.