Meet the MOHO Team
With a Production schedule of only 64 days creative resources from multiple talents were brought on board to assist in the creation of this film. We are very grateful and proud of what the MOHO team was able to achieve in such a short time. Below please find team member bios .
Dr. Cliff Kapono: MOHO Writer, Creator Live Action Visualization Director, Storyboards, Editor
Dr. Cliff Kapono is a professional surfer, chemist and journalist. Born on the eastern shores of Hawai‘i, his life involves equal parts science as it does surf. While contributing several peer-reviewed publications to the fields of molecular bioscience, he has also produced a handful award-winning films that discuss indigenous activism, ocean conservation, global food security and virtual reality. He has been profiled in publications such as The New York Times, NBC, CBS, Surfer Magazine, and more. Cliff is currently based in Hilo, Hawai‘i and can be found tinkering in the lab when not chasing the best waves on the planet.
Dr. Cliff Kapono is a professional surfer, chemist and journalist. Born on the eastern shores of Hawai‘i, his life involves equal parts science as it does surf. While contributing several peer-reviewed publications to the fields of molecular bioscience, he has also produced a handful award-winning films that discuss indigenous activism, ocean conservation, global food security and virtual reality. He has been profiled in publications such as The New York Times, NBC, CBS, Surfer Magazine, and more. Cliff is currently based in Hilo, Hawai‘i and can be found tinkering in the lab when not chasing the best waves on the planet.
Daniel Ito: MOHO Executive Producer
Daniel Ikaika Ito serves his community as a Honolulu Surf Film Festival board member, ODKF board member, Na Kama Kai board member, Hawaii Community Development cultural specialist and Kamehameha Schools Surf Team coach. Ito is a graduate of the Pacific Century Fellows, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and Kamehameha Schools Kapālama. He became the first native Hawaiian editor of a surf publication during his two-year tenure at Free Surf Magazine, and is a seasoned surf journalist covering he‘e nalu for Surfing Magazine, ESPN, Honolulu Star Bulletin, Honolulu Star Advertiser, Surfer's Journal and Contrast Magazine. He is one of the founders of Contrast Magazine and Pai’ea Projects. Furthermore, he was staff member of Mana Magazine, HAWAI‘I Magazine and Hawaii Business Magazine. Currently, Ito supports his wahine and two keiki with his day job as the communications and social media manager at Zippy’s Restaurants and as an OluKai ambassador.
Daniel Ikaika Ito serves his community as a Honolulu Surf Film Festival board member, ODKF board member, Na Kama Kai board member, Hawaii Community Development cultural specialist and Kamehameha Schools Surf Team coach. Ito is a graduate of the Pacific Century Fellows, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and Kamehameha Schools Kapālama. He became the first native Hawaiian editor of a surf publication during his two-year tenure at Free Surf Magazine, and is a seasoned surf journalist covering he‘e nalu for Surfing Magazine, ESPN, Honolulu Star Bulletin, Honolulu Star Advertiser, Surfer's Journal and Contrast Magazine. He is one of the founders of Contrast Magazine and Pai’ea Projects. Furthermore, he was staff member of Mana Magazine, HAWAI‘I Magazine and Hawaii Business Magazine. Currently, Ito supports his wahine and two keiki with his day job as the communications and social media manager at Zippy’s Restaurants and as an OluKai ambassador.
Michael Q. Ceballos: MOHO Producer, Animation Director, Art Direction, Animation, Character Design, Editor
Twiddle Productions is headed up by Michael Q. Ceballos, a veteran of the animation and game industries, with over 25 years of experience under his belt. Among his many diverse projects, there are a few notable highlights. At Nickelodeon, he honed his skills on the cult hit, The Angry Beavers, as lead character designer and supervisor. He also worked with legendary film producer Robert Evans, who produced, The Godfather and Chinatown, on his animated biographic show for comedy central, Kid Notorious.In 2005, Mr. Ceballos relocated to Honolulu, Hawai‘i where he art directed and cowrote two RPG educational games titled Cosmos Chaos! for struggling 4th grade readers for the Nintendo DS system. He also created and produced the award winning E Hoʻomau! animated series of films and educational books which featured three animated Hawaiian legends, 9 science books and 3 graphic novels. In 2011 his E Hoʻomau! film Why Māui Snared the Sun won Best Animation at the first Guam International Film Festival.
In 2013, Mr. Ceballos formed Twiddle Productions Inc. and directed and produced Ola Na Iwi: Hāloa an animated short film telling the origins of the Hawaiian people along with the companion children's storybook Ola Na Iwi: I am Hawai’i, and Ola Na Iwi: He Hawai’i Au.
In 2017, Mr. Ceballos short film Maisa the Chamoru Girl who Saves Guåhan which was produced with the Guam Department of Education won Best Short Film at the 2017 Pasifika Film Festival. He also produced a pilot titled Asockalypse! which follows the end of the world shenanigans of sock puppet survivors and a series of holiday cocktail, activity and coloring book for grownups titled the Booze Fairy.
Most recently he created an educational program and series of books titled Keiki Coding which teaches kids how to create and code video games from the Hawai‘i placed based perspective.
Twiddle Productions is headed up by Michael Q. Ceballos, a veteran of the animation and game industries, with over 25 years of experience under his belt. Among his many diverse projects, there are a few notable highlights. At Nickelodeon, he honed his skills on the cult hit, The Angry Beavers, as lead character designer and supervisor. He also worked with legendary film producer Robert Evans, who produced, The Godfather and Chinatown, on his animated biographic show for comedy central, Kid Notorious.In 2005, Mr. Ceballos relocated to Honolulu, Hawai‘i where he art directed and cowrote two RPG educational games titled Cosmos Chaos! for struggling 4th grade readers for the Nintendo DS system. He also created and produced the award winning E Hoʻomau! animated series of films and educational books which featured three animated Hawaiian legends, 9 science books and 3 graphic novels. In 2011 his E Hoʻomau! film Why Māui Snared the Sun won Best Animation at the first Guam International Film Festival.
In 2013, Mr. Ceballos formed Twiddle Productions Inc. and directed and produced Ola Na Iwi: Hāloa an animated short film telling the origins of the Hawaiian people along with the companion children's storybook Ola Na Iwi: I am Hawai’i, and Ola Na Iwi: He Hawai’i Au.
In 2017, Mr. Ceballos short film Maisa the Chamoru Girl who Saves Guåhan which was produced with the Guam Department of Education won Best Short Film at the 2017 Pasifika Film Festival. He also produced a pilot titled Asockalypse! which follows the end of the world shenanigans of sock puppet survivors and a series of holiday cocktail, activity and coloring book for grownups titled the Booze Fairy.
Most recently he created an educational program and series of books titled Keiki Coding which teaches kids how to create and code video games from the Hawai‘i placed based perspective.
Matthew Kawika Ortiz: MOHO Producer, Art Direction, Character Design
Mr. Matthew Kawika Ortiz is a Hawaiʻi-based artist who specializes in storyboards, illustration, graphic design, and printmaking. Mr. Ortiz recently illustrated the childrenʼs book Mohala Mai ʻo Hau, which was awarded the bronze medal for the 2010 international Moonbeam Childrenʼs Book Awards and a Ka Palapala Poʻokela award nominee. Matt started out his career interning and creating conceptual art for the Warner Brothers feature film Superman Returns. He also storyboarded all three E Hoʻomau! films, background designs on Ola Nā Iwi: Hāloa short animated film, and was also the co-art director on the award winning short film Maisa The Chamoru Girl Who Saves Guåhan. Mr. Ortiz also travels cross country painting his signature murals featuring whimsical views of sustainable treehouses, boats and buildings. Most recently Matt was featured on the NBC hit show Making It co-hosted by Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman. Matt along with craftspeople skilled in different media from across the nation competed against each other for the honor of being named the "Master Maker.”
Mr. Matthew Kawika Ortiz is a Hawaiʻi-based artist who specializes in storyboards, illustration, graphic design, and printmaking. Mr. Ortiz recently illustrated the childrenʼs book Mohala Mai ʻo Hau, which was awarded the bronze medal for the 2010 international Moonbeam Childrenʼs Book Awards and a Ka Palapala Poʻokela award nominee. Matt started out his career interning and creating conceptual art for the Warner Brothers feature film Superman Returns. He also storyboarded all three E Hoʻomau! films, background designs on Ola Nā Iwi: Hāloa short animated film, and was also the co-art director on the award winning short film Maisa The Chamoru Girl Who Saves Guåhan. Mr. Ortiz also travels cross country painting his signature murals featuring whimsical views of sustainable treehouses, boats and buildings. Most recently Matt was featured on the NBC hit show Making It co-hosted by Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman. Matt along with craftspeople skilled in different media from across the nation competed against each other for the honor of being named the "Master Maker.”
Maurice F Morgan: MOHO Background and Layout Design
Maurice is an animation industry veteran with over 20 years experience as an art director, background designer on productions for Nickelodeon, Dreamworks, Warner Bros. and others. His skills and talents cover a wide range from illustration, commercial art, and fine art to film and photography. While based in Los Angeles Ca, he has also partnered with Mr. Ceballos on many of the place based animated projects such as E Hoʻomau! and Kalehuawehe. In 1998 he received an Emmy Nomination for background design on Nickelodeon’s animated series The Angry Beavers. Among the many production Mr. Morgan has worked on here are a few highlight:
Taylor Oishi: MOHO Animator
Taylor is a freelance animator, illustrator and painter residing in Honolulu, HI. In addition to his love of creating and brining things to life through animation, Taylor is also a professional guitarist who plays gigs with a local band named Goon lei Goon and an avid surfer. |
Xochitl Cornejo: MOHO Environmental Design
Xochitl Cornejo, is a 2D animator and background designer/painter from Kailua, Hawaii and a graduate from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2019 with a BFA in Animation. 
Kana‘ina Warren: MOHO Animator
Born and raised on the island of Oahu, Kanaina Warren has worked as an animator on all three E Hoʻomau! films, Ola Nā Iwi: Hāloa and Kalehuawehe. Kanaina is a jack of all trades and aside from his passion for animation he has created and worked on multiple medium projects from wood to sculpting. Among his many projects his most important and favorite is being a dad. 
Cesar Henriquez : MOHO Animator
Cesar has been using his talents to help bring to life many animated productions. The productions include broadcast, feature, web-based, and many other formats. He enjoys the teamwork it takes to complete any animated production. His experience includes working for companies like Warner Bros, Disney, Cartoon Network to name a few. |