Shaneika Aguilar
PHOTOGRAPHER & FILMMAKER
Shaneika Aguilar is an award winning Filipino American cinematographer, editor and independent filmmaker from Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. She has dedicated her life to creating empathetic and story-driven films with a newfound focus on social advocacy. This journey began at the age of 13 when she produced her very first documentary piece examining cellphone usage in schools. During her youth, she also found a passion for teaching and spent time volunteering after school mentoring elementary school students, crafting lesson plans and facilitating workshops.
In 2015, she assumed the role of social media manager for Urban Outfitters Hawaii, overseeing the creation and curation of photo and video content for the company's Instagram account. Additionally, she led a team of social media content creators, coordinating talent, styling shoots, and publishing content for social media. In 2016, she was invited to the Urban Outfitters Home Office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, alongside other social media managers from across the United States and the United Kingdom. There, she was presented with the recognition of winning Social Media Account of the Year.
In 2018, she completed her Bachelors at the Academy for Creative Media at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Soon after, she became part of NMG Network as a filmmaker during the initial stages of the company's video production expansion. Alongside three other filmmakers, she played a pivotal role in leading the creation of numerous films for the company's multi-branded platform, which included Flux, Living, Lei, Palm, Hale, among others. Furthermore, she contributed her talents to filming and editing projects for the company's esteemed clientele, such as Hawaiian Airlines, Halekulani Hotel, Hawaii Visitors and Conventions Bureau, Four Seasons, Alohilani Resort, Honolulu Museum of Art, Kamehameha Schools, and many others. During her time at the company, she attained two Northern California Area Emmy Awards and five Pele Awards, one of the 15 district competitions for the American Advertising Awards. Her editing and cinematography skills were recognized for their contribution to various branded and documentary films. She is most notably known for her cinematography work on the documentary film titled, "Kā Huakaʻi: The Journey to Merrie Monarch."
Shaneika’s experience spans across various forms of media, including live production, weddings, branded content, commercials, music videos, fashion films, narratives, and documentaries. As a young entrepreneur, she’s worked with many organizations, including American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Parents are Human, YWCA Oahu, NAMIWalks Hawaii, East-West Center, Hawaii Pacific Foundation, Goodwill Hawaii, Larabar, Honolulu Eye Clinic, The Queen’s Health Systems, Hawaii Pacific Health, Waialae Public Charter School, Black Letter Group, MVNP and so many more.
In 2023, Shaneika appeared on Season 4 of the Emmy Award-winning series “Reel Wāhine of Hawaiʻi,” produced by Hawaiʻi Women in Filmmaking. In this season, she also served as the cinematographer for three out of the six films. Furthermore, Shaneika has fostered a longstanding partnership with the organization, dedicating herself to sharing her expertise and mentoring young aspiring filmmakers, while capturing the untold stories of women filmmakers in Hawaiʻi.
Although she has a strong background in the wedding and commercial industry, she strives to integrate documentary and narrative filmmaking in her work. In 2018, her first narrative short, “Mama’s Wish” became the official selection at the Hawaii International Film Festival and Shanghai International Film Festival. It went on to win Audience Choice Award at Hawaiʻi Filmmakers Collective’s 2nd Annual Short Film Festival. She’s currently working on two short documentary films that focus on the housing and water crises affecting Native Hawaiians and local families of Hawaiʻi.
Through her work, Shaneika aspires to contribute to a more compassionate and interconnected world. She sees her craft not just as a means of storytelling and creative expression but as a powerful tool for fostering understanding, empathy and unity.