-
David Rowlands.
-
'Light A Fire In Me' is sponsored by the Hawai'i International Film Festival.
-
Rowlands was a a guard for the Sharks and averaged a career high 15 points-per-game in his senior year.
-
Rowlands worked with musicians to direct music videos on his way to writing and directing feature films.
-
Rowlands taught filmmaking in Spain and created a film festival to showcase each film.
Move over Bradley Cooper. Hawai‘i has an up-and-coming auteur with the same charisma and creative spark to redefine filmmaking across the Pacific.
HPU alumnus David Rowlands '20 is a skilled film auteur whose journey from the basketball court to the director’s chair is as cinematic as the stories he tells. Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Rowlands moved to Southern California during his sophomore year in high school, where a coach recruited him to HPU. Rowlands had never been to Hawai‘i before, but the idea of living and learning in paradise was too compelling to pass up.
Rowlands played guard for the HPU sharks.
At HPU, Rowlands joined the men’s basketball team as a freshman but was redshirted that year. While his teammates traveled for games across the country, he stayed behind—channeling his creative energy into making short films with his mobile phone. That solitary time sparked a love for storytelling and visual creativity. What began as a personal experiment quickly became a passion for the screen.
He collaborated with teammate and artist Darnell Bettis to direct his music videos, then expanded his vision to include professional projects for local artists. Over the next four years, Rowlands balanced basketball, studies, and a growing creative career. He even ran HPU’s basketball social media account, creating compelling posts and videos that grew a loyal following.
“I realized then that narrative filmmaking was where I wanted to go,” Rowlands said. “So, I transitioned to making documentaries and short films. I shot a film called ‘Lap 6,’ about an ultra-marathon runner in Hawai‘i. That experience led to a natural progression as a storyteller, jumping into making feature films. I knew that this was my calling in life.”
After graduating with a degree in international business in 2020, Rowlands continued to HPU’s MBA program. Along the way, a course taught by HPU Film Professor Pete Britos—Global Cinema Studies—shifted his view of the craft entirely.
“It made me look at film in a totally different way,” Rowlands said. “From a fan, to thinking, ‘hey, I can really do this.’”
Still, Rowlands felt that life experience was just as important as classroom learning. He took a leap and moved to Spain to teach English at an elementary school. Yet standing in front of a classroom didn’t fully ignite his passion… until he saw a creative opportunity.
“I asked the English language director, ‘Do you mind if I teach filmmaking with the kids?’ I had 10 classes, kindergarten to sixth grade, so there was a lot of opportunity. I was given free rein to be creative. We wrote scripts, acted, and made a film for each class. Then we had a film festival and rented a local theatre! That really was Spain to me—such an impactful time in my life.”
Rowlands wrote, and will direct 'Light A Fire In Me' this June in downtown Honolulu.
That experience deepened Rowlands’ sense of purpose. For him, filmmaking wasn’t just an art—it was a way to build connection, to inspire, and to elevate unheard stories and voices.
“Filmmaking to me is a communal experience, with a wide reach, impacting people in a profound way,” he said. “I took that experience in Spain and returned to Hawai‘i with new energy to make a feature film.”
Back on O‘ahu, Rowlands got to work fast. He saved $25K from filming weddings and began developing a full-length psychological thriller called “Light A Fire In Me.” The film blends the moody psychological depth of “Taxi Driver” with visual and thematic echoes of Brian De Palma and Krzysztof Kieślowski. It aims to present a raw, authentic view of Hawai‘i, far from the tourist-facing lens often seen in film and television.
“I think it’s important that commercial films come out of Hawai‘i for the long term viability of the film industry here, ” Rowlands said. “There’s so much more to Hawai‘i than the paradise motif. We have the stories, the technology, and the talent. Now we need the productions again.”
“Light A Fire In Me” is sponsored by the Hawai‘i International Film Festival and set to begin filming in June 2025, shooting for a premiere this fall.
Rowlands' international worldview was shaped not just by his time in Spain but also by a transformative trip to China with HPU basketball coaches. Coaching abroad expanded his thinking and gave him the confidence to chase storytelling on a global scale.
“That by far was the biggest and best gift from HPU,” he said. “If I hadn’t gone to China, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to go to Spain. And that grew my love for filmmaking . It all connects. In life, you never know where the dots will connect, you just have to trust that one day, looking back, they will all line up for you.”
What stayed with him the most about HPU wasn’t just the education, but the experience of living in the heart of Honolulu, immersed in culture, community, and global diversity.
“HPU stands for diversity, around the world, and I found that to be the most true,” he said. “Compared to a typical college experience, this was something different. I traveled across the city, explored so many neighborhoods, and experienced Hawai‘i. Other schools in Hawai‘i, you can find yourself in a bubble. With HPU, you’re in the city, experiencing the island in a profound and true manner.”
Just one semester shy of finishing his MBA, Rowlands continues to credit HPU with shaping not only his education but also his independence, his artistry, and his sense of purpose.
“I’m a big champion of HPU. It gets you ready to be an adult. The campus helps people mature, and the small class sizes make a huge difference. I had personal connections with professors I still talk to today.”
As Rowlands prepares to step on set and bring “Light A Fire in Me” to life, he reflected on what it means to find joy and happiness.
“Happiness begins with self-confidence and being able to look in the mirror and be proud. Having a strong moral code, making choices you’re proud of. That’s happiness. Building a good network and strong relationships is everything. Ikigai—the Japanese concept of purpose and a reason for being—I have it tattooed on my arm. If you know your Ikigai, it can benefit society as a whole. We all need to know and trust our Ikigai.”
