Leilani

Rescued from drowning by a hula dancer, a Marine defends more than the American Dream.

Set in the final year of World War II, a young Hawaiian girl, Leilani, miraculously rescues a drowning misfit Marine, Hank, and trains him in the ways of the forgotten ancient island people, their gods, myths, and the mystic powers of the sacred hula dance. She overcomes his natural fears and prejudices, teaching him how to grow into a man.

Joined by hopeless castaways of north Molokai Island, the leper colony at Kalaupapa, they resist the looting of a sacred hidden ancient burial tomb by a rogue Japanese submarine, where the enemy also hides uranium meant for a nuclear weapon. Hank and Leilani are caught by the Japanese, but escape with the advantage of the ancients through the labyrinth of lava tubes hiding the treasure tomb.

The misfit Marine matures rapidly from a selfish teenager to a man capable of selfless acts, respecting real love, trusting Leilani, and helping the mythical ancients defend their sacred treasure. Leilani performs a hula dance for Peli, the god of earthquakes and volcanoes, bringing the wrath of the earth moving and sealing the entrance forever on Peli's treasure tomb. When the Marines show up the next day, Hank is taken back to the war. Years later, he returns as a doctor and helps to heal the last remaining survivors at the leprosy colony. He searches the northside cliffs of Molokai and finds Leilani, where they reunite and forget the hell of men at war.