Jalena’s filmmaking explores intergenerational trauma and healing through an intersectional lens. Jalena, named 2023 Adobe x Sundance Woman to Watch, is currently touring her first feature length documentary, Standing Above the Clouds which follows Native Hawaiian mother daughter activists. The film premiered at HotDocs in 2024 where it won the Bill Nemtin Award for Best Social Impact Doc. She also recieved Special Mention for Best International Director from DocEdge Film Festival in New Zealand. Standing Above the Clouds is currently screening around the world.

Her short films have screened at over 40 film festivals, won best short documentary at LA Asian Pacific Film Festival and San Diego Asian Film Festival, streamed on the Criterion Collection, Nowness Asia and broadcast on POV. Jalena co-founded Breaktide Productions, an all women of color production company that has won two Cannes Lion awards for branded content. Jalena has produced commercial series for Nike and Facebook, and won Tribeca Through Her Lens 2020 and DocLands 2022.