Kekoa Collective - Mindful Living

Another one from the archives - today we speak with Japanese Yogi Mayu Kawasaki, we talk about her struggles of coming to a new country, learning the language and discovering Yoga. Mayu Is joined by her partner Jonathan and together they run a dance/ yoga studio called Sakura Arts Collective. Listen all the way to the end where Mayu demonstrates her holistic Sound therapy with her crystal bowls. Simply amazing!

Sorry for the long delay folks but we are back, this Is an older episode that we never published but one for easy listening and a great message. Dewey talks with Yoga Instructor and now business owner Valentina about being happy and living a fulfilled life. How we shouldn't compare ourselves to others and how to overcome the bumps In the road that Is life.

Quarantine Episode number 11 - we talk with Jason Aquino and Shane Angelic Davies. Shane is the owner of the F45 franchise in Oahu and alongside Jason they run the Kahala Gym near Kahala mall. Both are accomplished Jiu Jiteiro's and businessmen.In this episode we talk about the importance of community and growing local business, training Jiu Jitsu and everything in between. Definitely a fun episode and one not to miss.

We spoke with Andy Taam, the founder of Hawaiian Fight Gear, about career and passion. We met 25 years ago working in a surf shop when we were fresh young college graduates. We ran into each other 2 decades later in the surf. He found HFG to honored and support all young fighters from Hawaii. The power of passion and synchronicity.

Leadership - we are taught to lead or be led but either way without good leadership we are lost. We look to those In higher positions with more experience to show us the way, to guide us on the right path but when leadership Is abused or someone Is a bad leader It affects everyone around us. Be an example to others and be a good person, take control and show the way so that others may follow In your path of being wholesome and positive. Together we can help change the world for the greater good.

Aloha Everyone, we are back after a brief hiatus and this episode Is super powerful and not to be missed. Dewey and Bret and are joined by Valentina and Kyle, both part of the Kekoa familia. We talk about our experiences with love and what healthy love looks like for us. We talk good and bad experiences and get deep - what else would you expect from us... Enjoy!

Vulnerability is a key stone for our us to reach our deepest human potential. We explore the why's the how and the what. How do we live more happily, authentically relies on our capabilities to be emotionally vulnerable.

In our second Installment of being In Quarantine, Dewey and Bret talk about Leadership, Embracing Failure, the Isolation of quarantine and our mental state, conscious-capitalism and our attachment towards wealth. Be Happy Folks.

Due to CV-19 and social distancing measures the Mindful Living Podcast Is not taking any guests but on this episode Dewey and Bret meet up, while observing the 6 foot rule and together discuss the current situation going on In the world.

Kekoa was simply founded by 5 people, Aubrey, Brett and the 2 young college graduates- Gabbi Doan and Nick Hermsen. We speak with Gabbi about the college years, starting Kekoa Collective with her father..and many more life lessons. Tune in and please share!

A long time coming, we finally get Mr Stu Kam on the show - he Is the owner of a local Hawaii based supplement company that Is making big moves In a very competitive market. Stu takes us through his background of always being an entrepreneur, selling car parts online before he had a license, to airsoft guns and finally selling top notch supplements online.He also talks about almost becoming a pro baseball player, his Jiu Jitsu Journey, Injuries and choosing between baseball, the military or owning his own business.Check Out http://www.athorganics.com for your supplement needs.This Is one you don't want to miss

This episode Is with Iain Campbell, a professional bodyboarder that hails all the way from Cape Town, South Africa. He has just spent the last 2 months on Island as he does every year over the last 7 seasons and just won the 2020 Mike Stewart Pipeline Invitational Bodyboarding competition held at Pipeline. Iain Is also the 2017 World Champion having won the APB tour In that year.Along with Bodyboarding, Iain has been welcomed Into the Kekoa family with open arms, he's also just started his own Jiu Jitsu journey and got his first Day By Day gi while In Hawaii.We are super stoked for Iain 's win and look forward to seeing more of him on the world bodyboarding circuit. You can follow more of his adventures via his Youtube Channel and Instagram:www.Instagram.com/iaincampbellwww.youtube.com/channel/UClKLKOpKgkNDnKBAoUPge4A

Aloha Kekoa Fam!Todays episode Is with the legend that we have spoken about numerous times on the podcast, Nick Hermsen.Nick has been a crucial part of establishing the Kekoa Collective creative tone with his eye for detail and his creativity Is Inspiring. Before Kekoa became a brick and mortar store, Nick traveled all the way from Nebraska for love and was Immediately brought Into the Kekoa family. Initially a videographer, Nick filmed the release of multiple products and also the move of the week Jiu Jitsu series. Bret Thompsett and him Immediately hit It off and together became an amazing creative team, constantly pushing each other to be better.Sadly Nick left our shores 2 years ago but has constantly been In our hearts ever since, he Is living happily back In his hometown In Nebraska and Is still an amazing photographer and videographer. We were lucky enough to have him grace the Kekoa store on Its closing week and we go to record this episode.Full of laughs, funny noises and as always a ton of Aloha, enjoy this episode.

Aloha folks and we apologize for the slight break in transmission ( we were moving) but we are back on air! This episode is pretty awesome with our guest Shama Ko, Director of Girls In Gis. Girls in Gis (GIG) is an organization dedicated to building and strengthening the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community for females and as a whole. We provide experiences that foster the community of females in the martial art while encouraging new females to participate. By coming together we are increasing the presence of females in a primary male dominated martial art and paving the way to equality, change and we are growing the sport and art for females everywhere. Our goal is to empower and unite females in their martial arts training as well as in life.Shama takes us through getting into the gentle art 17 years ago, being one of only a few girls at the time who trained and takes us through to today where the list of black belt Jiu Jiteira's grows every day! An easy listen full of fun, laughs and inspiration.

Bring the tissues as this Is both an Inspiring and emotional episode with a story that needs to be told. Scarlett Lewis started the 'Jesse Lewis Choose Love' movement after her son Jesse was taken too soon by a gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary.From the website: https://www.jesselewischooselove.org/Scarlett Lewis founded the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement™ shortly after her six-year-old son, Jesse Lewis, was murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut in December 2012, alongside 19 of his first-grade classmates and six educators in one of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history. Scarlett found out after the tragedy that Jesse used his final moments to heroically save nine of his friends. Jesse left a message on their kitchen chalkboard, “Norturting Helinn Love” (Nurturing, Healing Love). When Scarlett learned that these words are included in the definition of “compassion” across all cultures, she realized that love, connection and belonging are universal wants and needs that connect all of humanity. These 3 words led to the creation of our Formula for Choosing Love, which can be used by anyone, at any time, anywhere in the world, to manage their response to any situation (Courage + Gratitude + Forgiveness + Compassion in Action = Choosing Love). Inspired expert educators joined together and created a social and emotional education program that incorporates the latest advances in neuroscience, mindfulness, emotional intelligence and positive psychology to provide children the essential life skills that will not only help them succeed, but also reduce the likelihood that they will harm one another.

Their love story is like a movie. They met on a dating app in Portland. Over 2 beers and 4 hours later on their first date, they knew they belong together. She is an Ex-Cali girl looking for a new start and he is an aspiring filmmaker from the South of France. He sold everything he had to move to America looking for a new start. They were married within 6 months of their first date. Together they refinance their home to start their dream company - Fibre Creative. Kekoa Collective hired them to do their first documentary Devoted about Renato and Raquel Canuto. The rest is history. Just like all start up company, they hustle after their regular 9-5 jobs, living super simply as they pursuing their dreams.

Our first foursome on the podcast and today we chat with Marcy and Mailani from the Trauma Llama Ding Dong podcast.They host the podcast together and help people suffering from anxiety, social Issues and depression and share their own experiences and how they overcome their daily challenges. The twosome pair dark humor and the truth about living with anxiety and depression and hope that others feeling the same way will find their podcast helpful. Although neither are trained mental health professionals they feel that their podcast can let others know that they are not alone and to seek out help should things get too much.A super fun but serious episode that covers all aspects of mental health and that seeking guidance from a counselor or psychologist Is easier than you think and many more people could benefit from seeing a mental health professional.You can find them on SoundCloud:https://soundcloud.com/trama-llama-ding-dongAnd Instagram:www.Instagram.com/traumallamadingdong

Chris 'Mowgli' Miyashiro was one of the first artists to contribute to the Kekoa Instagram platform and was also one of the first 'Agents Of Change', a small group of talent that are sponsored by Kekoa.Chris continues to astound us with his many talents, he is an accomplished artist, phenomenal film maker, surfer, traveler and skateboarder - he lives with a mindset that we could only wish we had when we were younger, he Is wise beyond his years.In this podcast Chris talks about studying film In California, his first dorm experience, Van life, falling In love, creating art and his amazing surf film 'In Dancing Days Of Dawn' - an Inspiration for young and old and the creative soul.www.Instagram.com/chrismiyashiro

Uncle Roy Viera takes us on a history lesson of surfing In Waikiki, talks us through his family tree and his lineage, how the 'SHAKA' came to be along with many amazing stories of Hawaiian culture. Sit back and relax, this is an amazing story.Uncle Roy Is a local Surf shop Owner In the heart of Honolulu, he offers guided surf trips and lessons as well as board repairs, all conveniently located close to Waikiki. Check out RV's Surf shop and say 'Aloha'!

In this episode we speak with Jason Baldessari, a young entrepreneur who has put everything on the line for an amazing skin care product called Active Skin Repair. Designed originally for use during hospital surgery and recovery, he joined forces with a business partner and has brought this skin repair salve to the extreme sports scene. From humble beginnings In San Diego, building skate parks and traveling the world to now promoting a simple but necessary addition to everyones medical kit. From curs and reef scrapes to deep stitches this product will heal your skin super fast and help prevent Infections.Have a listen, feel Inspired and check out Active Skin Repair at a surf shop near you or onlinehttps://www.bldgactive.com/

How does one transform a teen-aged girl from Hilo, Hawaii into a powerful spokesperson? A self-confessed “Big Mouth for a Big God” – Dawn O’Brien is a media personality with more than 30 years in mega-church, radio, TV, Internet, books and social media expertise. She’s the long-time host of the Dawn of a New Day program and hosts on YouTube “Watch, share, dare to love!” Dawn fell in love with Jesus at 14 and compellingly speaks words of life and hope! We spoke about Choose Love Movement as a tool to help alleviate bullying, mass shooting among our youth.

Koa Yokota was our first surfer sponsored athlete. At the age of 17 yrs he was on his way to becoming a pro-surfer. He grew up on a farm in Waimanalo where he learned how to live off the land which greatly shaped his view of the world. For us Koa represents the new breed of Millenials that is abandoning the traditional upbringing that the Baby Boomer has created.

Bret is one of the original crew that helped launch Kekoa brand back in 2016. He was the visionary for the look and feel of the brand and the brain child of Kekoa Mindful Living Podcast. He spent his early years in S Africa under apartheid being raised by a single mom. His journey took him to London at the age of 21 and eventually became a paparazzi in the Hollywood scene. The 2008 recession took Its toll and he moved to Arizona and In 2012 dealt with the darkest of times, rising from the ashes he found himself In Hawaii and In a much happier, healthier place. This Is his journey!

We talk about Archie's life journey in his early twenties and his new found love for surfing. On a whim, Archie decided to move to Hawaii with his girlfriend not knowing anything about the Island life. He shared about his struggles and his mission of living simply where he exists with minimum impact on the earth, committed to vegan based diet, continuing sharpening and sharing his jiu jitsu journey and lastly, chasing the endless swells in Hawaii.

We speak with James Manibusan. A partner/employee at Kekoa Collective CommuStore where he currently works. He shares his journey of pursuing living a simple and a fulfilling life as he's pursuing his journey in Jiu Jitsu. He is living in his van as a choice to follow the bushido way. We all discuss our fears and what motivates us. An episode with a ton of heartfelt messages and Inspiration.

We speak with Daynin Dashefsky, a single mom, a serial inventor, an innovator, a serial entrepreneur, and the first and only black belt female jiu jitsu academy owner in Hawaii...She started her dream school at 50 years old. I think her school slogan says much about her character - " WE'RE A LIFE SCHOOL,NOT A FIGHT SCHOOL "...please tune in, share and subscribe and let us take you for a short, fun ride ! Mahalo nui.

Multiple award winning Big Wave champion Jamie Sterling takes us through what it's like to surf big waves, growing up on the North Shore of Oahu, family life, being a father and dealing with life after competitive surfing. You don't want to miss this one!

This is a story of a man whom grew up on the Westside of Oahu; despite his hardship during his youth, he decided to change his life direction by serving mankind. Nearly 10 years ago he founded a non-profit organization call Bay of Dreams, where he has given14,000 free SUP lessons to strangers that live across 43 countries. He lost 70 lbs in the process and he also found his true calling besides being a father and a husband.

“Geoff Sato - A father, a husband, a yoga teacher and also an entrepreneur. We talk about how yoga and an isolation float tank has helped his anxiety and changed his life. From this he decided to start Dream Float Hawaii to help others heal and live a fulfilling life .

Cauliflower Collective is a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the way foster, adopted, and special needs children navigate through life by introducing them to Jiu Jitsu and other martial arts.

We spoke at length regarding AJ's balancing his full time career in the insurance industry and his passion project - Day by Day Jiu Jitsu company...and eventually quitting his job and pursuing his dream of building DxD.

We meet ex MMA fighter and Martial Arts Instructor Jon Macalolooy, he's written a book on his life Inspired by a tragedy that happened in the ring on his second pro fight card. Facing his demons during recovery, Jon talks us through how he felt and his journey towards self discovery. During a heart to heart discussion with Dewey, something triggers Dewey to open up about a recent loss. Jon Macalolooy's book - Exit The Dragon Is available via Amazonhttps://amzn.to/2oMdt4HAuthor Blurb:Jonathan Macalolooy is a lifelong martial artist, former professional fighter, and author of Exit The Dragon. Beyond the combative and literary arts, he is also a motivational speaker, teacher, and artist. When he's not absorbed in his craft, you can find him and his wife, Jacqueline exploring the world in search for a cure to the wanderlust bug... a search with the hope of never actually finding it. To keep up with their adventures and all things JonMac, visit www.JonMacalolooy.com

In this episode we Introduce ourselves, the two hosts Bret and Dewey and Kekoa partner and black Belt Jiu Jiteiro Jeff Huang.We talk over each other about all things Kekoa and why we are doing the podcast, we also touch on the photo Bret took of Jeff underwater which has become a poster for all things Kekoa and was one of the first pictures Bret took for the brand.Sit back and enjoy as we try and work out how this Podcast beast works.

In this episode we meet Ryan Souza, an accomplished singer here In Hawaii, he has blessed both our store openings, has performed at live functions we've held and Is an all round Inspiration for the mindfull living lifestyle.