On Da Rock

Scot Matayoshi is the State of Hawaii House Representative for the Kaneohe and Kailua area. Also a practicing attorney, Scot took a break to join me to talk about his plans for the next session. We chat about our shared passion for growing the agriculture industry in Hawaii, as well as other topics including the big topic, COVID-19. Mahalo for listening, please rate and subscribe. Also, please donate to our channel through our Anchor.fm page (link below). https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

Emiko Miyazawa is a designer and maker that specializes in jewelry with her company M33ms Designs. Her designs are inspired by art, and her company has been growing. Emiko came into 2020 with big plans and then the pandemic hit, but she stuck with it, and opened her storefront and workshop, MISÉ Hawaii. We sit and chat about her business, opening a store in a pandemic, and art. Find her on Instagram: @m33msdesigns @misehawaii Mahalo for joining us, please subscribe and leave a rating. Also, please donate through our Anchor website. The support helps! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

Royanne Doi is a Pearl City HS grad that oversees global ethics for Fortune 100 companies like Prudential and Yamaha Music. Based in Tokyo, she continually nudges the needle of change in the world of diversity and inclusion, especially around equity for women in the workplace. We chat about her career, corporate ethics during COVID, dominant and non-dominant culture, and habit stacking. Mahalo for joining us; please subscribe, rate, and donate! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

Jhana Young is the Sustainable Fisheries Program Coordinator at Conservation International Hawaii. She's definitely a young leader that gives me hope! She's thoughtful about how to solve some of Hawaii's problems by blending her personal passions with work. She's a hunter, fisherman, and all around awesome person. Mahalo for listening. Please subscribe, rate, and donate! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

Whitney Aragaki is a biology teacher at Waiakea High School, our alma mater. We get a teacher's perspective on what's happening in the class, or virtual class, in the COVID era. We chat about the positive and negative impacts of this on our students. We also chat about place-based learning, something we're both passionate about. Mahalo plenty for listening! Please subscribe, rate, and donate! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

Allison Izu Song is the driving force behind local fashion brand Allison Izu. Starting from trunk shows and now in Ala Moana Shopping Center, Allison has been through it all. We chat about her start, entrepreneurship, COVID, and other stuff. Please rate our podcast. It helps! Mahalo plenty for joining us. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

Deren Oshiro, Athletic Director for Hawaii Baptist Academy and President of the Hawaii Interscholastic Athletic Director Association, joins me to talk Hawaii high school sports. We chat about high school sports in 2020-21 and beyond. We also talk about coaching, specialization, and many other sports topics. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

Elia Herman is a Senior Program Manager at Kupu and my old coworker. We chat about the conservation field and how it can become a viable and substantial job market. We also chat about malasadas and stuff. https://www.kupuhawaii.org/hysc Mahalo for joining us. Please subscribe, rate, and donate. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

Kuhao Zane is the COO and Creative Director at Sig Zane Designs + SZKaiao. Sig Zane Designs is a globally-renown design brand that spreads a message of aloha through their apparel and designs. Based out of Hilo, Kuhao is part of a father/son team that continues to design awesome pieces that many enjoy. We chat about COVID, art and design, hula, and Hilo. Pick up your gear at https://sigzanedesigns.com/ Mahalo of joining us. Please subscribe, rate, and donate! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

Matthew Bauer is the Chief Operating Officer at Kupu, and my former boss. Kupu changes lives, plain and simple, including my own. We chat about creating jobs in conservation, youth development, and how impactful a mission-oriented organization can be. Kupu is looking for ʻaina workers right now, find out more at www.kupuhawaii.org Mahalo for listening. Please subscribe, rate, and donate! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

Erin is the proprietor of Choco Leʻa, a local chocolate confectionery. We have a real and honest conversation about her business in the COVID era, which needed to shift from a tourism-reliant business to local consumption. She's upfront about their challenges but is definitely up to the task of overcoming them! She also keeps a blog that's been chronicling her experience as a mother and business owner since Honolulu's March shutdown. Be sure to visit them at https://www.chocolea.com and on Instagram at @chocoleahawaii! Mahalo for the support! Please listen, rate, subscribe, and donate! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

Took a short break last week but we're back! We're joined by Bob McGee of Pono Provisions (www.ponopork.com), a provider of locally sourced animals. They sell natural products, selling them direct to online customers as well as wholesale. Their stuff tastes great and it supports our local economy! Mahalo for joining us, please subscribe and rate us! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

This week we're joined by my homie, braddah Ross Yamasaki. Ross is a retired architect turned government affairs consultant. We chat about all kinds of stuff ranging from tiny houses, UH Football, and our economy. He also serves on the Stadium Authority for Aloha Stadium, so we chat about that too. Please subscribe, rate, and donate! Mahalo for joining us! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

Tyler Tokioka, Chairman of Island Insurance, who has been an awesome resource for me over my career. We chat about all kinds of stuff, including business, politics, and community. Mahalo for listening! Please remember to subscribe and rate us! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

KUMU morning show DJ, emcee extraordinaire, former Hawaii Legislator, and my senpai, Devon Nekoba, joins me for a great episode. 2 Hours!! We talk about all kinds of stuff in this one, so buckle up! Please subscribe and rate the podcast! Mahalo to all of my supporters! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

I got to know Matt Lynch from my time at Kupu. Matt is a practitioner of permaculture with an awesome career path, which led him to his current role as the Director of Sustainability Initiatives at the University of Hawaii. Every time we chat, I leave feeling way smarter! We chat about systems, permaculture, life, and all kinds of other stuff. Mahalo for tuning in. Please subscribe and leave a rating for our podcast! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

If you're eating ramen in the USA (or maybe even Europe), you're probably munching on noodles from Sun Noodle. Sun Noodle is celebrating their 40th anniversary after being founded in Hawaii by Mr. and Mrs. Uki in 1981. Kenshiro and his sisters are the next generation of Uki's that are taking over leadership of the company as they become 2nd generation, business owners. We talk story about their company, the ramen boom, business in the COVID Era, and some futbol. Mahalo for listening! Please, please subscribe and rate us! And...if can...drop us a little support via Anchor to help us keep this going! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

Believe me, that non-profit life is tough but rewarding! Jennifer Oyer has been helping me make that transition from the private sector to non-profit from the jump, always teaching me about fundraising. Her mission is to make non-profits in Hawaii stronger and she's really, really good at it. She joins us to chat about the COVID era landscape for non-profits, fundraising during these times, fast food, and Hilo. Please remember to hit the subscribe button and rate our podcast! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

Super fun yet informative one this week! Amanda Corby Noguchi and Mark "GOOCH" Noguchi are the wife & husband team behind the Pili Group, the force behind the Chef Hui program. When COVID-19 shut our schools down, the Pili Group jumped into action and started feeding kids who depended on getting most of their meals at school. The program grew and now they're feeding communities all over the state. Amanda and GOOCH are spectacularly accomplished individuals, but as a team, they get shit done. Mahalo for joining our talk story. Please subscribe and rate our podcast! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

We're joined by Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā from the HTA. We talk about what tourism can look like coming out of COVID-19 lockdown, and how we can change the framework to better our islands. We also talk about a bunch of other things, including me relearning the word "haole". Mahalo for joining us, please subscribe and rate our podcast! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

9-6-8-1-6, Kaimuki in da house!! Summer Shiigi of Ten Tomorrow and Jordan Lee of The Public Pet joins us as we Keep It Kaimuki! We talk about how their entrepreneurial careers started, small biz in the time of COVID, and their community-building efforts around the Keep It Kaimuki campaign. Subscribe and mahalo for joining us! Ten Tomorrow - https://www.tentomorrow.com/ The Public Pet - https://thepublicpet.com/ Keep It Kaimuki IG - https://www.instagram.com/keepitkaimuki/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

Aki is the Director of Electrification of Transportation at Hawaiian Electric Company and an old friend. She's passionate about clean transportation and well-designed public spaces. We talk about electric vehicles and trying to build out infrastructure, Da Bus, and bicycles. We also chat about being a "hafu", which is Japanese for a half-Caucasian and half-Japanese. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

Jimmy is an old friend and owner of the Hawaiian Chip Company, maker of ono taro and sweet potato chips. We'll talk about business during COVID and many other things, including Taco Bell and Rhet Syndrome. Mahalo for joining us and subscribe! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

Eric Takahata is the Managing Director of Hawaii Tourism Japan, who markets Hawaii as a destination for Japanese travelers. He's a friend and a mentor, and extremely knowledgable about tourism. We talk about reopening Hawaii and post-COVID tourism here. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

Miki Tomita and I met a few years ago when she was the Director of Education for the Pacific Voyaging Society, and spoke about the Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage by the Hokuleʻa. She has since founded the Education Incubator, reshaping what education in Hawaiʻi can look like. She is one of my favorite conversation partners since I always feel I learned something profound, and this episode was no different. Links: Education Incubator - https://www.eduincubator.org/ Foundations of ALOHA - https://bit.ly/2N0pVXi If you like the episode, please subscribe on your favorite podcast platform!! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

Dr. Roger Kiyomura is the Director of the School of Education at Hawaii Pacific University. We chat about COVID-19's impacts on the education system in Hawaii, and some of the opportunities and challenges ahead. We also talk about sports (a lot since we both miss it) but we keep it tied to the subject of child development (kinda). Mahalo piha for joining us! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

Howzit! My apologies, no guest this week because of some technical issues. Believe me, it's a bummer because our recording with Aki Marceau, Director of Electrification of Transportation at Hawaiian Electric, was a pretty good talk about clean transportation. We'll reschedule. However, I took this opportunity to tease a larger conversation we'll have on this podcast - the Hawaii Japanese-American role in our society, largely around the continued system of oppression. It's a doozy and a huge topic, but fitting given the current times. I have a ton of experience in the Japanese-American community here and I never gave it a thought about our role in current day Hawaii. As I worked more with the Native Hawaiian community, I started to hear another side of the conversation and, maybe, we aren't doing harm but we're not making life better for the entire community either. We'll talk more about this some of my future guests! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

Isabella Hughes is the President and Co-Founder of Shaka Tea. Shaka Tea is a global herbal ready-to-drink tea company based out of Hilo, Hawaii. We chat about Shaka Tea's start, regenerative agriculture, uplifting community through entrepreneurship, her art background, and life in Hilo. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

Forest Frizzell is the CEO of Shifted Energy. Shifted Energy is a Hawaii-based tech company in the clean energy industry. Forest and I cover a variety of topics including the post-COVID Hawaii economy, our current state of leadership, and what it means to be "local". --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support

Aloha mai kakou, my name is Nate. The On Da Rock Podcast is meant to bring a new, raw voice to the Hawaii community. I hope my laid-back talk story sessions with my friends will help bring about new ideas and views of what Hawaii is, and what it could be. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/on-da-rock/support