Tricks of the Trade

THAT'S art.  Mark moonlights as an artist specializing in gyotaku-style canvas prints using scavenged, recycled, or repurposed beach gear.  A life time surfer and ocean enthusiast, Mark dives in to the inspiration behind his beautiful art pieces and the tangible process behind creating each one-of-a-kind print.  He carved out two of his 48 hour trip back home to get in the hot seat and talk story with me, this was a blast. Let'a go. 

Throw a rock, you hit a dumpster.  Evan is the founder of Circle Pack, where his goal is to seek out, foster, and provide solutions for the people of Hawaii to recycle, responsibly dispose of, and repurpose scrap/waste cardboard.  We dive in to how he got his start, where he sees a need for establishing better recycling practices in Hawaii, and where we can begin to instill these systems.  I always jump at the opportunity to get someone in the hot seat that speaks my language, this one was a lot of fun with a brother of industry.  Let's go.  

Anecdotally clandestine is how one might describe the Willy Wonka of mushrooms.  We checked in, put our mushroom hats on and dove in to the primordial soup. We talked shop on everything going on at Malama, as well as plans for the future.  This was a lot of fun with one of the coolest cats in town, MUSH LOVE, let's go.

I need a cut! Jason is the boss of his very own barbershop, Bosscutz.  Located in the heart of Kailua Kona, it is THE spot to get lined up and faded.  We dive in to his inspiration, the "gentlemen's hangout" aspect of barbershops, and the importance of a fresh clean cut.  A true artist, this one was a lot of fun and it was a blast being able to record it in his element.  Let's go.  

Home for a month, I got a chance to get Brady back in the hot seat.  We got caught up on everything going on with the official band of the podcast, Through the Roots, as they gear up for another album release and cross country tour this summer.  We also discussed posture, mental health, the importance of a strong support system, and the consequences of over-drafting.  This was a fun one with one of my best friends. Let's go. 

Protect Pololū.  As a teacher at Kohala High School,  Loa has taken an active role in stewarding the well-being and preservation of Pololū Valley.  He dives in to the issues surrounding a proposed development surrounding the valley entrance, local and tourist access, traffic,  as well as solutions to address them.  This was a great talk story with one of my best friends about one of the most beautiful places on earth, let's go. 

Hana Hou! Nick and his wife Sarah started Hana Hou Recycling to address a growing problem in our community; the lack of avenues for people to recycle.  We discuss some of the problems  and misconceptions surrounding  recycling in Hawaii, where one can make a difference in their individual households, and some of the rigors of running a small business.  This was a lot of fun with someone who speaks my language.  Let's go. 

Let's roll.  Moku is a FIVE time jujitsu world champion and along with his wife Keala founded and run the Hawaii Jujitsu Academy in Kona.  He dives in to how he got into jujitsu, where it's taken him, and his journey to be a world champion .  He definitely has an intimidating, calculated presence, I'm glad I was across from him in an interview instead of on the mat.   

Blue Skies.  Baby, baby don't cry.  Ikaika is the keyboardist of the worldwide music powerhouse that is The Green.  We dive in to how the band was formed, representing Hawaii, and where they're headed as they drop their new album "Brand New EYES" and start touring again.  We also discuss his new side job in front of the camera on Big Island Television as the host of his own segment, "Ikaika's Kitchen."  This one was a lot of fun with my new co-worker.  Sound check.  Let's Go.  

What's  the lesson here?  Danny is a guy's guy.  A jack of all trades, master of none...And apparently builds and races ORV's for a living when he isn't hunting, fishing, diving, surfing, or turning wrenches.  We scratch the surface of  who he is, how he is, WHEN he is....uhh, well you get the picture.   Welcome to the Boar Cave, buckle up. 

Cheee.  Kuha'o is an artist, graphic designer, cultural practitioner and the Hula equivalent of a Jedi Knight.  As a prodigal son two times over, he's involved heavily in Sig Zane Designs with his dad, and also the Edith Kanakaole Foundation and Halau O Kekuhi with his mom, Nalani.  He dives in to the responsibility and kuleana of working in family business and ushering it ever forward.  He also touches on Hawaii as a "brand" and how he finds inspiration in "telling the story" of Hawaii through his work with art and design.  This was a lot of fun with an old friend. Let's go KARAOKE! 

Brandon and Johnny are two vital cogs in the machine that is Napua.  They share invaluable insight in to what makes the official restaurant of the podcast the tour de force of flavor and ambiance that it is.  They discuss the value of creating and fostering a healthy work environment, empowering and motivating your team members, and went off the deep end on a few random topics...per usual.   If you don't already, please tune in to their "Tasting Tuesday's" show as they enthusiastically and hilariously discuss different libations that they carry at the restaurant.   This one was a blast with my favorite restaurateur and Somalian, enjoy. (if you get the joke, you get the joke).

Jimmy is the Managing Director of Hawaii Island Recovery.  After battling his own monster, he found his true calling facilitating substance abuse education, prevention, treatment, and recovery.  Originally from Rwanda, Jimmy dives in to how he strives to provide more opportunities for people on the Big Island to get the help and support they need in their time of struggle.  It also doesn't hurt that he's one of the most genuinely nice human beings on planet Earth.

HFD Roundtable #2!  Kevin and Nate are both Hilo boys, graduating from Class 41.  They dive in to what their motivations were for joining the department, a bunch of hilarious stories from recruit class and live action calls, and the bond and camaraderie that's formed as a member of the HFD.  They eventually stop talking over each other long enough to have a great conversation filled with heart, sincerity, and laughs.  This one was a lot of fun with two of my best friends. "FORTY ONE!" 

Family.  Alex is the oldest of four brothers who are all involved in running their family business, Matsuyama Market and Food Mart.  We dive in to his role in the business, and how his affinity for diving and fishing is incorporated to provide fresh caught fish at their stores.  He also hits on how vital it is to maintain cohesion, love, and support with his brothers and how important family businesses are in the community.  Let's go. 

What page turner!  Tessa is an author who's just published "Out of the Shadows,"the first in "Velieri Uprising" trilogy of books.  NO SPOILERS!  We dive in to how she became interested in authoring her own stories, her motivations and inspirations behind her stories and characters, and the publishing process.  Shes also another self-proclaimed cinephile so we have a lot of fun with that.  Get cozy and enjoy.

Fire up the STOKER MACHINE!  Darieus is a world-traveled surfer-dude turned film-maker.  Combining both of his passions, he's been able to carve out an awesome career for himself creating films of all lengths and genres.  We dive in to his birth and upbringing aboard a 42-foot sailboat, his life as a quintessential surfer boy in Hawaii, and his affinity for telling stories and creating art.  He opens up about a few of the projects hes currently working on including his recent foray into the medium of hand-drawn animation and how he looks to incorporate that to create and tell surf stories catered to the youth of Hawaii.  Be on the lookout soon for 'The Stoker Machine," his latest project featuring Chad Campbell.  He also does a pretty spot-on Joe Pesci impersonation.

Mic check.  Keoni is a singer-songwriter from the Big Island.  If you've dined at a resort restaurant in the last five years, you're sure to have heard the silky smooth vocal stylings of our boy.  We dive in to how he was drawn to music, how it shaped his life, and how he recognizes how fortunate he is to be able to perform for audiences big and small on a daily basis.  We also discuss his down time during the pandemic and how he used that to focus on writing and producing new music.  He currently has a couple songs on the radio so keep your ears tuned for those.  Check him out on Spotify, iTunes and YouTube for all his awesome music and videos.   

Shucks.  Napua is one of the people I think of when it comes to the sport of volleyball.  After taking the helm as head coach of the  Waiakea Boys Volleyball team before covid, he's since taken on a more intimate role hosting private coaching lessons with HI Performance Volleyball Gym.  With a highly decorated scholastic career under his belt and having played the game for the better part of two decades, he brings invaluable knowledge, experience, and skill to whatever ball of clay his hands have the opportunity to mold.  We dive in to what drew him to the sport, its popularity and growth in Hawaii, and the importance of fostering and guiding the uber-talented young athletes of Hawaii.  SIDE OUT!!!!

Where's my tape-measure??? Ellie is one half of the duo behind Paradise Tiny Homes, based out of Puna on the Big Island.  Along with her brother Dan, they've been able to combine their strengths to build beautiful, one of a kind tiny homes.  She shares her story of what brought her back to the Big Island after living in Montana, and how her brother was able to convince her that, if done correctly, they could create something special.  I can't say enough how cool it was to record this episode in one of their finished units.  Take my word for it, it was more luxurious than you might expect, and absolutely beautiful down to the last detail. This one was a lot of fun, hope you enjoy it.  

Fish on!  Christina is the one woman show and prodigal daughter of Sundot Marine, or as its most affectionally known, FISH FLAGS.  We dive in to how she came about taking over the business, which was started in the SIXTIES, how she's put her own contemporary spin on it and some of her plans for the future.  We also talk about her sense of community and how here in Hawaii, more than anywhere, a positive standing in it is vital to running a successful business.  Guide the line and keep it tight, let's fill up the coolers and fly some fish flags, baby!

Steady. Steady. Steady....You're DEAD.  Justin is a world-class outdoorsman.  An avid hunter, fisherman, spear fisherman, guy's guy, and one of the coolest and genuinely nice people you'll ever come across.  We dive in to (pun intended) everything he's all about, from his performance on the world stage in the Olympics of Spearfishing, to recently tagging the biggest ram he's ever brought down, to being the steward of his families sandalwood plantation.  This was an awesome one.  Buckle up.

Shawn is...uh...Shawn.  He's a film maker/producer, storyteller, photographer, BnB host, adopted father of a feral pig, and now farmer.  We dive in to his coming up in Hilo hustling since he could remember trying to carve out a niche for himself amongst his plethora of interests.  From music school, to community college, to getting a masters degree in hands-on learning, yes thats right they have those, our boy is the personification of a jack of all trades, master of none.  We also discuss the ever-expanding media industry and the opportunities it provides over a wide-range of careers and professions.  This was a lot of fun, yeeeeeeew!

Wicked smaaht.  Ali is the one-woman show behind her own makery, Locali Creative.  She hand-creates a plethora of different products using different materials and mediums.  We dive in to her moving to Hawaii and recognizing the importance of embracing becoming part of the community and way of life and how that has inspired her art and craft.  This was a lot of fun with a new friend.  Check out her and many others at the Artisan Night Market hosted by HiCo Coffee at the Kona Brewery Block Sunday April 11 from 3-7 pm.

Firemen Roundtable!  Aaron and Kyle are members of Class 37 of the Hawaii County Fire Department.  We dive in to the circumstances surrounding why they decided to join the department, they swap some fun and memorable stories, and give insight and advice to those interested in joining up.  They also discuss the physical, mental, and emotional rigors the job entails and how the bond they've formed with their fellow firefighter keeps them grounded and sharp.  A lot of heart, laughs, and good times in this one. 

Burn, baby, BURN!  Jocelynn is the one-woman-show behind her own line of art pieces, Wolf and Flame.  She's mastered the age-old art of pyrography, the art or technique of decorating wood or leather by burning a design on the surface with a heated metallic point.  She does this all by hand and creates gorgeous, one of a kind works of art.  We dive in to what brought her to Hawaii and the inspiration it brings her, as well as how her craft has acted as a means to keep her grounded and balanced.  Be sure to check her and other talented artists and artisans at the Artisan Market at the Kona Brewery Block hosted by  Hi/Co Coffee.

Erika is the one-woman-show behind Betty Moon Studios.  She specializes in creating one of a kind resin pieces incorporating hand-foraged flora and fauna on to re-claimed, live-edge wooden slabs.  Not only does she also have her own apparel, she hand-paints and repurposes old vinyl records into clocks of art. Very Cool! Be sure to check her and other talented artists and artisans at the Artisan Market at the Kona Brewery Block, hosted by  Hi/Co Coffee. 

Get comfortable and buckle up.  Brandon is the co-owner of Napua Restaurant at Mauna Lani and Kaunamano Farms on the Big Island.  He tells the story of how he and his partner came about starting both ventures, and how his sense of community inspired him to source and grow as much of his produce for his restaurant locally and sustainably.  His insight in to Hawaii's food table and how we need to focus on building up local business and specialized agricultural is eye-opening and inspiring to say the least.  We also discuss dolphins.......and the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs.  So theres that too. A little for everyone in this one, I hope you enjoy it. 

Permission to come aboard!  Kenton is the Captain of his own commercial fishing vessel, The Vicious Cycle, out of Kailua Kona.  Originally from the New England area, he tells his story of how he came to the Big Island and how fishing has always been his calling in life.  He also takes a deep dive in to the local fishing industry and how vital it is to support, promote, and build up local fishermen.  He also wrote a book and has started a podcast of the same name; Vicious Cycle: Whiskey, Women and Water.  Keep an eye out for the book coming out May 1st, and check out the podcast available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Frank and Brock are the owners of Kona Boys, an ocean, surf, and sport shop and adventure/tour company in South Kona.  Originally old college buddies, they dive in to how they became friends, their journey to the big island to escape the corporate lifestyle , and how they've been a part of Kona Boys from the very beginning.  They're also very community-centric and are adamant in building and maintaining those values both within their business and to their customers.  Surf's up, let's go.

Ronnie is a fellow prodigal son and is the heir apparent to his family business, Loeffler Construction Inc., specializing in civil construction.  We dive in to his journey and how a few fortuitous circumstances led him back to the Big Island and inevitably to learning the ropes and working for the family business. He's been able to parlay that in to becoming a master heavy equipment operator as well as overseeing and managing the seal coat arm of the business. This was a fun sit down with one of my best friends, hope you enjoy it. 

And I'm spent.  Franke is a photographer by trade. We dive in to how he got in to it, as a hobby at first, and eventually how he's been able to parlay that into not only a career but lifestyle.  He also shares how photography was a way for him to express his artistic energy and allow him to further pursue other interests in the incomparable beauty that Hawaii is known for. This was a fun one with one of the coolest, nicest guys in town, hope you enjoy it. 

That's coconuts, man.  Alison is an adventuress, film maker, story teller, author, conservationist and has earned the moniker of "Female Indiana Jones," pretty sweet.  Not only might you recognize her from Discovery Channel's series "Naked and Afraid," she's also a world traveler, having been raised all around the globe and immersing herself in numerous cultures and customs.  We dive in to some of the experiences and adventures she's had around the world, how she's always kept South Kona in her heart as her home and rock, and how she's been able to combine her passion for conservation and media to share her stories with the masses. 

Giddy up! Paul is the founder of Western Aloha, a paniolo-inspired aloha shirt company focusing on the saddle to paddle lifestyle of the Big Island.  He shares his inspiration behind starting the company; his keen interest and fascination with the history of the cowboys of Hawaii.  We also discuss the different challenges he's faced in the industry and  some of the issues surrounding starting a small business in the islands.  There was a lot to be learned in this episode, hope you enjoy it. 

Fasten your seatbelts.  Breeani is, first and foremost, the mother of two beautiful keiki; Kūpaʻa and He'olu.  She's also the manager of the Hilo Seaside Hotel, Keaukaha General Store, started the Hawaii Rise Foundation, and has spearheaded numerous other community oriented programs.   No big deal.  We dive in to the story behind KGS, the history and future plans of the hotel, and the approximately 7546 other things she's involved with in helping the Big Island community.  

Better call Kai! Pueo is an attorney based out of Hilo who's just opened his own general law practice.  We dive in to his journey from Waiohinu, to Washington D.C., to Oregon. We also discuss his sense of kuleana in realizing and taking responsibility for the important role he  often plays in his clients lives.  This was a real informative and fun one with an old friend I hadn't seen in a while.  Another big kuleana and aloha episode, I hope you enjoy it.

Brady is the Keyboardist for a very popular reggae-rock band Through the Roots, based out of San Diego, California.  We dive in to how he got in to music, the inception of the band, and how they've had to navigate through the last 12 months producing and releasing a new album, and he shared a bunch of cool stories and laughs. He also shares a few fun stories about life on the road, the camaraderie of being on tour, and how their first tour bus blew up and almost took everyone down with them.  This was a real fun one with one of my best and truest friends, and anyone from Hawaii with desires to pursue their musical talents will be sure to learn a thing or two. 

Allan is the new owner of Kona Reef Liquor and Deli on Alii Drive in Kona, Hawaii.  We dive in to how a wakeup call in the form of contracting COVID-19 motivated him to make a change in his life and purchase the formerly run-down store in addition to rebranding it in his own image.  We also discuss the inherent family values and work ethic that were instilled in him at a young age, particularly by his father who was a multiple-medal winner in the Paralympics.  This was a fun one and I'm excited to see how he's able to grow.

We got a hot LZ! Ben is a helicopter pilot and instructor, and owner of Mauna Loa Helicopters Flight School and Tours.  From Illinois to Oahu, to the Big Island, we dive in to the crazy circumstances surrounding his start in the business, as well as the countless applications and career opportunities being a licensed pilot can provide.  He offered a lot of insight, and I really enjoyed talking with him.   We're cleared for takeoff, Ostrich 1, let's go.

Daniel is an architect, artist, and artisan from Venezuela who's lived on the Big Island for the better part of two decades.  Although his affinity for architecture is what originally brought him to the islands, his true calling and passion is in the arts.  He's a world-class jewelry maker and artist with commissions and installations all over the world.  Not only that, and this is important, he's a fellow karaoke enthusiast and an even cooler guy.  I really enjoyed talking to and getting to know him. ¡Salud!

EŌ. Ehitu is kanaka of all trades.  He's an adventurer, waterman, photographer, and a cultural steward and practitioner...among the many other hats he wears.  We dive in to some the issues surrounding the tourism industry in Hawaii and where he sees it change and evolve.  He discusses his passion for not only providing visitors with  intimate and immersive experiences, but also sharing his mana'o of the island he calls home.  This was a big aloha, ohana, kuleana episode.  Let's go.  

FORE LEFT!! Hunter is a golfer. Not only is he a Class A PGA Golf Professional, he's a touring professional golfer.  Highlighted by multiple stints on the Asia Tour along with a myriad of other accomplishments on the course, he's also an accomplished instructor.  We dive in to his journey thus far, the drive and desire to pursue a career in the sport, and had a bunch of laughs in between.  

Jason is the owner and operator of J.W. Cleaning Systems, a facility maintenance and janitorial outfit.  Talk about getting your hands dirty, our boy is knee deep in the nitty gritty keeping our island clean.  Odds are if you rest your weary butt on a public bathroom toilet on the Big Island, J.W. Cleaning Systems was behind keeping it clean for your enjoyment.  This was a fun one with one of best buddies, put your gloves on and mask up, let's go. 

Ben is the owner, founder, and funguy (get it?) of Malama Mushrooms.  They specialize in creating fun, friendly, easy-to-use medicinal (or fung-tional) mushroom products. He is working on studying the native mushrooms of Hawai'i, identifying novel chemical compounds in them, and hopefully sharing that with the world. A lot of puns in there. We dive in to how he got in to it, where he's at now, and how he wants to navigate a very popular and growing niche industry.  This was a really fun one, buckle up.

FORE!!  Reece is the Assistant Golf Professional at Kukio Golf and Beach Club on the Big Island.  We dive in to how he got in to the profession and the steps he had to take to get his foot in the door.  We also discuss how his job and the golf industry in general has had to adjust to the ever-changing and weird times of 2020.  This was a fun one, although I'm still kicking myself for not asking him to help fix my slice.  Damn. 

Koa is branch manager at Central Pacific Bank, Kahala Branch.  Pat is a VP and Branch manager at Bank of Hawaii, Ala Moana.  We dive in to how they got into the industry out of college, where its taken them so far, and how through their experiences They've been able to move vertically through their careers.  We also discuss how they've had to adjust and navigate through the pandemic and what they see on the horizon both from an economic and community standpoint.  They also roast my ass pretty good at minute 55.  This was a real fun one, and I was so stoked to be able to take the show inter-island. Hope you enjoy it.

Autumn is the owner, creator, designer, seamstress, photographer, and model of her own women's clothing line; Kepola Design House.  We dive in to how she got her start, the inspiration and motivation behind it all and how she like many others have been navigating the weirdness of 2020.  We also touch briefly on the life cycle of the clothing and fashion industry and some of the inherent issues that occur behind the scenes.  Gift cards available, fellas. Don't let procrastination get the best of you.......again. 

Stranger danger! Keli is the owner, creator, designer, and one-woman show of her own women's line; Tomboy Bombshell.  We talk about the awesome message behind her brand, how the idea came to her, and hows she's been balancing the rigors and uncertainty that 2020 has brought countless people and their businesses.  She was also brave enough to come on the show out of the cold as the first guest who I was not particularly acquainted with.  This one was a lot of fun and I had a blast getting to know her. 

Zoey is an esthetician by trade and recently opened her very own beauty/advanced skincare shop in Kona. Specializing in dermaplaning, brows, lashes, and sugaring, we dive in to how she identified a need in the cosmetic community and how she's had to navigate through the pandemic to set up shop. She's also very involved in the community and we talk about the Holiday Market she's organized featuring dozens of other local artists, artisans, crafters, and local business owners.  This was a fun one. Hopefully I can get my uni-brow done after this...Fingers crossed.

Loa is an English teacher at Kohala High School.  We dive in to what inspired him to not only shape young minds, but be a cultural steward and practitioner.  We also discuss how he's had to adjust his teaching style to best adapt to the teaching and schooling restrictions brought on by COVID-19.  He's also trying to rename a High School. No big deal.

Our first female guest! Veronica is the owner of her very own bikini/swimsuit company Cherry Blossom Bottoms.  She designs, measures, cuts, and sews all of her inventory, specializing in custom, one of a kind bikinis and one-piece bathing suits.  We dive in to how she got started and how she's grown her business whilst maintaining her intimate, hands on, custom approach to her work.