Hanging Out with Nolan Hong

Alan is known for his culinary mastery and his world famous restaurants, but in this interview we get to experience his storytelling and the life philosophies that made him the success that he is. We talk about how he makes the best of what is available to him, not only in the kitchen but in life as well.

Breana is not only the general manager of International Market Place in Waikiki, she’s also one of the youngest to ever hold that position in the company. While we talk about her journey to where she is today, she also schools me on camping (and GLAMPING), growing up in Michigan, how a snow-loving person like her fell in love with Hawaii, an she even drops an announcement that HOWNH listener...

Just us this week! We get into the rough road of real estate that we’ve been on for almost a year now, why it was so devastating for Jamie every time we lost out on a bid, how we got through it, and how manifesting worked out with the home we’re moving into right at this very moment!

Jenny is an artist out of London, England who specializes in live art sketching and murals. She explains what Live Sketching is and her process in how she does it. Jenny is not only a talented artist but full of humor and great stories. A truly delightful episode! Follow Jenny on Instagram Jenny’s website

Pua is a creative entrepreneur who became one of the OGs of the Hawaii podcast game when she co-created the “Best Life Ever” podcast back in 2015. She went from business coach to business owner when she opened Pualena Digital Design last year. We talk about life lessons and how the many twists and turns in her life helped make her the person she is today. Check out Pua’s website...

Life guidance expert Alice Inoue joins us for a record-setting 3rd time! We talk about the year that was 2020 and how life is all about balance. She shares some mindsets to improve your life and how to navigate 2021. She also explains astrology, dispelling misconceptions and how it all works. Info on her 2021 online event on 1/18/21

Solomon is a Native Hawaiian artist, illustrator and visionary. He shares his experiences, learnings and inspirations that shape his philosophies on how we can heal our islands, our nation and our world. Plus, you’ve heard of the “golden rule”. Well Solomon shares the “platinum rule” and it’s Follow Solomon on Instagram

It’s been a rough 5 months. We talk about why it’s been so hard for Nolan to get back to recording. We didn’t remember if we talked about losing Chad on the podcast so apologies if this is repetitive… We also talk about positive stuff with the kids and step-dad life, and the turning point that happened earlier in the pandemic.

Elizabeth is a body positive surfer who is using her social media to expand the image of the surfer girl to include women of all shapes and sizes. We talk about how she survived being lost at sea in the Gulf of Mexico as a teen, how she overcame her fear of the ocean thru surfing, and how Hawaii called her “home” from the mainland.

Queena is a messaging mentor, coach, entrepreneur and podcaster. We talk about building a business, fear of failure, dealing with childhood trauma in our relationships, her 14 years in Rhode Island and her business ventures. (This was recorded in March 2020, follow Queena on instagram and facebook to see what she’s up to now that COVID has changed everything!) Queena on Instagram Mom is Talk...

Pono is our neighbor, and he joined us back in March to pay tribute to Gloria Takaoka, the most wonderful lady who took care of our whole neighborhood. Aunty Gloria was one-of-a-kind, and Pono’s friendship with her should be the premise for a sitcom. From newspaper clippings taped to his door, to pinwheels from Daiso, a floor-to-ceiling cat collage, and Bubbles the pig, we loved all of it an...

Aleeka is a development manager with the American Cancer Society. She shares how she ended up in Hawaii, how she deals with fears, writing a book with her husband, her experience with race issues, fake news, having difficult conversations, Black Lives Matter, health equity & racial equity. The Vog by Aleeka & William Morgan Solitaire fundraiser game https://www.instagram.com/msabc_hawaii h...

Holy smokes 2020. It’s just us today with an update as to how we’re doing 5 months into quarantine, anxiety being around people, and what it’s like to go to a funeral during the pandemic.

Jeff is Executive Director of Habilitat. He shares about growing up in Texas when busing started, his experience with addiction and treatment programs, approaching substance use as a symptom instead of the problem, and his take on the war on drugs. Stronger Together Habilitat episode Habilitat website For this Stronger Together segment, Joan Naguwa, Executive Director of HUGS, talks with Nolan abo...

JB is Casting Director at Universal Studios Japan. We talk about how he ended up in Japan, growing up in Hawaii, his job looking for talent around the world, how the pandemic has been in Osaka, celery juice, Costco in Japan, his dogs, pythons and a log cabin in the woods!

Ho’o is a musician and performer. She shares about realizing she was trans, coming out to her family and her church, learning to be comfortable with who she is, stereotypes and life in quarantine.

Moses is an actor and storyteller. He shares about growing up half-Black, half-Hawaiian on Maui, and his perspective on what is happening now following the killing of George Floyd. We also talk about his career as an artist, following his dreams, and his upcoming projects. Follow Moses on Facebook and Instagram .

It’s our first episode of Pride Month 2020 Jacce Mikulanec (Ep 141) joins us again to share his coming out story, and he gives us a look at what was going on behind-the-scenes at the Hawaii State Legislature during the fights for marriage equality and civil unions.

It’s KELLY HU!!! She shares about her first acting gig on Growing Pains, moving to LA, learning the craft of acting, her amazing dog Mushu & her work with nonprofits. She’s freaking fantastic and an inspiration to pursue everything fearlessly! #BOFOHawaii – http://buyonefeedone.com/ David Bowie quote – https://youtu.be/7HqTQyQ6wc0

We’re taking another break from the podcast. We plan to be back, please get on our list for updates, https://bit.ly/3cmORDi and go to our website for videos we already shot, https://nolanhong.com/ (SHOWS tab). Please take care & we hope to be back soon! For this week’s #StrongerTogether nonprofit spotlight, we spoke with Dr. Jill Omori, Executive Director of the Homeless Outreach & M...

Patrick is kumu hula of Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu in San Francisco. We talk about bringing his hālau and Keali‘i Reichel to Burning Man, what his dad did for him, teaching hula at San Quinten State Prison and the community created in a hālau. For this week’s #StrongerTogether nonprofit spotlight, we spoke with Ryan Kusumoto, president and CEO of Parents And Children Together (PACT) . Hawaii Departmen...

Viet is an actor living in New York City. We talk about life in NYC at this point of the COVID crisis, leaving Hawaii to go to the Manhattan School of Music, and his experiences with Nolan at KCC and their beloved teacher & mentor Lina Doo. For this week’s nonprofit spotlight, we spoke with Jeff Nash, Executive Director of Habilitat . @Habilitat on Facebook and Instagram Habilitat’s Need...

Shawn is a life coach based in Wailuku. We talk about how a timeshare brought him to Hawaii, finding love on a cruise ship, driving the monorail at Disney World, and what he does as a life coach. He also shares tips on dealing with fear and anxiety. For this week’s nonprofit spotlight, we spoke with Karen Glasser of Best Buddies Hawaii . @BestBuddiesHI on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram Virtual...

Fa’amata is Nolan’s Samoan friend with a southern accent! He’s an Assistant Principal & father of 4 in Jonesboro, Georgia. We talk about growing up in Georgia, dealing with teenagers, getting recruited to play college football & his career-ending injury. For this week’s nonprofit spotlight, we spoke with Keith Kuboyama of Family Programs Hawaii .

Melanie is an associate director & casting director on Broadway. We talk about life in NYC when it’s the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic compared to during 9-11, understudying Lea Salonga in Miss Saigon & working in Vietnam as the pandemic spread. Kanu Hawaii’s volunteer database to get involved in virtual volunteering