Island Beat

Ukulele virtuoso and composer Taimane Gardner has a new album out that's four years in the making.  Her latest album, "Hawaiki," explores her Polynesian heritage and pays tribute to her mother, who passed away in 2018. While listening to the album, you'll hear Samoan lyrics, Tahitian ukulele, Samoan fire knife drumming and more.  In the latest episode of Island Beat, Billy V catches up with Taiman...

The ukulele has a distinct sound, but have you ever thought about what it would sound like if it were to come from the late 1800s or early 1900s? Shawn Yacavone is owner of Ukulele Friend, selling specialty vintage and custom ukulele. He first became interested in collecting ukulele as a kid. His dad is Italian from New Jersey and his mom is Filipino from Kauai. The story behind the ukulele — with...

Roger Bong started Aloha Got Soul as a blog in 2010 and later turned it into a record label in 2015. Just last year, he found a physical space on King and McCully streets and evolved it into both a record label and store. In the latest episode of Island Beat, Bill V talks to Bong about how his love for vinyl turned into a record label and how Aloha Got Soul celebrates music across all generations....

Johnson Enos is a Grammy-nominated music producer, songwriter and playwright. Among his many credits: the Lilo & Stitch II soundtrack, Lilo & Stitch Tokyo parade, and work for Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa. He’s also the creative genius behind a musical called “Honu By the Sea,” a family-friendly musical that follows a Waikiki Beach Boy who meets Malia the honu and her ocean friends. In...

Darren Darnborough hails from London but has spent quite a bit of time in Hawaii.  The actor, director and businessman has starred in numerous productions, but he was most recently in Hallmark's "Groundswell," filmed in Hawaii.  Beyond this movie, Darnborough has been coming to the islands frequently since the age of 16. And it all started with a girl.  In this episode of Island Beat, Billy V sits...

Iolani alumna Lauren Teruya won the coveted Miss Hawaii title back in May after impressing the judges with a performance to a Broadway number as well as her on-stage presence and communication. Along with representing the state in the upcoming Miss America competition, Lauren is also looking forward to raising awareness on her social impact statement “Arts for All.” Lauren is also the sister of Mi...

Actor Rich Ting has a special connection to Hawaii. Not only has he starred in the CBS reboot of “Magnum, P.I.,” but he also has ties to the islands as a proud graduate of the University of Hawaii, where he obtained both his law degree and master’s of business administration. Today, he’s keeping busy with numerous acting roles. But despite the heavy workload and countless projects he is working on...

Siena Agudong started acting at the age of 7 and made her television debut at 8. She has been on Disney, Nickelodeon and in movies on the big screen. She recently appeared as young Mia in “F9: The Fast Saga.” Agudong now plays a young Billie Wesker in “Resident Evil” on Netflix. Despite her long list of credits, Agudong never forgets where she came from and is a Kauai girl at heart.  In the latest...

The 2022 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards wrapped up last month for an in-person show, with a set of returning and first-time winners. Hoku Award-winning artist Josh Tatofi once again claimed awards this year, winning Single of the Year and Hawaiian Music Video of the Year. Grammy and Hoku Award-winning artist Kalani Pea also took home two awards, including Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year fo...

Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner Chaz Umamoto has gone from performer and entertainer to producer and songwriter. Umamoto, a former member of the folk group Streetlight Cadence, recently teamed up with Joshua Stephens, a former member of the Indie group The Fresh Preps. Together, these two formed the group The Brewz and are forging their own path by entering the hip-hop sphere and collaborating with...

Carissa Kano is a teacher at Maemae Elementary School. In 2020, while students were forced to take on virtual learning, Kano wanted to find ways to keep her first-graders engaged. Using costumes and singing, she put on a show for her students — under the impression that the lockdown was only going to last two weeks.  In 2021, Kano used her talents to make a video called “Just Choose Love” with ove...

Most 18-year-olds are still deciding what they want to do in life. But for Luke Swanson and Eweleiula Wong, they’re already winning gold medals in their sport. Swanson and Wong were part of Team Hawaii Surf and recently won gold in the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships in El Salvador, beating out other individual competitors. In this episode of Island Beat, Billy V talks to Wong and Swanson a...

Henry Kapono is a music icon in Hawaii, but he has fans around the world. He's a Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner, Lifetime Achievement recipient, philanthropist, former University of Hawaii linebacker and is of 100% Hawaiian blood. In this episode, Billy V sits down with Kapono to catch up and learn more about the Henry Kapono Foundation, what he’s been doing during the pandemic, and what he thinks...

Hawaii recording artist and entertainer Makana recently put out new music based on slack-key guitar stylings, but he continues to evolve his sound. His latest album, "Pulama: Legacies of Hawaii," is inspired by his heroes from the Hawaiian music renaissance, including George Helm, Gabby "Pops" Pahinui and Dennis Kamakahi. But the new music is also deeply personal. He shares all the stories that le...

Twenty-five years ago, Hawaiian singer-songwriter John Cruz released “Acoustic Soul,” one of the most celebrated and best-selling Hawaii albums of all time. A quarter century later, Cruz is reflecting on his life, his career and that instant hit, "Island Style." You won't catch this interview anywhere else.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.