Keep it Aloha

Dennis "Bumpy" Kanahele is a Native Hawaiian leader from the island of O’ahu. He is a cultural practitioner and one of the most influential voices in the modern Hawaiian sovereignty movement. Bumpy is best known as the leader of Puʻuhonua o Waimānalo, a self-sustaining Hawaiian community built on traditional values, culture, and aloha ʻāina. He rose to prominence in the early 1990s after...

Isaiah Kaikala is a content creator and barber originally from Washington, now living in Hawaiʻi. When he’s not cutting hair, you can find him on the golf course or online making content. He’s cutting hair, creating content, and now talking stories with us in the studio today. In this episode we talk about growing up away from Hawai’i, living with Hawaiian values in Washington, how he got into cut...

Pua DeSoto is a professional surfer and entrepreneur from the island of O’ahu. She is the youngest podcast guest we’ve ever had on and now she is back 2 years later as the CEO of Actions of Aloha. Check out episode 65 of the Hawaiiverse podcast to learn more about her life story. In this episode we talk about what she’s been up to since her first time on the podcast, life in college, going all in...

Patty Mills is an Indigenous Australian professional basketball player from Australia. He is a five-time Olympian, NBA Champion, and 16-year NBA veteran. Across his NBA career, Patty has played in over 900 games for seven teams, including a pivotal role in the San Antonio Spurs’ 2013–14 championship season. Internationally, he recently competed in the 2024 Paris Games, where he moved into fifth pl...

Kanoelehua Robinson is a flight attendant and model from the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. She is the new face of Hawaiian Host alongside Kahanu Cuban, following in the footsteps of past podcast guest Kawehi Kamakele. This local girl has modeled for brands such as Kahulaleʻa, Manuhealiʻi, and Manaola — even walking in New York Fashion Week representing Manaola. She’s also part of the Hawaiian Airlines pr...

Jason Keifer is a psychiatrist from Omaha, Nebraska. He is the founder of Brain Health Hawaii, where he serves as the CEO and Medical Director, bringing decades of expertise in brain health. As a double board-certified physician, he is committed to strengthening the development of our children and members of our community. His innovative work integrating neuromodulation, sleep and circadian rhythm...

Mike Garcia A.K.A. Island Magic Mike is a comedian, creator, and all-around entertainer from the island of Oʻahu. You’ve probably seen his hilarious skits online or maybe even caught one of his live shows around the islands. This father and husband has appeared in many commercials and emcee’d many different events. From the stage to social media, he’s been spreading his positive and infectious ene...

Sam Choy is a legendary chef and TV personality from the island of O‘ahu. He’s widely recognized as the “Godfather of Poke” and one of Hawai‘i’s true culinary ambassadors. Celebrated for helping develop and popularize Hawaiian Regional Cuisine, Sam introduced authentic island flavors to the world and changed the way people experience Hawai‘i through food. A James Beard Foundation “America’s Classi...

Egan Inoue is a multi-sport champion from the island of Oʻahu. He’s a 2-time Racquetball World Champion, 2-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion, and 5-time MMA World Champion. Egan made history as the first non-Brazilian to ever win a BJJ World Title — paving the way for athletes around the world and putting Hawaiʻi on the global stageBeyond being a fierce competitor, Egan is a devoted father,...

Dean Wilhelm is a community leader from the island of Oʻahu and the co-founder and co-director of Ho'okuaʻāina — a gathering place for people to connect with and care for the ʻāina (land). Through the cultivation and preparation of kalo (taro), Ho'okuaʻāina perpetuates Hawaiian culture and provides healing for the community, especially at-risk youth. He is also a musician and former teacher. Toget...

Connor Tomlinson from Georgia and Tanner Smith from South Carolina are two of the stars of Netflix’s hit show Love on the Spectrum. Best friends and autism advocates, they inspire people both on and off the spectrum to embrace their authentic selves. In this special Hawai‘i episode, we take a tour around Kualoa Ranch — home of the iconic Jurassic Park T-Rex holding area — and talk about their upbr...

Neale Asato is an entrepreneur from the island of O’ahu. He is the owner of Asato Family Shop, which is best known for making “Local Kine” sherbet that honors the past while sharing it with the next generation. Their sherbet is more than just a treat, it’s a memory inspired by the old-school flavors of crack seed stores, the Manapua man, and the local snacks we grew up with, every scoop is a taste...

Keao NeSnith is a Hawaiian linguist from the island of Kaua’i. He is an educator and translator who has taught at various universities in Hawai’i, Tahiti and New Zealand. His work on “Neo Hawaiian” as a separate variety of Hawaiian has informed debate in Hawaiian language studies, as well as broader issues in language revitalization. He has translated a number of books into Hawaiian, including The...

Cheyne Gitsham is a content creator from California. He is most known for his social media content sharing videos about his life in Hawai’i and street interviews in which he asks people what their favorite song is and what song they are listening to. With a collective following of almost 4 million on social media he is building an empire and he’s only 22 years old. In this episode we talk about gr...

Seven Suns are a collective of seven bandmates from all over the world. Their first full length album ‘Many Feathers’ was released in November of 2024 and recently they went on to win 6 Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards including Reggae Album, Single of the Year, Music video of the Year, and Group of the Year. Their band members include Justin Kawika Young (vocals, guitar), Shawn Kekoa Pimental (drums), Jas...

AJ Rafael is an accomplished Filipino-American singer-songwriter from California. He has amassed over 1 million subscribers on YouTube and 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify. His debut album Red Roses has reached the iTunes and Billboard charts, and he has collaborated with artists such as Tori Kelly, Jeremy Passion, Kina Grannis, and past podcast guest Roman from Kolohe Kai. This popular YouT...

Sydni Kobayashi is a mother and entrepreneur from the island of O'ahu. She is the sister of Hannah Kobayashi, the girl from Hawai'i who voluntarily disappeared last year and was found in Mexico. In this episode we talk about growing up in Hawai’i with Hannah, the events leading up to Hannah’s disappearance, finding out Hannah was missing, her dad passing away, finding Hannah, moving forward after...

Kaniela Ing is a community leader from the island of Maui. He came on the Hawaiiverse Podcast over 2 years ago and now he is back to talk story once again. Check out episode 64 on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to learn more about him. In this episode we talk about what he’s been up to since his last podcast, Charlie Kirk’s death, everything politics, the Kamehameha Schools admissions issues, raising h...

Amy Hill is a legendary actress and comedian from South Dakota. She has over 180 television and film credits and has been a part of our favorite shows and movies over the past three decades. You might know her for her hilarious role as Grandma Kim on All-American Girl, Sue in 50 First Dates, Mrs. Ho-Kym in Next Friday, Mrs. Kwan in Cat in the Hat, or the unforgettable voice of Mrs. Hasagawa in Dis...

Princess Mae and Tony Gaisoa are entrepreneurs from the Phillipines and American Samoa. Princess is a digital creator, influencer and sister of internet sensation and past podcast guest Bretman Rock. Tony is the owner and founder of USO Muscle Detailing and the commissioner of our fantasy football league that all of us are in. Together they are proud parents of 5 kids and one of the the best peopl...

Keldin Calairo-Nakagawa and Lewa Davis-Medija are two singer/songwriters from the island of Moloka’i. They are the founders of the popular band High Watah which is a seven-piece reggae ensemble who is taking Hawai’i and the world by storm. With millions of streams and radio plays all over the world, they continue to share their music and captivate audiences. Their debut album, Watah Boys Vol.1, ca...

Lanai Tabura is an Emmy Award-winning jack of all trades from the island of Lānaʻi. Heʻs a DJ, comedian, chef, TV and podcast host, actor, and entrepreneur. He is the winner of Food networkʻs Great Food Truck race season 4, was a co-host with Anthony Bourdainʻs NO Reservations and currently hosts Cooking Hawaiian Style which is a tv show that airs in 7 countries.  He came on the Hawaiiverse Podcas...

We interrupt this weekly podcast to bring you some important Keep it Aloha updates with Kamaka. We will be back to our regular scheduled program next week. Enjoy! In this episode we talk about the new Keep it Aloha book, the upcoming Made in Hawai’i Festival, podcast updates, live podcast at the Blue Note, future plans, some Hawai’i facts and so much more. Find Kamaka here: https://www.instagram.c...

Brandon Maka'awa'awa is a Native-Hawaiian sovereign leader from the island of O’ahu. He is the Vice-President, Deputy Head of State, and Executive Advisor at the Nation of Hawai’i, the oldest Hawaiian independence organization in Hawai’i. He is a long-time resident of the Waimanalo Hawaiian homestead community called Pu’uhonua O Waimanalo where he also helps to manage the community’s broadband net...

Luciane Buchanan is a Tongan actress from New Zealand. She started acting as a young teen in Aotearoa landing roles in some local series, the Netflix series ‘The New Legends of Monkey’, ‘Sweet Tooth’, and Apple TV+’s ‘Mr. Corman’. In 2020, Luciane was a recipient of the Script to Screen 'Fresh Shorts' program for her first short screenplay 'Lea Tupu'anga/ Mother Tongue'. The Un...