Keep it Aloha

Ka'ikena Scanlan is a Native-Hawaiian, Samoan musician from the island of Oʻahu. He is a father of two, and is a Hawaiian language perpetuator and lover of the ʻāina (land). Kaʻikena is the lead singer of his band Kaʻikena Scanlan and These Guys, a group that adds a cultural twist on lyricism that aims to revolutionize the face of a genre they call “Hawaiian Reggae". This kumu turned musi...

Hawaiiverse host Kamaka Dias sits down with Hawaiiverse Podcast videographer/producer Jordan Tano in this special last episode of 2022. In this episode they go over some past conversations from old podcasts guests and talk about some hot takes like what does it mean to be Hawaiian and if blood even matters. Mahalo for all the support in 2022. See you in 2023. Enjoy the episode :) Support us on Pat...

Emily Jaime is a womanpreneur from the island of O’ahu. She is the owner and designer of the socially conscious and ethically-made clothing brand Yireh. After traveling the world, this wife and mother of two, has made it her mission to give back to others while growing a successful business. She is also an avid surfer and world traveler who is leveling up her business each and every year. In this...

David Nikzad is a venture capitalist based in Honolulu Hawai’i. He is the co-founder and CEO of Emotional Intelligence Ventures, which is a psychedelic wellness company. He began his career in the Washington DC techno club scene and later brought his business acumen to angel investing. Over the past two decades he has supported ventures spanning nightlife, tech, real estate, and wellness industrie...

Kahi Pacarro is an environmentalist from the island of O’ahu. He is the founder of Sustainable Coastlines Hawai’i, the Director of Parley for the Ocean and the founder of the  Tribenni, a website  that allows you to raise money by volunteering in your community. This surfer and world traveler is also a husband and father of two and is the commissioner on the Clean Water and Natural Land Commission...

Duane DeSoto is a legendary waterman from the island of O’ahu.  He is the 2010 ASP professional longboard world champion and founder of Nā Kama Kai, a non-profit organization that educates Hawai’i’s children about how to enjoy the ocean safely while becoming stewards for this rich cultural resource that surrounds the islands which we call home. Duane, who is also a loving husband and father of 8 a...

Connor Tumbaga is a young hustler from the island of O’ahu.  He is a new-generation entrepreneur who turned his love of cool sneakers into a money-making business venture, selling high-end rare sneakers to celebrities such as Da Baby, Justin Bieber, Drake, Ariana Grande, Post Malone, the Migos, and so many more. He has scaled this into a multimillion-dollar business and is now getting into music p...

Kamaka Dias is a Hilo boy from the Big Island of Hawai'i. He is a proud Kula Kaiapuni (Hawaiian Immersion) student, a 2016 UH Mānoa graduate, a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer of Madagascar, and that crazy guy who paid off $53,757 worth of student debt in 11 months. This local who loves Locals slippahs is also the host of Hawaiiverse and the Hawaiiverse Podcast. In this episode we talk about hi...

Ray Cooper III is a Native-Hawaiian professional mixed martial artist from the island of O’ahu. He is a two-time welterweight champion who currently competes in the welterweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). He is also a husband and father of 5 and was a three-time state champion wrestler and two-time O’ahu Interscholastic Association (OIA) champion. This Hawai’i native is th...

Alexander "Dane" Farnham is an actor who was born in Vermont and grew up in Kailua Kona, Hawai’i. He is a filmmaker, director, writer, producer, comedian and YouTuber. He is most notable for making comedy sketches, parodies, music videos, and impersonating famous people and characters such as Captain Jack Sparrow, Ace Ventura, and the Grinch. He is one of my favorite YouTubers and social...

Brad "BW" Watanabe is a very talented musician from the Island of O’ahu. He is a singer, songwriter, music teacher, mentor and advocate for the Hawaiian language. This performer has been making music his whole life and has been playing the ukulele and piano since he was just a kid. In 2009 he joined his friends to form an all-star band of local musicians called The Green. He can be found...

Haelee Tallett is a jewelry designer from the island of Oʻahu. She is the owner and designer of Oceans Creations, a handcrafted jewelry brand specializing in trendy and unique designs that empower women to be their best selves in every way–from career to personal growth. This impressive young entrepreneur and black belt in Tae Kwon Do is making big moves and already has two store locations on Oʻah...

Mark Healey is a professional waterman from the island of O’ahu. He is a big-wave surfer, award-winning spear-fisherman, free diver, and shark-expert. He earned his first surf sponsorship at age 13, went pro at age 17, and has since won many big-wave events like Todos Santos and in 2008 won the Spearfishing World Cup. This husband and father of one is also a conservationist, sky diver, bow hunter,...

Xeana Kamalani Dung is a Native-Hawaiian, Puerto Rican professional softball player from the Island of O’ahu.  She is Hawai’i’s first ever professional softball pitcher and a gold medalist playing for the Puerto Rican National softball team. Kama was a former college standout winning multiple accolades such as all-conference honors while also holding records in multiple categories at UC Berkeley w...

Daniel Aipa is a Native-Hawaiian, Korean, Chinese strength and conditioning coach from the island of Oʻahu. He is a writer and a former college head strength and conditioning coach where he programmed and coached 21 collegiate sports. He is also an author, husband and father of three. He is the founder of The Kū project which has amassed over 100,000 followers on Instagram. As a coach and consulta...

Rylee Anuheake’alaokalokelani Jenkins is an accomplished Native Hawaiian, contemporary singer/songwriter with an easygoing island style from the island of Maui. She made her debut in 2009 and just a year later won two prestigious Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards for most promising artist and contemporary album of the year. This mother of one has performed, toured, and shared stages with artists such as Bru...

Leon Kaulahao Siu is a Native-Hawaiian, Chinese musician, vocalist, recording artist, composer, poet, author, and producer from the Big Island of Hawai’i. He is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Hawaiian Kingdom and serves as a strategist and spokesman for the reinstatement of the Hawaiian Kingdom. In 2016 he was nominated for the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. He is the only Hawaiian composer...

Jake Shimabukuro is an award-winning Japanese-American Ukulele virtuoso from the island of Oʻahu. He has been playing the ukulele since he was 4 years old and has proven time and time again that there isnʻt any style of music that he canʻt play and he is not limited by four strings. His music combines elements of Jazz, Blues, Funk, Rock, Bluegrass, Classical, Folk, and Flamenco. This musician has...

Bretman Rock is a Filipino-American social media and internet sensation born in the Philippines, but raised on the island of Oʻahu. This charismatic Leo is known for his makeup tutorials and humorous views on life, but is proving now that he is more than a beauty influencer showcasing his diverse skillset each and every day. He is the star of his very own reality TV show on MTV called MTV's Fo...

John Michael Van Hohenstein, better known as Johnny The Ripper, is a professional longboard surfer born in the Philipines, but raised in Hawaiʻi. After picking up a surfboard at an early age he quickly honed his skills and is becoming one of the best longboarders in the world with his timeless style, nimble cross stepping his toes to the nose, riding backwards, and all while having the time of his...

Patti Ponimoi is a Filipino, Irish sales and communication veteran born in Okinawa, Japan and raised on the island of Oʻahu. She is the Market President and GM for Summit Media Honolulu, an American broadcasting company which features local radio stations such as KRATER 96.3 (KRTR), HAWAIIAN 105 (KINE), KCCN FM 100, POWER 104.3, etc. This boss lady has a career spanning more than 20 years, previou...

Keith Amemiya is a community and business leader from the island of Oʻahu. He is the executive director of the Central Pacific Bank Foundation, former vice president of Island Holdings Inc. and previously was the head of the Hawaiʻi High School Athletic Association for 12 years. He helped transform youth sports in Hawaiʻi, and when state budget cuts threatened to end junior varsity athletics, he l...

Tammy Moniz is a well-known surf instructor and mother of five prolific surfers from the island of O’ahu. She is also a photographer, business owner, lover of music, and wife to former professional surfer Tony Moniz. She runs two surf schools in Honolulu called Faith Surf School and Moniz Family Surf. This mother has been an inspiration and role model to so many people for years and she is everyon...

Lanai Tabura is a Native-Hawaiian Filipino, Italian, Chinese Emmy award-winning Jack of all trades from the island of Lanaʻi. He has done it all. Heʻs a DJ, comedian, cook, TV and podcast host, actor, entrepreneur and father of two girls. 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 Sty...

Justyn Ah Chong is an award-winning Native-Hawaiian filmmaker from the island of O’ahu. He has worked as a director, cinematographer and editor at ʻŌiwi TV, and was a 2020 NIA Tero 4th World Media Lab fellow. His film “Down on the Sidewalk in Waikiki” premiered at the Maoriland film festival in New Zealand winning the Peopleʻs Choice Award for best short drama and has been screened at festivals al...