The Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi Podcast Presented By SilverShark Media

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Alexa Caskey, owner of Moku Roots.  In this podcast Alexa talks about her culinary influences growing up, when she made the decision to adopt a vegan diet, misconceptions people commonly have about vegan food, going from an engineering background to opening her first restaurant, the biggest challenge leading up to opening Moku Roots Lahaina in 2018, learn...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Isaac Bancaco, VP of Operations for Koholā Brewery.  In this podcast Isaac talks about his first culinary inspirations, his favorite dish to make with his grandmother, his career path in the culinary industry, what he learned from mentors like Ming Tsai and Roy Yamaguchi, evolving his career beyond the role of an executive chef, how the restaurant industr...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Max Novena, Executive Director of the Sentry PGA golf tournament.  In this podcast Max talks about his first introduction to golf, what inspired him to pursue a career in sports, his experience working with major sports leagues like the NBA & NHL, details for the upcoming Sentry PGA Tournament held at the Plantation course in Kapalua from January 2nd-...

Diane Woodburn talks to Taylor Ponte, Executive Chef of Aurum Maui (opening in 2025).  In this podcast Taylor talks about his culinary path, key lessons he learned from mentors along the way, opening the new restaurant Aurum Maui at the Shops at Wailea in the first half of 2025, his approach to creating a menu, why he first decided to get into the culinary industry, how he met his wife who also is...

Diane Woodburn speaks to Ryan Urig, Executive Chef at the Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort.  In this podcast Ryan talks about how he started his career on Maui, his time working at the Ritz-Carlton Maui at Kapalua, approaching his 10 year anniversary of working at the Grand Wailea Resort, the inspiration behind Olivine which is one of the properties signature restaurants, the types of dishes...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Dustin Paradis of the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute.  In this podcast Dustin talks about what the MOCMI does, his career path that led him to this role, the work they do to protect and grow local corals, the sea turtle stranding response & rescue program that helps turtles in need across the island, the importance of community engagement to make...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Chef Alvin Savella and GM Rob Farrell of Coco Deck Lahaina.  In this podcast Alvin & Rob talk about their first jobs in a restaurant and how their career paths eventually intersected, why they decided to partner together on a new restaurant, the phases that led to opening Coco Deck in September of 2024, Alvin's approach to creating the food menu...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Naomi Cooper, Interim Executive Director of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association.  In this podcast Naomi talks about her career path that led to her current position, the main goal of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association, the importance of connecting local businesses in an island economy, how the approach of the MHLA has changed through the pandem...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Anna Kahalekulu, owner & designer of Kūlua, a sustainable clothing store located in Makawao. In this podcast Anna explains the approach of Kūlua, her inspiration for opening the business, how the store keeps manufacturing on Maui, what gave her the confidence as an entrepreneur to take the business from an idea to a storefront, navigating through the...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Dr. Lisa Labrecque, CEO of the Maui Humane Society.  In this podcast Lisa talks about her path to becoming CEO, some of the differences between private veterinary care and working with an animal shelter, challenges for pet owners in Maui, becoming CEO in June of 2023 and then having to navigate the organization through the August fires, some of the new pr...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Tina Carranza, Fundraising Director at the Hua Momona Foundation.  In this podcast Tina talks about how the Hua Momona Foundation first started in 2021, how she got involved with the organization, providing food to the Maui community through the pandemic and the 2023 fires, what goes into organizing large scale food distribution, some of the challenges th...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Scott Fisher, Director of ʻĀina Stewardship at Hawai'i Land Trust.  In this podcast Scott talks about what the Hawai'i Land Trust does, the type of lands they look to acquire and/or manage, challenges that come with protecting land in locations with on-going development, the work they are doing to restore a freshwater fishpond originally built a...

Diane Woodburn speaks to Nicky Boskoff, Food & Beverage Director of Star Noodle, Aloha Mixed Plate, & Leoda's.  In this podcast Nicky talks about ways the Na Hoaloha 'Ekolu restaurant group provided support to their staff and community, her background growing up on Maui and Kauai, how she first got into the restaurant industry, the original concept for Star Noodle when it first o...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to David Gridley of the Maui Coffee Association.  In this podcast David talks about how he first got involved with the coffee industry around 30 years ago, helping to organize coffee growers and roasters on Maui in the early 2000's, challenges the industry faced on Maui when he first opened Maui Oma Coffee Roasting Company, how the Maui Coffee Associati...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Singer / Songwriter Anuhea.  In this podcast Anuhea talks about her first introductions to playing musical instruments while growing up on Maui, how her Aunt was an early inspiration, what led to her performing in public for the first time, what it was like to release her first album in 2009, the process of narrowing down how many songs will make an album...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Sean Corpuel, owner of Cool Cat Cafe. In this podcast Sean talks about his first exposure to the restaurant industry helping his dad run a small burger shack, how that eventually became his career path, opening the first Cool Cat Cafe in California, the decision to open a Cool Cat Cafe in Lahaina back in 2003, challenges in getting the original wharf loca...

Diane Woodburn speaks to Tetsuji (Tets) Yamazaki, GM of the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa.  In this podcast Tets talks about what brought him to Maui 30 years ago, his path from working as a dishwasher to becoming a general manager, how the Sheraton was an integral part of disaster response last August, how the economic recovery from the August fires differs from the recovery during the pandemic,...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Jo Wing, General Manager of O'o Farm.  In this podcast Jo talks about the history of O'o Farm, her background in agriculture that took her from New Zealand to Napa and eventually to Maui, what her role as a GM entails, how coffee has become one of the staple products grown at O'o Farm, the challenges of growing coffee, other products that t...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Paul Turner, owner of Waikulu Distillery in Makawao.  In this podcast Paul talks about how he first came up with the idea to open a distillery, how the Maui climate is ideal for agave plants, the challenge of transforming a hobby into a business, the comparison between agave spirits and tequila, the types of spirits the distillery produces, how he started...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Charlene Ka'uhane, event organizer of the Maui AgFest and 4H Livestock Fair. In this podcast Charlene talks about why this event is special to her, how it has grown since the first one 15 years ago, the educational sessions that will be available this year focusing on topics like kalo/fish/coffee/cacao, how the event provides guests a chance to learn...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks with Mary Anderson, President and Co-owner of Koholā Brewery.  In this podcast Mary gives an update on the Koholā team since the August fires, talks about how she went about the next steps for the business last fall, the partnership with Kona Brewing Company that enabled Koholā to resume production, how her business background in Silicon Valley helped in cer...

**Content Note: The official return of Wailuku First Friday that was discussed towards the end of the interview has been delayed from the July date that was mentioned** Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Daryl Fujiwara, event coordinator for a number of events on Maui including the upcoming Nā Kamehameha Commemorative Pā‘ū Parade and Ho‘olaule‘a on June 15th.  In this podcast Daryl talks a...

Diane Woodburn speaks to Dean Wong, Executive Director of Imua Family Services.  In this podcast Dean talks about how Imua Family Services began, services the organization offers, similarities and differences to the Easter Seals foundation, how Imua Family Services provided support to families on Maui after the August fires including providing resources to children of all ages, the importance of t...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Lipoa Kahaleuahi and Mikala Minn of the nonprofit organization Ma Ka Hana Ka 'Ike.  In this podcast Lipoa begins by talking about what Ma Ka Hana Ka 'Ike aims to do, what her role as Executive Director entails, the importance of students learning trade skills outside of a classroom setting, the history of the Hana Build program and how it direct...

Jason Evans speaks to Ryan Schelling who is the Executive Chef at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea.  In this podcast Ryan talks about his first job in the culinary industry, his path with Four Seasons starting as a line cook in 2006, the role of an Executive Chef at a resort property, highlights of the new redesign of Ferraro's, his approach to menu design, how the different restaurants...