The Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi Podcast Presented By SilverShark Media

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks with Naomi Smith, Western Regional Manager for Champagne Laurent-Perrier about the upcoming Kapalua Wine and Food Festival.   In this podcast Naomi talks about her 20 year career in the wine industry,  a brief history of how Champagne first came to be, how it has developed over the years, the innovative ways that Champagne Laurent-Perrier is able to...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks with Mary Anderson, President and co-owner of Koholā Brewery.  In this podcast Mary talks about her path from Silicon Valley to Koholā, the differences and similarities in running a brewery from her previous work, what it was like to take over in August of 2020, running the brewery while simultaneously working with capacity restrictions, the challenges in ge...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks with Chef Jeff Scheer.  In this podcast Jeff talks about moving to Maui in 2004 and enrolling at the Maui Culinary Academy, starting a catering company while at MCA, his passion for the farm to table approach, becoming Executive Chef at The Mill House, winning the 2015 Aipono Award for Chef of the Year, how he spent his time during the pandemic, why...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks with restaurant owner Paris Nabavi.  In this podcast Paris talks about his path growing up in Tehran, moving to Maui in 1989, opening Pizza Paradiso, how he gave employees a pay increase during the pandemic, the challenge he faced keeping his restaurant open in 2020, his extensive support of Maui non profit organizations, what it was like to receive...

Jason Evans speaks with Kevin O'Brien of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project.  In this podcast Kevin explains what the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is and why it is an important part of the Hawaiian Island chain, the size of the PMNM, the importance of protecting delicate island ecosystems, the types of debris they find on their cleanups, the most recent expedition which...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks with Dean Wong, the Executive Director of Imua Family Services.   In this podcast Dean talks about the mission for Imua Family Services of assisting children & families to overcome developmental learning challenges in their most critical formative years, the different types of ways the organization helps the local community, the challenges of fun...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks with Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino.  In this podcast Mayor Victorino talks about the state of the Maui economy and how this past year has provided a reset to how we approach certain industries, how he's tried to protect the vulnerability of the local economy over the past year,  why he's implementing the mandatory 2nd test upon arriva...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks with Kumu Maile Naehu of Ka Hale Hoaka, a new Hawaiʻi-inspired learning environment that explores cultural beliefs, traditions and practices rooted in a Hawaiian perspective.  In this podcast Kumu Maile talks about growing up on Oahu, what it was like to go from attending Kamehameha Schools to the public school system, how she found her connection to Hawaiia...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media is joined by Waicoco General Manager Justin Eddy and Executive Chef John Taube.  In this podcast Justin and John talk about their career paths in the culinary industry,  the challenges they faced in opening a new restaurant during the pandemic, the approach to designing a menu and atmosphere for an oceanfront location at Westin Maui,  the importance of sourcing loc...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks with Clifford Nae'ole, the Hawaiian Cultural Advisor for The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua.  In this podcast Clifford talks about a new virtual approach for the 29th annual Celebration of the Arts for 2021, the challenges that have gone into making the annual gathering a virtual experience, what the inspiration was to start Celebration of the Arts as an annual...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks with Cole Hinueber, founder of the food truck Kitoko Maui.  In this podcast Cole talks about what it was like opening a business in July of 2020, the challenge he faced opening early on in a pandemic, how he adapted from the kitchens of 5-star resorts to the space of a food truck, the importance of sourcing local ingredients, what it's been like to jump...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks with Michael Jokovich, GM of Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort.  In this podcast Michael talks about working with the state in order to safely reopen in November of 2020, how after being closed for an extended period of time the excitement felt like opening a new resort, the encouraging results of the vaccines that could help the travel industry rebound in...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks with Angela Vento, GM of the Wailea Beach Resort - Marriott Maui.  In this podcast Angela talks arriving in Hawaii in 1989, how she went from pursing a dentist career to a career in the hospitality industry, what is has been like working in a male dominated industry, lessons she learned when her career took her from Hawaii to Boston and then back to...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks with Dr. Meagan Jones, the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Whale Trust.  In this podcast Meagan talks about what inspired her to pursue a career in marine science, how she helped form the non profit organization Whale Trust to help support humpback whale research, the importance of science communication, the upcoming 15th annual Whale Tales event happen...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine talks to Denise Cohen, the former head of the UH Maui College Health Center.  In this podcast Denise talks about her vast experience dealing with various pandemics dating back to the HIV crisis of the 1980's, helping UH Maui College set up their pandemic response program over 10 years ago, what the early response to Covid-19 was like, the effectiveness...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks with Aaron Placourakis of Tri-Star Restaurant Group (which includes Nick's Fishmarket, Son'z Steakhouse, Manoli's Pizza Company, and Koho's).  In this podcast Aaron talks about his career in the restaurant industry on Maui, his extensive work in the community, influences from his Greek heritage, how he approached the pandemic as a...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks with Makana Nunes who runs the Holiday Toy Drive for Maui United Way.  In this podcast Makana talks about the challenges for non profit organizations in 2020, the history behind the holiday toy drive with Maui United Way, how this year has created a greater need for toy donations for families, how people can donate to the toy drive, why this is such a passio...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks with Maui-based cybersecurity expert Patrick Wardle.  In this podcast Patrick talks about how he got into a career in tech, what brought him from New England to Maui, how studying at the University of Hawaii kick-started his career in tech, the difference in offensive and defensive hacking, how the pandemic has affected his job, how he hopes to help...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks with the Executive Director of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association Rod Antone.  In this podcast Rod talks about the role of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association, the importance of a diversified economy on Maui that doesn’t rely solely on tourism, how 2020 has been a reset to approach managed tourism in the future, a review of the current pro...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks with the founder of Maui DJ Services Scott Doran.  In this podcast Scott talks about moving from Ohio to Hawaii to pursue a job in the resort hospitality industry, leaving a corporate job after 6 years to start his own business, how he found a niche with Maui DJ Services, some of his early challenges and successes while growing the company, when he first sta...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks with Tin Roof Chef/Owner Sheldon Simeon.  In this podcast Sheldon talks about his early culinary influences growing up in Hilo, how an internship in Florida led him to Maui, what it was like opening Star Noodle in 2010, how he ended up on Season 10 of Bravo’s Top Chef, the difference in cooking during a TV production vs a normal restaurant kitchen, what goes...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks with Hana Maui Resort GM Jon Benson.  In this podcast Jon talks about his journey with Hyatt that has lasted 34 years (and counting), working at the Hyatt Regency in Ka’anapali 20 years ago, what it was like to move back to Maui for his current job, how the Hana Maui Resort has been the largest employer in Hana, the challenge the community faces with...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks with Thomas Kafsack of Surfing Goat Diary.  In this podcast Thomas talks about what inspired him (along with his wife) to open the farm in 1998, the challenges they faced in growing the business, what makes their goat cheese unique, how they’ve handled the challenge of running a business in 2020, how the community has supported them along the way, and their...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks with Campbell Farrell of the non-profit organization Love The Sea.  In this podcast Campbell talks about the goals of Love The Sea, the planning involved in their Hard To Reach Beach Cleanups, the challenges of working on inaccessible coastlines, how recent Love The Sea team member Brit Daniels hiked 170 miles around the island of Maui to raise awareness for...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks with Hana Ranch manager Duane Lammers.  In this podcast Duane talks about the history of the ranch, what brought him  from South Dakota to Hana, the importance of have product diversity in agriculture, why Hana Ranch partnered with UH Maui College for an ulu (breadfruit) program, and his goal to keep the ranch thriving long into the future.