The Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi Podcast Presented By SilverShark Media

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks with CEO and co-founder of Maui Brewing Company Garrett Marrero.  In this podcast Garrett talks about growing the Maui Brewing Company business so quickly, his dedication to using local products whenever possible, the decision early on to distribute beer in cans instead of bottles, the importance of innovation for a business, how they utilized solar...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks with State Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English.  In this podcast Senator English talks about growing up in Hana, pursuing a Master’s degree in Pacific Island Studies, why he decided to first run for office in his 20’s, what the role of a State Senator is, why sea level rise is such an important issue for him, how sea level rise affects the road to Hana...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks with farmer Brandon Sato of Kula Onions Etc.  In this podcast Brandon talks about the history of farming in his family dating back to the 1930’s, how the farm has evolved from his grandfather to today, how he supplies restaurants on Oahu and Maui with his produce, how he learned early on that Covid-19 was going to have a major impact on agriculture, the deci...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine talks to the Sue Johnson of Team Rubicon, a non-profit veteran response organization.  In this podcast Sue talks about what Team Rubicon does, how the organization began, how skills learned in the military help veterans contribute to disaster relief efforts after they leave the military, how Team Rubicon gives veterans a sense of community and support, how...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine talks to the General Manager of Napili Kai Beach Resort Gregg Nelson.  In this podcast Gregg talks about the 60 year history of the Napili Kai Beach Resort, how the original owners were able to keep all buildings in Napili no larger than 2 stories, the work of the Napili Kai Foundation within the Maui community, how Napili Kai Beach resort has helped with c...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media talks to Chef Alvin Savella ("The Kitchen Assassin") of Humuhumu at the Grand Wailea Maui.  In this podcast Alvin talks about his early influences of cooking from his family, when he first knew he wanted to pursue a career in the culinary world, spending 10 years in California going to culinary school and working in the industry, how catering for large ev...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media talks to elite waterman and professional athlete Zane Schweitzer..  In this podcast Zane talks about his families history in water sports, what it was like growing up on Maui surrounded by so much talent in the water, how the popularity of SUP opened up new opportunities for him, how he first realized a career as an athlete was possible, why he uses his platform to...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine talks to Jeremy Solyns of Nylos Restaurant in Paia.  In this podcast Jeremy talks about growing up in Ohio with a family that had a love for food, how that translated into his culinary style at Nylos, how he first got into cooking, how he ended up moving to Maui in 2007, what the past few months have been like as the owner of a fine dining restaurant, how h...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine talks to Gunars Valkirs of Maui Ku’ia Estate Chocolate.  In this podcast Gunars talks about his career in biotechnology, how his parents were able to escape the war in Europe and come to the United States, his first job in biotech, his career that includes patents for major advances in biotech medicine, his hope for the development of a Covid-19 vaccine, an...

Jason Evans from SilverShark Media talks to Nicholas Winfrey of the Maui United Way.  In this podcast Nick discusses the history of the Maui United Way, how the Maui United Way helps the Maui community, how they have adapted to the past few months to utilize their resources to help those in need, projects the Maui United Way had worked on prior to Covid-19 including financial support for displaced...

Jason Evans from SilverShark Media talks to Maggie Pulver of the Kaho’olawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC).  In this podcast Maggie discusses the history of Kaho’olawe, the condition of the island when it was transferred back to the state of Hawaii from the US military, how access on island is split into three different zones, how KIRC prioritizes restoration projects, how the volunteer process...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine is joined by GM Michael Jokovich of Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort for a follow up to their conversation in early April (Podcast Episode #3).  In this podcast Michael talks about how the decision making process for resorts has evolved since early April, how they are targeting August 1st as a new reopening date, why the mandatory 14 day arrival quarantine will...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine talks to Qiana DiBari of Sale Pepe.  In this podcast Qiana talks about how she and her husband Michele opened Sale Pepe in 2014, their commitment to authenticity with slow cooked food, Michele’s background growing up in Italy, Qiana’s background growing up in Brooklyn, her time managing famed hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest,  their first visit to Hawaii...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media talks with Yvonne McClean, the community relations director at Habitat For Humanity on Maui.  In this podcast Yvonne explains the overall mission of Habitat Maui, how future homeowners are selected to receive housing, the importance of volunteers to the construction process, how the families of each homeowner help with their own projects, how progress has been slow...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media talks with Kimberly & Byron Brown of Akamai Coffee.  In this podcast Kimberly & Byron talk about the inspiration behind Akamai Coffee, how it took 2.5 years to open up her first location,  how they utilized local Maui resources to help them launch,  how they managed a new business during the economic downtown in 2007-2008,  how they began to roast their own...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine talks with Daniel Chun - the director of sales, community, and public relations for Alaska Airlines.  In this podcast Daniel talks about growing up on Oahu, some of the factors that drew him to work with Alaska Airlines such as their diversity and support for local communities, how they've had to adapt how they stay involved with the community during t...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine talks the principal partner / operator of Taverna, Chris Kaiwi.  In this podcast Chris talks about growing up on Oahu, the decision to move out of state for a little while, coming back to Hawaii to help open Chart House Kahului, what it was like opening Pineapple Grill in 2005, his transition to Taverna with Chef Roger Stettler, the inspiration for Taverna,...

With gyms and fitness centers beginning to reopen in June on Maui, Jason Evans of SilverShark Media talks with Beth Ross of Anytime Fitness Lahaina.  In this podcast Beth explains how she and her husband Kalani got the inspiration to open a fitness center in West Maui, the challenges they went through in finding a location, how word of mouth helped build their client base early on, what it was lik...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media talks about the past, present, and future of Trilogy Excursions with LiAnne Coon (Director of Sales & Marketing) and what it's like to run a destination management company in 2020 with Frank Robinson of Island Events. In this podcast LiAnne shares how Trilogy began over 45 years ago with a boat that took sail from Alaska, how her father and uncle created a...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine talks to the president of Maui Wine Paula Hegele and one of the co-founders of Kids Cook With Heart, Sharon Saunders.  In this podcast Paula talks about what brought her to Hawaii in 1980, her first job on Maui with Tedeschi Winery, what it was like for her to take over that business, being an entrepreneur on Maui, how the vineyard at Maui Wine has grown, w...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks with Managing Director JP Oliver (Grand Wailea Maui, A Waldorf Astoria Resort) & the President of the board for the Maui County Farm Bureau Teena Rasmussen.  In this podcast JP talks about being here to help open up the Grand Wailea property 29 years ago and then returning in 2018 as Managing Director, what it's like overseeing over 1,400 em...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media covers topics of conservation on land and in the ocean with Scott Fisher & Dr. Rachel Cartwright.  In this podcast Scott explains the work of the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust (HILT) statewide and on Maui, how HILT protects important animal habitat, the importance of the Waihe'e Coastal Dunes & Wetlands Refuge, how HILT protects important cultural sites...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine talks with chef Taylor Ponte & sales and marketing director (KBH) John White.  In this podcast Taylor talks about his reaction to winning the recently announced 2020 Maui No Ka Oi Magazine Chef of the Year award, his inspiration to get into cooking, the experience he had at UH Maui College, what he learned during his internship with chef Jonathan Mizuka...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media talks sustainability in restaurants with Alexa Caskey & underwater photography with Dan Cesere.  In this podcast Alexa reacts to winning the 2020 Maui No Ka Oi Magazine Aipono Award for Most Sustainable Restaurant, discusses the inspiration to open Moku Roots, how she wanted to be a zero waste restaurant, how they creatively found ways to avoid using materials...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine talks with chef Tylun Pang and chancellor Lui Hokoana. In this podcast Tylun talks about winning the first ever Aipono Award Chef of the Year in 2002, growing up on Oahu, his inspiration to begin cooking, some of his early jobs in the culinary industry, what shaped his inspiration for Kō, why it was important to him to incorporate so many different cultures...