The North Shore Entrepreneurs Podcast with Jordan Russum

🎙️ Episode 18 of the North Shore Entrepreneurs Podcast features Song Ebbesen, the woman behind Mele Mele Bakery — one of the North Shore's most beloved small businesses. In this episode we get into her story, how she built something special from scratch, and what it really takes to run a food business on the North Shore. 🌺

Courtney Choi is the owner of Capelli Salon in the Waialua Shopping Center and The Loft Salon in Haleiwa. In this episode, she shares her origin story — growing up in Adams, Massachusetts as a foster child, skipping college for trade school, doing movie makeup in Florida and Hawaii, and eventually making the North Shore her home. What started as booth renting at a local salon turned into owning tw...

Sam Bergan grew up in Mililani spending every free moment on the North Shore. She tried real estate, didn't love it, discovered she was really good at Instagram, and launched Field Social Hawaii in September 2024. Two weeks later she was fully booked. In this episode we sit down with Sam to talk about how she built her social media agency from the ground up, what small businesses are getting w...

In this episode of the North Shore Entrepreneurs Podcast, Jordan Russum sits down with Gabe Gross, founder and owner of Hero Moving Hawaii, for a wide-ranging conversation on building a service business from the ground up in Hawaii. Gabe shares his origin story — growing up in a Christian community in Brazil, moving cities every few years, and learning the power of faith and persistence by going d...

In this episode, I sit down with Emily Klein, owner and lead teacher of Little Sprouts Preschool at Sunset Point. From a converted carport classroom to a thriving North Shore institution, Emily shares the winding path that led her here — growing up the daughter of a teacher in San Clemente, getting her teaching credential in San Diego, traveling through Central and South America, raising kids in C...

Joshua Bowles grew up the son of a luthier and the grandson of a carpenter, so woodworking didn't really pick him a career — it picked him. After cutting his teeth on high-end design-build projects in Austin (think Italian travertine and Wenge floors for Texas oil money), he traded the stress and the landfill roll-offs for a pair of businesses on Oʻahu's North Shore: Lyric Woodwork, his custom fur...

This episode features the owners of MUV CrossFit, sharing their entrepreneurial journey from Oklahoma to Hawaii, building a community-focused gym, and integrating holistic health practices. Discover insights on starting small, community building, and adapting business models in Wahiawa on the North Shore of Oahu. Key Topics Entrepreneurship in Hawaii Building a community-focused gym Integrating ho...

In this episode, Kanani Oury, the owner of Nani's Cafe in Waialua on the North Shore of Oahu shares the journey of opening a community-focused eatery, blending traditional flavors with healthy twists, and navigating the challenges of small business ownership in Hawaii. Key topics Community-focused business model Challenges of restaurant build-out in Hawaii Healthy twists on traditional local f...

The conversation explores the journey of the North Shore Art Center, founded by Tayler and Matt, who share their artistic backgrounds and the evolution of their business. They discuss the challenges and triumphs of establishing a creative space that fosters community engagement through various art modalities, including ceramics, glass, and metalsmithing. The duo emphasizes the importance of sustai...

In this conversation, Guara shares valuable insights for entrepreneurs, particularly those in Hawaii's North Shore. They emphasize the importance of expanding business opportunities beyond local confines, the necessity of a growth mindset, and the value of networking and mentorship in navigating the entrepreneurial landscape. Website: Here Takeaways Make sure you expand beyond the North Shore. Mos...

The conversation explores the challenges and solutions in scaling food production for a business, focusing on the transition from a mobile kitchen to a dedicated space for efficiency and quality. Takeaways As an outsider, you see the volume of food being produced. Making food from scratch requires significant planning and resources. A dedicated kitchen allows for better organization and efficiency...

In this episode of the North Shore Entrepreneurs Podcast, Jordan Russum hosts Vivienne Andre and Victor Andre to discuss the journey of starting Groove Club Hawaii, a dance program for kids. They share their backgrounds in dance, the challenges and successes of launching their business, and their teaching philosophy focused on fun and community. The conversation also touches on their growth, futur...

In this episode of the North Shore Entrepreneurs Podcast, hosts Jordan Russum, Caleb Backus, and Maddie Ballew discuss the journey of starting Bird's Nest Coffee, a community-focused coffee shop in Hawaii. They share their personal backstories, the challenges of transitioning from a mobile coffee van to a brick-and-mortar location, and their commitment to quality in coffee and matcha sourcing....

In this conversation, Nate Sisler, the owner and founder of Haleiwa Distilling Company, shares his journey from military service to establishing the first distillery on the North Shore of Oahu. He discusses the impact of the closure of the Waialua Sugar Mill on the local economy and his vision to revive the area through manufacturing. Nate highlights the challenges he faced in building the distill...

In this episode, Jackie and Val, co-owners of Kuleana Physical Therapy and Wellness, share their journey of establishing a community-focused physical therapy clinic on the North Shore of Oahu. They discuss their backgrounds, the challenges of starting a business, navigating the insurance landscape, and their commitment to serving the local community. The conversation also touches on their innovati...

On Episode 4 Emily & Jordan sit down with Natalie Kraus, founder of Earthy Surf. Enjoy! Website Instagram

On Episode 3 we sit down with Jess Kraus, a Sunset Beach resident who launched his business earlier this year and is already talking about hiring 3-4 employees to keep up with demand. Website Instagram

On Episode 2 we speak with Kimzie about turning her passion of thrifting into a full time business with 6 employees. Bungalow is located next to Mele Mele Bakery at the Wailua Sugar Mill. https://www.instagram.com/bungalow.guchi/?hl=en

Russum Real Estate - Emily has scaled property management business from 0 to 30+ long term rental properties under management in under 2 years. Her business helps people buy, sell, and manage properties with a focus on the North Shore of Oahu.