Tricks of the Trade

Quiet on the set! Fresh off the premier of his zombie apocalypse film Decade of the Dead at the Hawaii International Film Festival, Fairai hopped over from Oahu to talk story about his life as a filmmaker. We touch on DotD being a Hawaii-based production with a predominately local cast and crew,  he really emphasizes the need to uplift local filmmakers and film economy in Hawaii. He also indulges...

Art. Healing. Psychedelics.  Not much else to disclose. I always have a great time talking shop with Daniel as he's one of the most genuine and artistic humans I've encountered.  We talk shop on everything surrounding the "art world" and how some trauma in his life has shaped his artistic expression in a positive and holistic way.  Let's go. 

Originally starting out in the culinary arts, Kelii tells how working in restaurants gave him his first taste of the warzone that is the kitchen and how that shaped his interests and ventures going forward.  That background helped immensely as he was able to help organize, prepare, and distribute tens of thousands of meals in the aftermath of the Lahaina wildfires.   We also literally and figurati...

Hey, neighbor! Christina is the woman behind Cookie's Clothing Company.  The fun, flirty and affordable woman's boutique  has been a staple in Hawaii for the last 15 years.  We dive in to the relentless and merciless world of retail and how shes had to constantly pivot, evolve, and straight up GRIND.  We both really let our hair down for this one and had a blast.  Let's go.

Check one two.  Evan is the front man of the unofficial official band of the podcast, Through the Roots. Fresh off their 3-show Hawaii tour I got a chance to get him in the hot seat to tell his story.  He dives in to his musical inception, growing as a musician and band, and finding an excuse to sit back and smell the roses.  This was a lot of fun with an absolute legend. Let's go. 

WILD.  Ikaika is a Veteran, husband, father of 4, but most importantly, he's a god damn TRUCK DRIVER. We go off the deep end on a plethora of topics ranging from military service, the toll it takes on you once you're out, the Hawaii food table and native gathering rights, among other issues surrounding Hawaii.  At times, this was a very impassioned and emotional episode, but the rest of...

HE'S BACK. The hiatus is over and what better person to christen our ears for this next iteration of the pod than Brandon.  We dive off the deep end on a handful of topics all the while exchanging our hot takes and bright ideas to solve all of Hawaii's issues.  Sarcasm aside its just so great be back. Let's go.

Bio-scape Hawaii is a landscape design/build company that emphasizes using native Hawaiian plants as well as implementing elements that are chemical-free, and require significantly less water usage and maintenance.  Operating  mostly on the Big Island's arid and hot western coast, Micah has found a way to work in lockstep WITH the land and surrounding areas to create beautiful, unique, and en...

Aren't you that guy from that thing?  Dave is an actor.  He's made appearances on Hawaii 5-0 and Magnum P.I. and was one of the two faces of Kona Brewing Company's marketing campaign for the better part of a decade.  We dive in to getting his first paid acting gig, where its taken him, and the doors that's opened in other areas of the industry.  Lights camera ACTION.

THAT'S art.  Mark moonlights as an artist specializing in gyotaku-style canvas prints using scavenged, recycled, or repurposed beach gear.  A life time surfer and ocean enthusiast, Mark dives in to the inspiration behind his beautiful art pieces and the tangible process behind creating each one-of-a-kind print.  He carved out two of his 48 hour trip back home to get in the hot seat and talk s...

Throw a rock, you hit a dumpster.  Evan is the founder of Circle Pack, where his goal is to seek out, foster, and provide solutions for the people of Hawaii to recycle, responsibly dispose of, and repurpose scrap/waste cardboard.  We dive in to how he got his start, where he sees a need for establishing better recycling practices in Hawaii, and where we can begin to instill these systems.  I alway...

Anecdotally clandestine is how one might describe the Willy Wonka of mushrooms.  We checked in, put our mushroom hats on and dove in to the primordial soup. We talked shop on everything going on at Malama, as well as plans for the future.  This was a lot of fun with one of the coolest cats in town, MUSH LOVE, let's go.

I need a cut! Jason is the boss of his very own barbershop, Bosscutz.  Located in the heart of Kailua Kona, it is THE spot to get lined up and faded.  We dive in to his inspiration, the "gentlemen's hangout" aspect of barbershops, and the importance of a fresh clean cut.  A true artist, this one was a lot of fun and it was a blast being able to record it in his element.  Let's...

Home for a month, I got a chance to get Brady back in the hot seat.  We got caught up on everything going on with the official band of the podcast, Through the Roots, as they gear up for another album release and cross country tour this summer.  We also discussed posture, mental health, the importance of a strong support system, and the consequences of over-drafting.  This was a fun one with one o...

Protect Pololū.  As a teacher at Kohala High School,  Loa has taken an active role in stewarding the well-being and preservation of Pololū Valley.  He dives in to the issues surrounding a proposed development surrounding the valley entrance, local and tourist access, traffic,  as well as solutions to address them.  This was a great talk story with one of my best friends about one of the most beaut...

Hana Hou! Nick and his wife Sarah started Hana Hou Recycling to address a growing problem in our community; the lack of avenues for people to recycle.  We discuss some of the problems  and misconceptions surrounding  recycling in Hawaii, where one can make a difference in their individual households, and some of the rigors of running a small business.  This was a lot of fun with someone who speaks...

Let's roll.  Moku is a FIVE time jujitsu world champion and along with his wife Keala founded and run the Hawaii Jujitsu Academy in Kona.  He dives in to how he got into jujitsu, where it's taken him, and his journey to be a world champion .  He definitely has an intimidating, calculated presence, I'm glad I was across from him in an interview instead of on the mat.   

Blue Skies.  Baby, baby don't cry.  Ikaika is the keyboardist of the worldwide music powerhouse that is The Green.  We dive in to how the band was formed, representing Hawaii, and where they're headed as they drop their new album "Brand New EYES" and start touring again.  We also discuss his new side job in front of the camera on Big Island Television as the host of his own seg...

What’s  the lesson here?  Danny is a guy's guy.  A jack of all trades, master of none...And apparently builds and races ORV's for a living when he isn't hunting, fishing, diving, surfing, or turning wrenches.  We scratch the surface of  who he is, how he is, WHEN he is....uhh, well you get the picture.   Welcome to the Boar Cave, buckle up. 

Cheee.  Kuha'o is an artist, graphic designer, cultural practitioner and the Hula equivalent of a Jedi Knight.  As a prodigal son two times over, he's involved heavily in Sig Zane Designs with his dad, and also the Edith Kanakaole Foundation and Halau O Kekuhi with his mom, Nalani.  He dives in to the responsibility and kuleana of working in family business and ushering it ever forward. ...

Jimmy is the Managing Director of Hawaii Island Recovery.  After battling his own monster, he found his true calling facilitating substance abuse education, prevention, treatment, and recovery.  Originally from Rwanda, Jimmy dives in to how he strives to provide more opportunities for people on the Big Island to get the help and support they need in their time of struggle.  It also doesn't hu...

Brandon and Johnny are two vital cogs in the machine that is Napua.  They share invaluable insight in to what makes the official restaurant of the podcast the tour de force of flavor and ambiance that it is.  They discuss the value of creating and fostering a healthy work environment, empowering and motivating your team members, and went off the deep end on a few random topics...per usual.   If yo...

HFD Roundtable #2!  Kevin and Nate are both Hilo boys, graduating from Class 41.  They dive in to what their motivations were for joining the department, a bunch of hilarious stories from recruit class and live action calls, and the bond and camaraderie that's formed as a member of the HFD.  They eventually stop talking over each other long enough to have a great conversation filled with hear...

Family.  Alex is the oldest of four brothers who are all involved in running their family business, Matsuyama Market and Food Mart.  We dive in to his role in the business, and how his affinity for diving and fishing is incorporated to provide fresh caught fish at their stores.  He also hits on how vital it is to maintain cohesion, love, and support with his brothers and how important family busin...

What page turner!  Tessa is an author who's just published "Out of the Shadows," the first in "Velieri Uprising" trilogy of books.  NO SPOILERS!  We dive in to how she became interested in authoring her own stories, her motivations and inspirations behind her stories and characters, and the publishing process.  Shes also another self-proclaimed cinephile so we have a lot o...