Tricks of the Trade

Fire up the STOKER MACHINE!  Darieus is a world-traveled surfer-dude turned film-maker.  Combining both of his passions, he's been able to carve out an awesome career for himself creating films of all lengths and genres.  We dive in to his birth and upbringing aboard a 42-foot sailboat, his life as a quintessential surfer boy in Hawaii, and his affinity for telling stories and creating art. ...

Mic check.  Keoni is a singer-songwriter from the Big Island.  If you've dined at a resort restaurant in the last five years, you're sure to have heard the silky smooth vocal stylings of our boy.  We dive in to how he was drawn to music, how it shaped his life, and how he recognizes how fortunate he is to be able to perform for audiences big and small on a daily basis.  We also discuss h...

Shucks.  Napua is one of the people I think of when it comes to the sport of volleyball.  After taking the helm as head coach of the  Waiakea Boys Volleyball team before covid, he's since taken on a more intimate role hosting private coaching lessons with HI Performance Volleyball Gym.  With a highly decorated scholastic career under his belt and having played the game for the better part of...

Where's my tape-measure??? Ellie is one half of the duo behind Paradise Tiny Homes, based out of Puna on the Big Island.  Along with her brother Dan, they've been able to combine their strengths to build beautiful, one of a kind tiny homes.  She shares her story of what brought her back to the Big Island after living in Montana, and how her brother was able to convince her that, if done...

Fish on!  Christina is the one woman show and prodigal daughter of Sundot Marine, or as its most affectionally known, FISH FLAGS.  We dive in to how she came about taking over the business, which was started in the SIXTIES, how she's put her own contemporary spin on it and some of her plans for the future.  We also talk about her sense of community and how here in Hawaii, more than anywhere,...

Steady. Steady. Steady....You're DEAD.  Justin is a world-class outdoorsman.  An avid hunter, fisherman, spear fisherman, guy's guy, and one of the coolest and genuinely nice people you'll ever come across.  We dive in to (pun intended) everything he's all about, from his performance on the world stage in the Olympics of Spearfishing, to recently tagging the biggest ram he&apos...

Shawn is...uh...Shawn.  He's a film maker/producer, storyteller, photographer, BnB host, adopted father of a feral pig, and now farmer.  We dive in to his coming up in Hilo hustling since he could remember trying to carve out a niche for himself amongst his plethora of interests.  From music school, to community college, to getting a masters degree in hands-on learning, yes thats right they h...

Wicked smaaht.  Ali is the one-woman show behind her own makery, Locali Creative.  She hand-creates a plethora of different products using different materials and mediums.  We dive in to her moving to Hawaii and recognizing the importance of embracing becoming part of the community and way of life and how that has inspired her art and craft.  This was a lot of fun with a new friend.  Check out her...

Firemen Roundtable!  Aaron and Kyle are members of Class 37 of the Hawaii County Fire Department.  We dive in to the circumstances surrounding why they decided to join the department, they swap some fun and memorable stories, and give insight and advice to those interested in joining up.  They also discuss the physical, mental, and emotional rigors the job entails and how the bond they've for...

Burn, baby, BURN!  Jocelynn is the one-woman-show behind her own line of art pieces, Wolf and Flame.  She's mastered the age-old art of pyrography, the art or technique of decorating wood or leather by burning a design on the surface with a heated metallic point.  She does this all by hand and creates gorgeous, one of a kind works of art.  We dive in to what brought her to Hawaii and the insp...

Erika is the one-woman-show behind Betty Moon Studios.  She specializes in creating one of a kind resin pieces incorporating hand-foraged flora and fauna on to re-claimed, live-edge wooden slabs.  Not only does she also have her own apparel, she hand-paints and repurposes old vinyl records into clocks of art. Very Cool! Be sure to check her and other talented artists and artisans at the Artisan Ma...

Get comfortable and buckle up.  Brandon is the co-owner of Napua Restaurant at Mauna Lani and Kaunamano Farms on the Big Island.  He tells the story of how he and his partner came about starting both ventures, and how his sense of community inspired him to source and grow as much of his produce for his restaurant locally and sustainably.  His insight in to Hawaii's food table and how we need...

Permission to come aboard!  Kenton is the Captain of his own commercial fishing vessel, The Vicious Cycle, out of Kailua Kona.  Originally from the New England area, he tells his story of how he came to the Big Island and how fishing has always been his calling in life.  He also takes a deep dive in to the local fishing industry and how vital it is to support, promote, and build up local fishermen...

Frank and Brock are the owners of Kona Boys, an ocean, surf, and sport shop and adventure/tour company in South Kona.  Originally old college buddies, they dive in to how they became friends, their journey to the big island to escape the corporate lifestyle , and how they've been a part of Kona Boys from the very beginning.  They're also very community-centric and are adamant in building...

Ronnie is a fellow prodigal son and is the heir apparent to his family business, Loeffler Construction Inc., specializing in civil construction.  We dive in to his journey and how a few fortuitous circumstances led him back to the Big Island and inevitably to learning the ropes and working for the family business. He’s been able to parlay that in to becoming a master heavy equipment operator as we...

And I’m spent.  Franke is a photographer by trade. We dive in to how he got in to it, as a hobby at first, and eventually how he's been able to parlay that into not only a career but lifestyle.  He also shares how photography was a way for him to express his artistic energy and allow him to further pursue other interests in the incomparable beauty that Hawaii is known for. This was a fun one...

That's coconuts, man.  Alison is an adventuress, film maker, story teller, author, conservationist and has earned the moniker of "Female Indiana Jones," pretty sweet.  Not only might you recognize her from Discovery Channel's series "Naked and Afraid," she's also a world traveler, having been raised all around the globe and immersing herself in numerous cultures...

Giddy up! Paul is the founder of Western Aloha, a paniolo-inspired aloha shirt company focusing on the saddle to paddle lifestyle of the Big Island.  He shares his inspiration behind starting the company; his keen interest and fascination with the history of the cowboys of Hawaii.  We also discuss the different challenges he's faced in the industry and  some of the issues surrounding starting...

Fasten your seatbelts.  Breeani is, first and foremost, the mother of two beautiful keiki; Kūpaʻa and He'olu.  She's also the manager of the Hilo Seaside Hotel, Keaukaha General Store, started the Hawaii Rise Foundation, and has spearheaded numerous other community oriented programs.   No big deal.  We dive in to the story behind KGS, the history and future plans of the hotel, and the ap...

Better call Kai! Pueo is an attorney based out of Hilo who's just opened his own general law practice.  We dive in to his journey from Waiohinu, to Washington D.C., to Oregon. We also discuss his sense of kuleana in realizing and taking responsibility for the important role he  often plays in his clients lives.  This was a real informative and fun one with an old friend I hadn't seen in...

Brady is the Keyboardist for a very popular reggae-rock band Through the Roots, based out of San Diego, California.  We dive in to how he got in to music, the inception of the band, and how they've had to navigate through the last 12 months producing and releasing a new album, and he shared a bunch of cool stories and laughs. He also shares a few fun stories about life on the road, the camara...

Allan is the new owner of Kona Reef Liquor and Deli on Alii Drive in Kona, Hawaii.  We dive in to how a wakeup call in the form of contracting COVID-19 motivated him to make a change in his life and purchase the formerly run-down store in addition to rebranding it in his own image.  We also discuss the inherent family values and work ethic that were instilled in him at a young age, particularly by...

We got a hot LZ! Ben is a helicopter pilot and instructor, and owner of Mauna Loa Helicopters Flight School and Tours.  From Illinois to Oahu, to the Big Island, we dive in to the crazy circumstances surrounding his start in the business, as well as the countless applications and career opportunities being a licensed pilot can provide.  He offered a lot of insight, and I really enjoyed talking wit...

Daniel is an architect, artist, and artisan from Venezuela who's lived on the Big Island for the better part of two decades.  Although his affinity for architecture is what originally brought him to the islands, his true calling and passion is in the arts.  He's a world-class jewelry maker and artist with commissions and installations all over the world.  Not only that, and this is impor...

EŌ. Ehitu is kanaka of all trades.  He's an adventurer, waterman, photographer, and a cultural steward and practitioner...among the many other hats he wears.  We dive in to some the issues surrounding the tourism industry in Hawaii and where he sees it change and evolve.  He discusses his passion for not only providing visitors with  intimate and immersive experiences, but also sharing his ma...