Keep it Aloha

Kahoʻokahi Kanuha is a prominent Native Hawaiian educator from Moku o Keawe and a respected cultural practitioner dedicated to ʻike Hawaiʻi and cultural revitalization. Many first came to know him during the movement to protect Mauna Kea, where he became one of the key leaders helping guide and organize the kiaʻi. He has served as a Hawaiian language advisor for Apple TV’s Chief of War and as Jason Momoa’s personal ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi t...

Michael Sonoda Dias is a Hawaiian Language speaker from the island of Oʻahu. He is the father of podcast host Kamaka Dias and the man who brought the Hawaiian language into their ʻohana. Through his work at ALU LIKE, he’s dedicated his life to serving Hawai'i and uplifting Native Hawaiian and indigenous families through education, culture, and opportunity. In this episode we talk about Uncle Mike’s upbringing on O’ahu, lots of ...

Konishiki Yasokichi (Saleva'a Fuauli Atisanoe) is a cultural ambassador and sumo legend from the island of Oʻahu. He became the first non-Japanese-born wrestler to reach Ozeki, the second highest possible rank in the sport. During his career, he won the top division championship on three occasions and came very close to becoming the first foreign-born grand champion, or Yokozuna. At his peak weight of 287 kilograms or 633 pound...

Lisa Kai is a Senior pastor, author and entrepreneur from the island of Oʻahu. She is a visionary leader with a heart to advance faith, purpose, and community. Alongside her husband — and past podcast guest — Mike Kai, she serves as senior pastor of Inspire Church, a thriving multi-site congregation based in Honolulu. Hawai’i. Each year, she hosts the Arise Conference, empowering women from across Hawaiʻi, the U.S. mainland, and ar...

Micah Tengan is a content creator and entrepreneur from the island of Oʻahu. He’s a UH Mānoa graduate with a business degree and a storyteller with a growing audience of nearly 2 million followers across TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. This young hustler is known for his positivity, creativity, and spreading aloha through community-centric content. When he’s not creating content or connecting with people on camera, he’s using his pl...

Dennis "Bumpy" Kanahele is a Native Hawaiian leader from the island of O’ahu. He is a cultural practitioner and one of the most influential voices in the modern Hawaiian sovereignty movement. Bumpy is best known as the leader of Puʻuhonua o Waimānalo, a self-sustaining Hawaiian community built on traditional values, culture, and aloha ʻāina. He rose to prominence in the early 1990s after leading the historic Makapuʻu occu...

Isaiah Kaikala is a content creator and barber originally from Washington, now living in Hawaiʻi. When he’s not cutting hair, you can find him on the golf course or online making content. He’s cutting hair, creating content, and now talking stories with us in the studio today.In this episode we talk about growing up away from Hawai’i, living with Hawaiian values in Washington, how he got into cutting hair, how he ended up in Hawai’...

Pua DeSoto is a professional surfer and entrepreneur from the island of O’ahu. She is the youngest podcast guest we’ve ever had on and now she is back 2 years later as the CEO of Actions of Aloha. Check out episode 65 of the Hawaiiverse podcast to learn more about her life story.In this episode we talk about what she’s been up to since her first time on the podcast, life in college, going all in to surfing after graduation, Actions...

Patty Mills is an Indigenous Australian professional basketball player from Australia. He is a five-time Olympian, NBA Champion, and 16-year NBA veteran. Across his NBA career, Patty has played in over 900 games for seven teams, including a pivotal role in the San Antonio Spurs’ 2013–14 championship season. Internationally, he recently competed in the 2024 Paris Games, where he moved into fifth place on the all-time Olympic scoring...

Kanoelehua Robinson is a flight attendant and model from the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. She is the new face of Hawaiian Host alongside Kahanu Cuban, following in the footsteps of past podcast guest Kawehi Kamakele. This local girl has modeled for brands such as Kahulaleʻa, Manuhealiʻi, and Manaola — even walking in New York Fashion Week representing Manaola. She’s also part of the Hawaiian Airlines promo team, so you might’ve seen her ...

Jason Keifer is a psychiatrist from Omaha, Nebraska. He is the founder of Brain Health Hawaii, where he serves as the CEO and Medical Director, bringing decades of expertise in brain health. As a double board-certified physician, he is committed to strengthening the development of our children and members of our community. His innovative work integrating neuromodulation, sleep and circadian rhythm, neurophysiology, and psychiatry h...

Mike Garcia A.K.A. Island Magic Mike is a comedian, creator, and all-around entertainer from the island of Oʻahu. You’ve probably seen his hilarious skits online or maybe even caught one of his live shows around the islands. This father and husband has appeared in many commercials and emcee’d many different events. From the stage to social media, he’s been spreading his positive and infectious energy all across Hawaiʻi. He’s funny,...

Sam Choy is a legendary chef and TV personality from the island of O‘ahu. He’s widely recognized as the “Godfather of Poke” and one of Hawai‘i’s true culinary ambassadors. Celebrated for helping develop and popularize Hawaiian Regional Cuisine, Sam introduced authentic island flavors to the world and changed the way people experience Hawai‘i through food. A James Beard Foundation “America’s Classics” award-winner for his restaurant...

Egan Inoue is a multi-sport champion from the island of Oʻahu. He’s a 2-time Racquetball World Champion, 2-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion, and 5-time MMA World Champion. Egan made history as the first non-Brazilian to ever win a BJJ World Title — paving the way for athletes around the world and putting Hawaiʻi on the global stageBeyond being a fierce competitor, Egan is a devoted father, husband, coach, and entrepreneur. A...

Dean Wilhelm is a community leader from the island of Oʻahu and the co-founder and co-director of Ho'okuaʻāina — a gathering place for people to connect with and care for the ʻāina (land). Through the cultivation and preparation of kalo (taro), Ho'okuaʻāina perpetuates Hawaiian culture and provides healing for the community, especially at-risk youth.

He is also a musician and former teacher. Together with his wife Michele, Dean is w...

Connor Tomlinson from Georgia and Tanner Smith from South Carolina are two of the stars of Netflix’s hit show Love on the Spectrum. Best friends and autism advocates, they inspire people both on and off the spectrum to embrace their authentic selves.

In this special Hawai‘i episode, we take a tour around Kualoa Ranch — home of the iconic Jurassic Park T-Rex holding area — and talk about their upbringing, their autism diagnosis, thei...

Neale Asato is an entrepreneur from the island of O’ahu. He is the owner of Asato Family Shop, which is best known for making “Local Kine” sherbet that honors the past while sharing it with the next generation. Their sherbet is more than just a treat, it’s a memory inspired by the old-school flavors of crack seed stores, the Manapua man, and the local snacks we grew up with, every scoop is a taste of small kid time in Hawai’i. Thei...

Keao NeSnith is a Hawaiian linguist from the island of Kaua’i. He is an educator and translator who has taught at various universities in Hawai’i, Tahiti and New Zealand. His work on “Neo Hawaiian” as a separate variety of Hawaiian has informed debate in Hawaiian language studies, as well as broader issues in language revitalization. He has translated a number of books into Hawaiian, including The Hobbit, The Little Prince, Alice's...

Cheyne Gitsham is a content creator from California. He is most known for his social media content sharing videos about his life in Hawai’i and street interviews in which he asks people what their favorite song is and what song they are listening to. With a collective following of almost 4 million on social media he is building an empire and he’s only 22 years old. In this episode we talk about growing up in California, his love fo...