The Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi Podcast Presented By SilverShark Media

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Ryan Luckey, Executive Chef at The Pint & Cork.  In this podcast Ryan talks about his family ties to Lahaina, how his grandfather and father were involved with The Carthaginian II replica whaling ship in Lahaina, his culinary influences growing up, his first jobs in the culinary industry, his career path at different stops across West Maui, the differences in working with a resort rest...

Diane Woodburn speaks to Jeremy Solyn, Chef/Owner of NyloS located in Paia.  In this podcast Jeremy talks about his first job in culinary industry working in the Hamptons as an 18 year old, his career path that eventually brought him to Maui, what it was like to be the recipient of Best Chef's Table at the 2025 Aipono Awards, what guests can expect to experience at a NyloS dinner, how he worked through the economic downturns w...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Ryan Cruz, Executive Chef at Hotel Wailea.  In this podcast Ryan talks about dropping out of business school to change his career path to the culinary industry, why fried shrimp brings up special family memories growing up, how he started on his culinary path, how public speaking classes from his business course help with his current career, lessons he learned early on in his days working ...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Zach Sato, Chef/Owner of Havens Harborside Fish & Chophouse & Havens Kahului Food Truck. In this podcast Zach talks about how he got his start in the restaurant industry, his favorite family dishes growing up, advancing his career once he became a chef, the decision to open his first restaurant, how the pandemic forced him to pivot on his plans, running his own restaurant vs workin...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Rhonda Alexander-Monkres, Executive Director of the Ho'ōla iā Mauiakama Disaster Long Term Recovery Group.  In this podcast Rhonda talks about the mission of the organization, bringing together various nonprofits and community leaders to help streamline recovery efforts, how the group supports different recovery needs, working on the challenge of rebuilding owner occupied housing, the...

Diane Woodburn speaks to GM Josh Hargrove & Hotel Manager Selawe Tau of the Westin Maui Resort and Spa and chair of the 46th annual Maui Charity Walk.  In this podcast Josh & Selawe talk about their career paths, the history of the Charity Walk, why the event is important for the Maui community, the goal this year for Maui to raise $2M for local nonprofit organizations, what the role of chair entails for an event of this sc...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks Meli James, co-founder of Mana Up.  In this podcast Meli talks about what Mana Up does, the inspiration behind launching the company, the process going from the initial business idea to the first day of company operations, initial challenges the company had to overcome, ways that Mana Up helps local businesses, examples of Maui businesses that have grown with the support of Mana Up, how pop-u...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Kyle Fleming, co-founder & head brewer at Pauwela Beverage Company.  In this podcast Kyle talks about brewing fermented beverages like Kombucha, differences in brewing kombucha vs beer, Kyle’s background that led to this career, starting the business in January of 2020 and having to immediately adapt to the pandemic, their biggest challenge getting the business started, sourcing ingred...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Alexa Caskey, owner of Moku Roots.  In this podcast Alexa talks about her culinary influences growing up, when she made the decision to adopt a vegan diet, misconceptions people commonly have about vegan food, going from an engineering background to opening her first restaurant, the biggest challenge leading up to opening Moku Roots Lahaina in 2018, learning to be more efficient as a busin...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Isaac Bancaco, VP of Operations for Koholā Brewery.  In this podcast Isaac talks about his first culinary inspirations, his favorite dish to make with his grandmother, his career path in the culinary industry, what he learned from mentors like Ming Tsai and Roy Yamaguchi, evolving his career beyond the role of an executive chef, how the restaurant industry prepares people for any career, h...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Max Novena, Executive Director of the Sentry PGA golf tournament.  In this podcast Max talks about his first introduction to golf, what inspired him to pursue a career in sports, his experience working with major sports leagues like the NBA & NHL, details for the upcoming Sentry PGA Tournament held at the Plantation course in Kapalua from January 2nd-5th, why community engagement and i...

Diane Woodburn talks to Taylor Ponte, Executive Chef of Aurum Maui (opening in 2025).  In this podcast Taylor talks about his culinary path, key lessons he learned from mentors along the way, opening the new restaurant Aurum Maui at the Shops at Wailea in the first half of 2025, his approach to creating a menu, why he first decided to get into the culinary industry, how he met his wife who also is his business partner, his advice f...

Diane Woodburn speaks to Ryan Urig, Executive Chef at the Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort.  In this podcast Ryan talks about how he started his career on Maui, his time working at the Ritz-Carlton Maui at Kapalua, approaching his 10 year anniversary of working at the Grand Wailea Resort, the inspiration behind Olivine which is one of the properties signature restaurants, the types of dishes guests can expect at Olivine, work...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Dustin Paradis of the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute.  In this podcast Dustin talks about what the MOCMI does, his career path that led him to this role, the work they do to protect and grow local corals, the sea turtle stranding response & rescue program that helps turtles in need across the island, the importance of community engagement to make these programs more impactful, and ...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Chef Alvin Savella and GM Rob Farrell of Coco Deck Lahaina.  In this podcast Alvin & Rob talk about their first jobs in a restaurant and how their career paths eventually intersected, why they decided to partner together on a new restaurant, the phases that led to opening Coco Deck in September of 2024, Alvin's approach to creating the food menu & Rob's approach to creati...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Naomi Cooper, Interim Executive Director of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association.  In this podcast Naomi talks about her career path that led to her current position, the main goal of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association, the importance of connecting local businesses in an island economy, how the approach of the MHLA has changed through the pandemic and fire recovery, how the MHLA ...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Anna Kahalekulu, owner & designer of Kūlua, a sustainable clothing store located in Makawao. In this podcast Anna explains the approach of Kūlua, her inspiration for opening the business, how the store keeps manufacturing on Maui, what gave her the confidence as an entrepreneur to take the business from an idea to a storefront, navigating through the pandemic in 2020 shortly after open...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Dr. Lisa Labrecque, CEO of the Maui Humane Society.  In this podcast Lisa talks about her path to becoming CEO, some of the differences between private veterinary care and working with an animal shelter, challenges for pet owners in Maui, becoming CEO in June of 2023 and then having to navigate the organization through the August fires, some of the new programs the MHS is offering includin...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Tina Carranza, Fundraising Director at the Hua Momona Foundation.  In this podcast Tina talks about how the Hua Momona Foundation first started in 2021, how she got involved with the organization, providing food to the Maui community through the pandemic and the 2023 fires, what goes into organizing large scale food distribution, some of the challenges that come with keeping a nonprofit ru...