Claim OwnershipKeep it Aloha
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© Kamaka Dias
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Your favorite Hawai'i podcast hosted by Kamaka Dias talking stories with influential figures in Hawai'i and beyond about their lives and our culture. Join us as we get to know our guests a little deeper and talk about what keeping it aloha truly means.
223 Episodes
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Kaliko Beamer-Trapp is a Hawaiian language educator and cultural practitioner originally from England. He is also the hānai son of the late Aunty Nona Beamer. For decades, he has dedicated his life to the teaching and revitalization of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, from Hawaiian immersion schools to the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, where he continues his work today. He has served on the Hawaiian Language Lexicon Committee, helped develop modern Hawaiian curriculum, and has been a longtime leader at Aloha Music Camp. Kaliko is also the creator of ʻŌlelo Online, an innovative platform helping students around the world learn Hawaiian language. As a husband and father, he carries forward the legacy of his kūpuna with humility, humor, and aloha.In this episode we talk about growing up in England, moving to the United States, discovering Polynesian culture, eventually moving to Hawaiʻi, learning ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, being adopted into the Beamer ʻohana, teaching Hawaiian language, and the importance of carrying culture forward for the next generation. Enjoy!Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod
Josh Green is a medical doctor from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the Governor of the State of Hawaiʻi. Before stepping into public office, he spent more than 20 years as a family physician and emergency room doctor, and even while serving in government, he continued caring for patients in rural and underserved communities across Hawaiʻi. He’s one of the few governors in the country to keep practicing medicine while in office and has been recognized twice as Hawaiʻi Physician of the Year by the Hawai’i Medical Association, most recently in 2022 for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond Hawaiʻi, he also led a medical team to Samoa during the 2019 measles outbreak, helping vaccinate tens of thousands of people in just days. This husband and father of two has delivered the largest tax cut for the middle class in Hawai’i State history and has made the largest investment in reducing homelessness in Hawai’i State history, and granted over 2,500 Hawaiian Homestead Land leases in 2025 — the most awarded in a single year in DHHL’s 100 year history.In this episode we talk about growing up in Pittsburgh, his education, how he ended up in Hawai’i, living in Kaʻū, working in healthcare, running for office, becoming governor of Hawai’i, his hobbies outside of work, and so much more. Enjoy!Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod
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 teacher. He also hosts the fully Hawaiian-language podcast Mai Ka Pūnana Mai. Beyond advocacy, he is a father, mentor, and youth soccer coach committed to passing culture to the next generation.In this episode we talk about going to Hawaiian immersion schools, learning Hawaiian language, the usage of diacritical marks, the protests on Mauna Kea, aloha ʻāina, working with Jason Momoa on Chief of War, our future as a lāhui, and so much more. Enjoy!Find Kaho'okahi here:https://www.instagram.com/kahookahi/Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod
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 memories from the 70s, how he learned Hawaiian, why he taught it to his kids, his love for God, the legacy he wants to leave behind, and so much more. Enjoy!Find Mike here: https://www.instagram.com/mikelehalelu33/Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod
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 pounds, he was also at the time the heaviest wrestler ever in sumo earning him the nicknames “Meat Bomb” and most famously, “The Dump Truck”. After retiring from sumo in 1997, he transitioned to a successful post-sumo career in entertainment, music, and philanthropy.In this special Keep it Aloha on the Road episode sponsored by @HawaiianAirlines we talk about growing up in Hawai’i, getting scouted for sumo, moving to Japan with nothing, his legendary sumo career, life lessons, career after sumo, his sumo tours, and and so much more. Enjoy!Find Konishiki here: https://www.instagram.com/konishikiyasokichi/Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod
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 around the world. She’s spoken all over the world, authored Perfectly You and Wake Up!, and is the host of the I Am Her podcast. In this episode we talk about her family moving to Hawai’i after she was born, growing up in a very Asian household, giving her life to God, meeting her husband Pastor Mike, marriage, the upcoming Arise Conference, her faith, and so much more. Enjoy!Get tickets to Arise Conference here:https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0A00636AE77B8C8E?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnolV1km59i71Rhma9GBl3zMPNVNvZObGAh8eUIjmFkQaPHLUK0al3XOHYwdM_aem_kZjCX9wyjMd_Vu07oky-8QFind Lisa here:https://www.instagram.com/lisakai/Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod
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 platform to uplift others, share kindness, and bring smiles to faces across Hawaiʻi and beyond. In this episode we talk about growing up in Waikiki, getting into content creating, his journey as a creator, live streaming, his faith, moving to LA, future goals, and so much more. Enjoy!Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod
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 occupation, which resulted in land being returned to Native Hawaiians and helped spark a larger movement. He was later selected by Hawaiian elders as the President and Head of State of the Nation of Hawaiʻi, representing Native Hawaiian interests both locally and internationally, and has spent decades advocating for Indigenous rights and Hawaiian self-determination.In this episode we talk about his upbringing in Waikiki and Waimanalo, how he got into the sovereignty movement, his path towards becoming President of the Nation of Hawai’i, the occupation of Makapu’u, the future of Hawai’i, world peace, and so much more.Find Bumpy here:https://www.instagram.com/national_sovereignty/Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod
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’i, his content creating journey, Mo Bettah Golf, Pokémon, and so much more.Find Isaiah here:https://www.instagram.com/kalakutz/Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod
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 of Aloha, 2026 goals, and so much more. Enjoy 🤙🏽Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod
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 list. From leading the Australian Boomers to their first Olympic medal, to serving as the nation’s first Indigenous Olympic flag bearer, this legend has built a legacy rooted in excellence, humility and service. He’s a recipient of both the NBA Cares Community Assist Award and the Joe Dumars Sportsmanship Award — honors that reflect the way he carries culture, values, and responsibility wherever he goes. Today, he brings that same mindset to Hawaiʻi as the General Manager of the University of Hawaiʻi Rainbow Warrior basketball program.In this episode we talk about growing up indigenous in Australia, how he got into basketball, the journey to the NBA, winning an NBA championship, why cultural identity is so important, how he ended up in Hawai’i, becoming the GM for UH, his future goals, and so much more.Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod
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 around. In this episode we talk about growing up in Hilo, our family dynamics, gaining confidence through modeling, traveling the world, her job as a flight attendant, her new role with Hawaiian Host, and so much more.Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod
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 has earned national recognition, particularly for treating athletic concussions, military PTSD, childhood conditions including ADHD and autism, and enhancing performance for athletes and executives. In this episode we talk about his upbringing in Nebraska, how he ended up in Hawai’i, his passion for helping others, we learn about sleep and the brain, Brain Health Hawaii, Kamaka’s experience as a patient, his future goals, and so much more.Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod
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, he’s authentic, and he’s got that island magic touch — literallyIn this episode we talk about his upbringing in Kahuku, his challenges growing up, getting into social media, his comedy, keeping a positive attitude, his family, and so much more. In this episode we talk about his upbringing in Kahuku, his challenges growing up, getting into social media, his comedy, keeping a positive attitude, his family, and so much more. Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapodListen to us:🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-it-aloha/id1592266675🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3S4albn4TaWiwqcLVSnHNb?si=88d056857a5b41f2
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 in Kailua-Kona and a founding member of the Hawai‘i Regional Cuisine movement, Sam’s impact goes far beyond the kitchen. Over his decades-long career, he’s authored multiple cookbooks, starred in TV shows, and infused Hawaiian ingredients and aloha spirit into everything he creates.In this episode, we talk about his upbringing in Lā‘ie, the evolution of poke, lessons from decades in the kitchen, his career, his family, his weight loss journey, and so much more.Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod
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. Alongside his wife Marcia, he founded Egan’s Bootcamp, where they’ve spent the last 15 years transforming lives through fitness, nutrition, discipline, and aloha.In this episode we talk about growing up playing sports, falling in love with racquetball, becoming a jiujitsu and MMA world champion, his championship mindset, his journey through faith and family, starting his business, 15 years of Egan’s Fitness, PEMF therapy, and so much more.Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod
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 working to nourish their entire ahupua‘a (watershed) with culturally rooted food grown with aloha. They’re building a regenerative system grounded in ancestral wisdom — one that uplifts communities across Hawai‘i and inspires transformation around the world.In this episode, we talk about his Hawaiian upbringing, his years living away from Hawai‘i, giving his life to God, meeting his wife Michele, starting Ho'okuaʻāina, the importance of growing kalo, eating poi, their new Kalo Hotline, and so much more. Enjoy!Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod
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, their trip to Hawai‘i, what to expect from their show, tips on love, and so much more.Find Connor:👉 https://www.instagram.com/connortomlinson5/Find Tanner:👉 https://www.instagram.com/tannerwiththe_tism/Mahalo to Hawaiian Airlines for flying them in and to the Laylow Waikiki for their hotel rooms.Check out Laylow Waikiki here: https://www.laylowwaikiki.com/offers/ and grab some dinner at the Hideout Waikiki here: https://hnlrestaurantweek.com/restaurant/hideout-waikiki/Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod
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. Their mission is to carry on the history of Hawai’i, the food, and the culture. In this episode we talk about growing up in the restaurant industry, all the jobs he used to have, starting his business Asato Family Shop, making local flavors of sherbet, working with family, their new Waikiki location, and so much more.Buy our merch on:Official website: https://keepitaloha.com/Support us on:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod
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 Adventures in Wonderland, and the Harry Potter series. Check out episode 92 to learn more about his life story. In this episode we talk about what he’s been up to since his first episode, his composition background, the different Hawaiian languages, translating books into Hawaiian, best ways to learn Hawaiian today and so much more.Buy our merch on:Official website: https://keepitaloha.com/Support us on:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod
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I really enjoyed this interview. Very informative. Hawaiian is such a beautiful language!