Advertise on podcast: Keep it Aloha

Nia Jax (Savelina Fanene) is a professional wrestler and WWE Superstar who was born in Australia and raised between Hawaiʻi and California. She comes from a legendary Samoan wrestling lineage that includes her cousin Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson — but she has built an incredible legacy of her own. Before stepping into the ring, she played college basketball and worked as a plus-size model before eventually signing with WWE and beginning her professional wrestling career in NXT. Since then, she has become a two-time WWE Women’s Champion, three-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, and the 2024 Queen of the Ring. She won her first singles championship at WrestleMania 34 and later captured her second at SummerSlam in 2024. Known as “The Irresistible Force,” Nia has competed on some of the biggest stages in professional wrestling and become one of the most recognizable and dominant women in WWE. In this episode, we talk story about her upbringing in Hawaiʻi and California, her Samoan roots and family, body image and how WWE embraced her at her size, her journey into professional wrestling, life as a WWE Superstar, her faith, future goals, and so much more. Enjoy! Find Nia Jax here:https://www.instagram.com/linafanene/Full episodes:🎥 https://www.youtube.com/@KeepitAlohaPod/videosBuy 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

Sera Tyrell is an entrepreneur and community builder from the island of Oʻahu.She is the founder of So Loved Goods, a local brand built around spreading love, encouragement, and genuine human connection through apparel and community.She has taken that same passion for bringing people together into her work with Keep It Aloha, helping behind the scenes with both the podcast and Keep it Aloha events. In this episode, we talk story about her upbringing, family, faith, the journey behind starting So Loved Goods, the life experiences that have shaped who she is today, how she became part of the Keep It Aloha team, what continues to inspire her along the way, and so much more. Enjoy!Find Sera here:https://www.instagram.com/seratyrell/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

Izik (Isaac Moreno) is a singer, songwriter, and musician from the islands of Molokaʻi and Oʻahu. He spent years grinding as a working musician, from waiting tables at Aulani and singing karaoke after work to eventually performing full time and building a career around his own original music. Since then, he’s become an Emmy-nominated, four-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning artist, including being named Male Vocalist of the Year, while continuing to push the boundaries of what music from Hawaiʻi can sound like.His latest album, KŌWĀ, is a deeply personal project inspired by identity, connection, culture, family, and the spaces in between. In this episode, we talk story about his upbringing, getting into music, the joys of creating music, performing in front of huge crowds, finding inspiration in the world around him, and how experiencing life shapes his sound and creativity, his new album Kōwā, what music means to him, and so much more. Enjoy 🤙🏽Find Izik here:https://www.instagram.com/izikfamous/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

Billy Kemper is a professional surfer and one of the most accomplished big-wave surfers of his generation from the island of Maui.He’s a four-time Peʻahi Challenge champion at Jaws, a Big Wave World Champion, and has earned major wins at some of Hawaiʻi’s most iconic waves, including Sunset Beach and Pipeline.After suffering a life-threatening wipeout in Morocco that left him with multiple serious injuries, he fought his way back to surfing at the highest level. He’s also a husband, father of four, entrepreneur, and someone whose connection to the ocean runs much deeper than competition.In this episode, we talk story about growing up in Hawaiʻi, chasing the best waves around the world, the life-and-death reality that comes with big-wave surfing, the highs and lows of his journey, what it means to step away from the water and be a husband and father, his new coffee shop on the North Shore, the next chapter of his journey, and so much more. Enjoy!Find Billy here:https://www.instagram.com/billykemper/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

Rich Miano is a former professional football player, coach, mentor, and broadcaster from the island of Oʻahu.After walking on to the University of Hawaiʻi football team, he worked his way into becoming one of the top defensive backs in program history, earning First Team All-WAC honors twice and All-America recognition before being selected by the New York Jets in the 1985 NFL Draft.He went on to spend more than a decade in the NFL before returning home to Hawaiʻi, where he spent 13 seasons coaching at UH and helped lead the program through some of its most memorable years, including the undefeated 2007 regular season and Sugar Bowl run. Since then, he has continued to make an impact on the next generation of athletes through coaching, mentoring, broadcasting, and his work with the Polynesian Bowl. Most recently, he was named to the University of Hawaiʻi Sports Circle of Honor as part of the Class of 2026.In this episode, we talk story about moving to Hawai’i, walking onto the University of Hawai’i football team, playing in the NFL on the Jets, Eagles, and Falcons, coaching, broadcasting and helping develop young athletes here in Hawai’i, the Polynesian Bowl, and so much more. Enjoy!Find Rich here:https://www.instagram.com/richmiano38/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

Taisei & Kenji Lee are entrepreneurs, storytellers, and brothers from the island of O'ahu. Taisei spent nearly two decades in the restaurant and hospitality industry, eventually becoming the General Manager of Roy’s Ko Olina. Kenji is filmmaker, videographer, producer, and storyteller. He also carried on their family business, Swiss Inn Dressing, continuing a recipe and legacy that had been passed down through generations of their family. Together they host BrotherLee Time — a podcast centered around honest conversations, interesting people, and stories from Hawaiʻi that deserve to be heard. In this episode we talk story about growing up in Hawai’i, their brotherly bond, going into their own career paths, Kenji’s time in Japan, Taisei working for Roy’s, their family dressing business, starting the BrotherLee Podcast, podcasting insights, working together, and so much more. Enjoy! Find Taisei here: https://www.instagram.com/taiseidiscovers/ Find Kenji here: https://www.instagram.com/kenjiwalks/ Find their podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@BrotherleeTimeBuy 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

Kekoa Cazimero is a professional surfer and entrepreneur from the island of Oʻahu. He’s also the founder of AVVA, a Hawaiʻi-born brand built around surf, culture, and sharing aloha with the world.More than four years after first joining the podcast on Episode 13, Kekoa is back to catch up on everything that’s changed — from building AVVA and navigating injuries to fatherhood, growth, and what’s next. Enjoy!Find Kekoa here:https://www.instagram.com/kekoa_cazimero/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

Kolten Wong is a former Major League Baseball player from the Big island of Hawaiʻi. Before baseball became his career, he was an All-Star in both football and baseball, eventually choosing to pursue baseball at the collegiate level where he became a three-time First-Team All-WAC selection, WAC Tournament MVP, First-Team All-American, and Cape Cod League MVP.In 2011, he was selected 22nd overall by the St. Louis Cardinals, becoming the first position player in University of Hawaiʻi history to be drafted in the first round. He went on to play 11 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Cardinals, Brewers, Mariners, and Dodgers, including an appearance in the World Series.He won back-to-back Gold Gloves in 2019 and 2020 and three straight Fielding Bible Awards from 2018 through 2020 — becoming the first second baseman in MLB history to win the award three consecutive years. His number 14 has been retired by the University of Hawaiʻi, he’s a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame, and in 2025 he was inducted into the UH Sports Circle of Honor.In this episode we talk story about growing up in Hilo, putting in the work from an early age, choosing to play in college over MLB, his illustrious college career, getting drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals, his amazing professional career, retiring from baseball, his love for his family, his future goals, and so much more. Enjoy!Find Kolten here: https://www.instagram.com/thewongone808/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

Karlee Tanaka is a singer-songwriter and independent artist from the island of Oʻahu. She was one of just 20 artists selected from more than 120,000 applicants for HYBE x Geffen’s The Debut: Dream Academy, the competition that ultimately formed KATSEYE, and her journey was later featured in Netflix’s Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE.She also appeared on Netflix’s Building the Band before stepping out on her own.Her breakout song “Right Back!” has now surpassed 20 million streams, helping her reach more than 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify.Find Karlee Girl here:https://www.instagram.com/gnarly.karlee/Full episodes:🎥 https://www.youtube.com/@KeepitAlohaPod/videosBuy 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

Matty & Zane Schweitzer are brothers from the island of Maui who carry one of the most unique family legacies in watersports. Their grandfather, Hoyle Schweitzer, helped pioneer and bring windsurfing to the world, while their father, Matt, became the sport’s first Windsurfer World Champion and went on to win 18 World Championship-level events. Matty, the older brother, is an award-winning filmmaker, photographer, and storyteller whose work has taken him around the world. He directed *Finding True North*, which won Best Inspirational Film at the Los Angeles Film Awards, as well as *Lāhainā Rising*, which co-won the Made in Hawaiʻi Award for Best Feature Film at the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival. Zane is one of the most accomplished watermen of his generation, with world championship titles across multiple disciplines. He is a two-time Ultimate Waterman, five-time Master of the Ocean champion, ISA World SUP Surfing Champion, Pan American Games gold medalist, author, and founder of Kahākūkahi Ocean Academy. In this episode we talk story about growing up on Maui, competing in water-sports from a young age, traveling the world, the injuries and setbacks they’ve overcome, their incredible family legacy, the Lāhainā wildfires, Matty’s journey into filmmaking, Zane’s nonprofit work, what it means to give back to Maui, and so much more. Enjoy! Find Matty & Zane here: Matty: @mat5o Zane: @zaniac1 -Lahaina Rising Trailer : https://vimeo.com/1035488408 -Finding True North : https://vimeo.com/1094564370 -Flight of Aloha (immersive flying theater): https://http://flightofaloha.com/?otto_prod=82777&ref=22650775561-180155781986-fhdirectads_flightofaloha&otto_prod=82777&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22650775561&gbraid=0AAAAA-v7cjbqsfjvJWG20im3y_hL7gavr -Zane’s Kahakukahi : short video with Carissa Moore: https://vimeo.com/1147783648 -KOA Website: https://www.kahakukahi.org Buy our merch: 🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/ Support us: 🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadias Follow us: 📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/ 🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod 📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod

Bryant Moniz is a former professional quarterback, coach, and community leader from the island of Oʻahu. Many know him as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in University of Hawaiʻi football history. In 2010, he led the nation in passing, total offense, and passing touchdowns, throwing for more than 5,000 yards and 39 touchdowns. He also broke Colt Brennan’s single-game passing record with 560 yards and finished his UH career with more than 10,000 passing yards and 75 touchdowns. Along the way, he earned first-team All-WAC honors, became a semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, had his own Heisman campaign at UH, and went on to play professionally in both the Arena Football League and CFL, where he became a Grey Cup champion with the Calgary Stampeders. Today, he continues to give back as a coach and the founder of The Drip Mission, using sports, mentorship, and opportunity to impact the next generation of athletes in Hawaiʻi. In this episode we talk story about growing up in Wahiawa, playing multiple sports, his long journey to becoming the starting quarterback at UH, his amazing football career, life after football, The Drip Mission, fatherhood, entrepreneurship, and so much more. Enjoy! Find Bryant here:https://www.instagram.com/_mightymo_/ 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

Kumu Hinaleimoana Wong is a cultural leader from the island of Oʻahu. She is a kumu hula, Hawaiian language and culture practitioner, filmmaker, composer, and community leader who has dedicated her life to preserving and perpetuating the ʻike, values, and traditions of our lāhui.Many know her from the award-winning PBS documentary Kumu Hina, which shared her story with audiences around the world and went on to win the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Documentary, the Independent Lens Audience Award, and the Frameline Documentary Jury Award. She also co-directed, produced, and narrated the Oscar-shortlisted animated short Kapaemahu, bringing the moʻolelo of Waikīkī’s legendary māhū healers to an international stage.Along the way, she has been recognized as a White House Champion of Change, received the National Education Association’s Human and Civil Rights Award, was named Native Hawaiian Educator of the Year, and was honored by USA Today as one of the Women of the Century for Hawaiʻi. She is also the composer of “Kū Haʻaheo E Kuʻu Hawaiʻi,” the powerful anthem that became connected to the movement to protect Mauna Kea and later earned Hawaiian Song of the Year at the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards.In this episode we talk story about growing up between two different cultures, her family, going to Kamehameha Schools, finding her identity, the roots of her Hawaiian knowledge, becoming Kumu Hina, what it means to be Hawaiian these days, her future plans, and so much more. Enjoy!Find Kumu Hina here:https://www.instagram.com/sharkgoddess808/Full episodes:🎥 https://www.youtube.com/@KeepitAlohaPod/videosBuy 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

Daniel Kim is an entrepreneur, mentor, creator economy pioneer, and the founder and CEO of MerchLabs. As the founder of MerchLabs, he’s helped generate over $20 million in revenue for creators and has been part of launching hundreds of merch shops, handling everything from design and production to online stores, shipping, fulfillment, and customer service. And his work reaches far beyond just local brands. MerchLabs and his team have experience connected to some of the biggest names in entertainment, including artists like Lady Gaga, Kanye West, Gwen Stefani, Pharrell, Blink-182, No Doubt, Nine Inch Nails, and more. In this episode we talk story about growing up in California as an Asian-American, his start at Interscope Records, his first business venture, the beginning of the creator economy, starting MerchLabs, moving to Hawai'i, mentoring Kamaka, his goal to impact Hawai'i, starting Keep it Aloha events, and so much more. Enjoy 🤙🏽 Find Daniel here:https://www.instagram.com/deepfriedpro/Full episodes:🎥 https://www.youtube.com/@KeepitAlohaPod/videosBuy 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

Sasha Colby is a performer, actress, and LGBTQ+ icon from the island of Oʻahu. She has spent more than two decades becoming one of the most respected and influential drag artists in the world while proudly representing Hawaiʻi every step of the way. Known for her artistry, authenticity, and commanding stage presence, she first earned international recognition after winning the prestigious Miss Continental pageant in 2012—one of the highest honors in the world of drag. She would go on to become a mentor and inspiration to countless performers before capturing the world's attention as the winner of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 15, cementing her place as one of drag's all-time greats. Beyond the stage, she's used her platform to advocate for the transgender community, celebrate self-expression, and inspire people around the world to live authentically. Her impact has reached far beyond entertainment, earning recognition from major media outlets, appearances at the White House, and a devoted global fanbase.In this episode we talk story about her life growing up in Waimanalo, trying to fit in as a kid, finding her identity, moving away from Hawai'i, starting drag, her drug addiction, the beginning of her drag career, getting casted for Ru Paul's Drag race, the drag scene, her life now, and so much more. Enjoy! Find Sasha here: https://www.instagram.com/sashacolby/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

Kaloa Robinson is a Hawai’i development leader from the island of Oʻahu. After graduating from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Shidler College of Business, he joined Stanford Carr Development, where he's spent more than a decade helping lead some of the state's most impactful projects. He currently serves as Vice President and Lead Project Manager for the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District, a transformational multi-billion-dollar redevelopment that will help redefine the heart of Honolulu for generations to come. Along the way, he also led the development of Hale Mōʻiliʻili, Oʻahu's first high-rise affordable rental community built exclusively for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries, and was recently recognized by Hawaii Business Magazine as one of its HB20 honorees, celebrating leaders helping shape the next 20 years of Hawaiʻi. In this episode we talk story about growing up in Hawai’i, his education, how he got started working for Stanford Carr, affordable housing, the new Native-Hawaiian housing in Mōʻiliʻili, the new Aloha Stadium project, and so much more. Enjoy!Find Kaloa here:https://www.instagram.com/kaloaloa/Full episodes:🎥 https://www.youtube.com/@KeepitAlohaPod/videosBuy 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