Above the bridge

Send us Fan Mail

Some conversations hit different because they refuse to pretend. Maci Ono is back, and we go way past gym clips and highlight reels into the messy middle where real change happens: grief, low motivation, depression, identity shifts, and the daily choice to keep showing up anyway. If you’ve ever put on a hoodie, gone full incognito, and tried to talk yourself out of the workout you know you need, you’ll recognize yourself here.

We get honest about the pressure of being “the inspirational one” on social media, what it feels like to disappear for months, and the tools that helped Maci climb out: accepting the low without getting stuck, leaning on family and friends, getting back into therapy, and changing the environments that keep you coping in ways that make tomorrow worse. We also talk about how social media can warp your expectations when you’re watching everyone else’s 15% and comparing it to your full 100%.

Then we dig into the physical side of setbacks. Macy shares the reality of post-surgery complications after skin removal, how it changed her training, and how body image and body dysmorphia can flare up even after major weight loss. From there we connect it to food, binge eating stigma, and the balance skills that actually help with weight loss maintenance: avoiding extreme restriction, dropping the all-or-nothing mindset, and learning how to reset immediately instead of waiting for Monday.

If you want a mindset that lasts, a healthier relationship with food, and a more realistic way to think about discipline and mental health, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.

Send us Fan Mail

A kid can survive almost anything, but they don’t survive it unchanged. Nelson Sua up in Hawaii inside a home marked by violence, fear, and a family legacy that later gets labeled “Brotherhood of Crime.” He’s honest about what that kind of childhood does to your identity, your nervous system, and your sense of what’s normal. Then he walks us through the moment he finally decides the story ends with him, especially after becoming a father and realizing his kids deserve a different future.

Things get even heavier when Nelson learns later in life that the man he called dad is not his biological father. That revelation sends him into a dark spiral of numbness, drinking, and chasing anything that will quiet the pain. What changes the direction isn’t a self-help hack or a perfect plan, but a powerful faith experience he describes as immediate peace the moment he steps into church. From there, we talk about forgiveness, daily discipline, and how to share faith without using it to shame people.

Today, he puts that transformation into action through Boss Ministry and SHIELD, his anti-bullying program focused on Strength, Honor, Integrity, Empowerment, Leadership, and Discipline. We get into bullying in Hawaii, cyberbullying that follows kids home, and why real prevention has to involve schools, families, and the community, not just assemblies and slogans. If you care about youth mentorship, breaking generational cycles, and building safer schools, this conversation will stay with you. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs hope, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you heard.

Send us Fan Mail

Most people judge a DJ by the loudest 30 seconds. We wanted to talk about the other 99 percent of the job: the decisions nobody sees that keep a club alive, a dance floor full, and a night moving in waves instead of burning out early.

We’re joined by DJ Javi, one of Hawaii’s most versatile DJs, to break down the real mechanics of nightlife. We talk DJ battles, mentorship, and the Hawaii DJ community ethos of showing up for each other’s gigs. Javi explains why “reading the room” is not a vibe-based cliché, it’s a skill: watching who is dancing, who is stuck at the bar, and how to sequence songs so the crowd builds naturally. We also get into the business side of DJing, why cold asks for peak-time slots fail, and how newer DJs can earn bookings through demos, feedback, and consistent presence.

Then we go deep on emo nights in Hawaii: how the concept spread from the mainland, why some sets land and others don’t, how to balance mainstream sing-alongs with deeper cuts, and even how to keep mosh pit energy safe in a club environment. Along the way, we touch on how social media changed nightlife behavior, how different venues demand different strategies, and why undercutting rates hurts the whole scene.

If you care about Hawaii nightlife, DJ culture, Serato and Rekordbox workflow, or how a great DJ thinks in real time, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a DJ or promoter friend, and leave a review with the best lesson you’ve learned from a night out.

Send us Fan Mail

The moment Wes said he’s putting down the mic, I felt it in my gut because I’ve known him as the voice that can move a room. We sit down and get real about why stepping back from MC duties can be the exact move a growing business needs, especially when you’re trying to protect your name, your family, and the standard your clients pay for.

We talk about the path that got him here, from working a regular job while his emceeing slowed down to building From Above Entertainment into one of the most trusted names in Hawaii wedding entertainment. Wes shares how his wife Julie pushed the original vision, how a one-year “let’s try it” turned into ten years, and what actually separates a wedding DJ and MC team when the pressure is high and the timeline is tight. We also dig into growth challenges after COVID, staying current with wedding trends, and finding people who are willing to put in real work instead of chasing instant gratification.

Then we get into the gear and the future: LED video walls, LED DJ booths, and how his new leg, From Above Displays, handles commercial and residential LED screen installs from planning and site visits to full setup and support. If you’re into entrepreneurship, event production, leadership, and building a service business with aloha, there’s a lot here to steal for your own life.

Subscribe for more conversations like this, share this with a friend who’s building something, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one goal you’re chasing right now that scares you a little?

Send us Fan Mail

A club doesn’t earn trust with matching jerseys. It earns trust when coaches, athletes and parents show up with clarity, consistency, and heart. That’s where this conversation with Coach Kea lands as she shares the story behind rebranding to Ho’omau Athletics, a name rooted in perseverance and shaped by a season of real-life pressure.

We get into what it looks like to build a youth volleyball culture in Hawaii that feels like family without getting soft on standards. Coach Kea breaks down the difference between a good coach and a great coach, why accountability matters more than empty praise, and how team-first habits are trained through everyday choices at practice. We also talk about the constant tension every competitive program faces: winning versus player development. Sometimes the best lesson costs points, and she explains why that tradeoff can be worth it for long-term growth.

If you’re a sports parent, there’s a lot here for you too: open practices, clear parent meetings, how to handle playing time conversations, and why college recruiting often includes evaluating the parents along with the athlete. Coach Kea also shares what changes as Ho’omau heads into its third season, her move into high school coaching, how travel builds chemistry, and how she integrates faith in a way that invites rather than pressures.

If you found value here, subscribe, share this with a coach or parent who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one trait you wish every coach would lead with?

Send us Fan Mail

RAIN El DAKHAKHNI is the founder of 76 Sips Bar Company, a Hawaii mobile bartending service focused on fresh juice, local ingredients, and craft cocktail quality for weddings, brand events, and private parties on Oahu. We talk through her route from working and opening bars to betting on herself, plus why she’d rather be called a “cocktail artist” than a mixologist.

We also get real about what most people never see: the long nights, the paperwork, and the stress of standing in a liquor license hearing where a few commissioners can decide your livelihood. Rain shares what helped her push through, how she keeps her standards when the market rewards shortcuts, and why honesty about product quality matters more than clever menu buzzwords.

Then we nerd out on the fun part: how she designs custom drink menus around an event’s theme, color palette, and glassware, including riffs on classics, acid-adjusted citrus, and ingredients like calamansi picked fresh from the farm. We also dig into the business side of growth, from social media marketing on Instagram and TikTok to delegation, training contractors, and pacing your spending so your passion doesn’t turn into chaos.

If you care about entrepreneurship, hospitality, and craft cocktails in Hawaii, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a friend planning an event, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

Send us Fan Mail

Five years and nearly 200 episodes later, I’m still recording Above the Bridge the same way I started: showing up, hitting record, and trying to have real conversations that leave me feeling something. This annual Q and A is me answering the questions you sent in, from what made me nervous early on to the one episode that gave me confidence to do the show in front of people, and the honest truth about what it takes to stay consistent week after week.

We get into the behind-the-scenes work most people don’t see when they search “start a podcast” or “grow a podcast” including booking guests, planning ahead, editing, and staying current. I also share why some interviews feel easy while others are tough, what constructive criticism actually helped me improve, and why most podcasts quit before they ever find their rhythm.

I also talk about why local podcasts matter right now, especially in Hawaii. Giving local people a voice, keeping island connections strong for listeners who moved away, and sharing the way we talk and the aloha we try to live by is a big part of why I keep doing this. And I’ll tell you straight up what motivates me most: my daughter, and the idea that one day she can look back on these conversations and get to know her dad in a different way.

If you’ve ever needed a reason to keep creating, press play, then subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it.

Send us Fan Mail

A lot of people get a past they can’t outrun, and a lot of people in construction carry more weight than anyone sees. I sit down with Aaron Siga, a Kaneohe legend who used to be known for scrapping, to talk about how he flipped that energy into something that actually builds people up: leadership, teaching, and a steady “aloha” attitude on and off the jobsite.

We get into the real story behind his “hammer built” mindset, from the wake up call of prison to the grind of learning framing, metal stud work, and union life the hard way. Aaron breaks down what separates a real worker from a loud one, why the best fighters are usually the most humble, and how jobsite culture can either help apprentices grow or push them toward burnout. If you’ve ever felt stuck, underpaid, or underestimated, his approach to leveling up through responsibility and repetition hits home.

Then the conversation goes deeper than construction tips. Aaron opens up about depression, suicidal thoughts, and the moments that forced him to seek therapy and rebuild his thinking. We talk about mental health in construction, the danger of screaming at people who are already struggling, and how purpose, community, and faith can pull someone back from the edge.

If this connects with you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so more people can find it. What’s one mindset shift that helped you keep going when life got heavy?

Send us Fan Mail

A side hustle that takes off because of shower curtains sounds like a joke, until you hear how it actually happened. I’m sitting down with Marnee, the owner of MarnZaza, a fast-growing local Hawaii brand with a loyal community, bold prints, and a real-world retail presence that keeps expanding. She’s also still doing hair and lashes, which makes her story hit even harder if you’re juggling a day job while trying to build something of your own. 

We talk through the full path: starting in the salon world, experimenting with products, then getting forced into a COVID pivot that pushes her into social media marketing. One raw Instagram reel turns into huge demand, and suddenly she’s figuring out product sourcing, sampling, outsourcing, and how to keep prices reasonable for local shoppers. She breaks down what pop-up life really requires, how different neighborhoods shop differently, and why her prints aim for “feels like home” instead of tourist shop energy, including collaborations with local artists. 

We also get into the parts people don’t post: dealing with negativity online, setting boundaries, and building thick skin without turning cold. Then we shift into brick-and-mortar growth at Harbor Center and Windward Mall, why foot traffic still matters, and what it takes to staff and coach a team when your business is open seven days a week. If you’re searching for real talk on small business in Hawaii, Instagram marketing for retail, pop-up strategy, and women-owned entrepreneurship, this one delivers. 

Listen now, then subscribe, share it with a friend who’s building a hustle, and leave a review. What’s one product or idea you’d “ride the wave” on if it started blowing up tomorrow?

Send us Fan Mail

A band can disappear from the release radar and still soundtrack your whole life. That’s why sitting down with Ho’onu'a felt like a full circle moment for us, from the classics we grew up on to the new music they’re finally ready to unleash. Jared and Christian share what changed since the peak island music days, what stayed the same, and why coming back now is less about “nostalgia” and more about purpose, family, and perspective.

We go deep on the stuff nobody warns you about: the financial chaos of kids’ sports, how raising daughters rewires your mindset, and how time gives you a wider view of your own lyrics. Then we zoom out to the bigger question fans always argue about, the status of island reggae and Hawaiian music today. They break down why comparing eras misses the point, how roots reggae and R&B influences opened new doors, and why a good song still stands the test of time when the hook is real.

On the business side, we talk modern music production and promotion: recording on laptops, collaborating across Hawaii and the mainland, giving producers credit, and the grind of social media marketing for independent artists. We also get real about live concerts, viral moments, and the challenge of getting people to put the phone down and actually be present. If you love island music, band origin stories, and honest behind-the-scenes artist talk, this one delivers.

Subscribe to Above the Bridge Podcast, share this with a friend who grew up on Ho’onu'a, and leave a review with the song that brings you straight back to Hawaii.