Hanging Out with Nolan Hong

JB is Casting Director at Universal Studios Japan. We talk about how he ended up in Japan, growing up in Hawaii, his job looking for talent around the world, how the pandemic has been in Osaka, celery juice, Costco in Japan, his dogs, pythons and a log cabin in the woods!

Ho’o is a musician and performer. She shares about realizing she was trans, coming out to her family and her church, learning to be comfortable with who she is, stereotypes and life in quarantine.

Moses is an actor and storyteller. He shares about growing up half-Black, half-Hawaiian on Maui, and his perspective on what is happening now following the killing of George Floyd. We also talk about his career as an artist, following his dreams, and his upcoming projects.

Follow Moses on Facebook and Instagram.

It’s our first episode of Pride Month 2020 Jacce Mikulanec (Ep 141) joins us again to share his coming out story, and he gives us a look at what was going on behind-the-scenes at the Hawaii State Legislature during the fights for marriage equality and civil unions.

It’s KELLY HU!!! She shares about her first acting gig on Growing Pains, moving to LA, learning the craft of acting, her amazing dog Mushu & her work with nonprofits. She’s freaking fantastic and an inspiration to pursue everything fearlessly!

• #BOFOHawaii – http://buyonefeedone.com/
• David Bowie quote – https://youtu.be/7HqTQyQ6wc0

We’re taking another break from the podcast. We plan to be back, please get on our list for updates, https://bit.ly/3cmORDi and go to our website for videos we already shot, https://nolanhong.com/ (SHOWS tab). Please take care & we hope to be back soon!

For this week’s #StrongerTogether nonprofit spotlight, we spoke with Dr. Jill Omori, Executive Director of the Homeless Outreach & Medical Education (HOME) Project.

Patrick is kumu hula of Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu in San Francisco. We talk about bringing his hālau and Keali‘i Reichel to Burning Man, what his dad did for him, teaching hula at San Quinten State Prison and the community created in a hālau.

For this week’s #StrongerTogether nonprofit spotlight, we spoke with Ryan Kusumoto, president and CEO of Parents And Children Together (PACT).

• Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS) Child Welfare Hotline: 808-832-5300; Toll Free: 1-888-380-3088
• PACT’s Domestic Violence Hotline: 808-526-2200

Viet is an actor living in New York City. We talk about life in NYC at this point of the COVID crisis, leaving Hawaii to go to the Manhattan School of Music, and his experiences with Nolan at KCC and their beloved teacher & mentor Lina Doo.

For this week’s nonprofit spotlight, we spoke with Jeff Nash, Executive Director of Habilitat.

• @Habilitat on Facebook and Instagram
• Habilitat’s Needs List on Amazon

Shawn is a life coach based in Wailuku. We talk about how a timeshare brought him to Hawaii, finding love on a cruise ship, driving the monorail at Disney World, and what he does as a life coach. He also shares tips on dealing with fear and anxiety.

For this week’s nonprofit spotlight, we spoke with Karen Glasser of Best Buddies Hawaii.

• @BestBuddiesHI on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
• Virtual Friendship Walk: www.bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org/oahu
• Email Karen for more info
  

Fa’amata is Nolan’s Samoan friend with a southern accent! He’s an Assistant Principal & father of 4 in Jonesboro, Georgia. We talk about growing up in Georgia, dealing with teenagers, getting recruited to play college football & his career-ending injury.

For this week’s nonprofit spotlight, we spoke with Keith Kuboyama of Family Programs Hawaii.