It's A Hawaii Thing

We are stoked to have Hawaiian Waterman, musician, and actor Makua Rothman on It’s A Hawaii Thing Da Podcast! Hear about Makua’s training process, gnarly wipeouts, his passions, and more! This super waterman grew up on the North Shore of O’ahu and started surfing at the age of two. At 18, he caught the world’s biggest wave- a 66 footer- at the infamous Jaws on Maui and took the surfing world by storm winning the 2003 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Award. In 2007 he won the O’Neill World Cup and in 2015 he was crowned the Big Wave World Champion. He is currently sponsored by RVCA, Oakley, and Monster Energy Drink. All the while, he learned to play the ukulele and in 2013 released his debut album, Sound Wave. You might have even seen him doing some acting stunts on Hawaii 5-0, Six Days in Paradise, Blue Crush and Pipeline.  

Full Video Interview: https://itsahawaiithing.com/blogs/podcast/alec-mapa-podcast

***PSST – SPOILER ALERT*** Hear all the juicy secrets from behind the scenes of the popular hit series- Friends, Roseanne, Seinfield, and Desperate Housewives!  “The saddest place on Earth is the departure lounge in Hawaii” #itsahawaiithing Brook’s husband (da comic nerd) gave Alec the lowdown on DC Comics & Doom Patrol…. & now you can see Alec on HBO as the Animal Vegetable Mineral Man !!  Mapa LOVES the Hawaii grindz - Ahi Poke, Malasadas, any kind of tropical drink (cuz yaknow we get one heavvyyy pour) and that KALUA PIGG doe #hawaiigrindzz 

Kristi Yamaguchi is the 1992 Olympic Champion in ladies’ singles figure skating and a two-time World Champion in 1991 & 1992. She also won the World Championship in Pairs’ figure skating with partner Rudy Galindo. In 2005, Kristi was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. She became the celebrity champion in the sixth season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and has appeared on Everyone loves Raymond, Hell’s Kitchen, D2: The Mighty Ducks, and most recently Fresh Off the Boat. She joins Lanai & Brook to share stories about her Always Dream Foundation, her series of children’s books, and her two daughters.  

Maria Quiban Whitesell moved as a child from the Philippines to the Islands where she attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She was the evening weather person for NBC Hawaii News 8 before moving to Orange County. Now watched daily by millions on Good Day LA/FOX 11 Morning News, she is excited to share her new book, You Can’t Do It Alone: A Widow’s Journey Through Loss, Grief and Life After, about life after the tragic loss of her devoted spouse, Sean Whitesell. 

***PSST – SPOILER ALERT*** She when grad from Aiea High School #HomeOfTheNaAli’i Maria jokes about how it’s easier to do weather in LA than in Hawaii – ask Guy Hagi he’ll tell ya #itsahawaiithing  Brook jokes about how Maria recreated Hawaii in her house –  bring in da sand, but no steal em #BACHI Pineapples in da pool - Just cuz you throw Pineapple on it doesn’t make it Hawaiian! #itsaREALhawaiithing Guess da first thing Maria does when she gets off the plane coming home to HI? Grind dat Zip Pac or Surf Pac #nextstopzippys  

It’s A Hawaii Thing is presented by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

It’s A Hawaii Thing Da Podcast welcomes Kama’aina boy - Justin Kawika Young, a gifted singer/songwriter from the Windward side who at a young age achieved great success in the Hawaiian music scene and has been touring with Colbie Caillat for many years. They have performed at the White House and on Good Morning America, to name a couple. He then went on to direct the documentary, My Heroes Shadow: From Hitman to Hero. Hear about their new band Gone West and recent album release, “Canyons.” He may be famous but yet he can’t afford to have a good internet connection I guess… hence why his video keeps cutting out…. It’s quite a cute pic tho so not like it’s not enjoyable am I right???

Full Video It's A Hawaii Thing Podcast:

https://itsahawaiithing.com/blogs/podcast/andy-bumatai-podcast

Get ready for all the laughs with the Godfather of Comedy in Hawai, Andy Bumatai! He is considered Lanai’s comedy sensei and helped him write his first 10 minutes of comedy, giving him a spot on his Island Comedy Showcase in Waikiki at the Don Ho Showroom. Andy was one of Hawaii’s first stand-up comedians to take his act on the road nationally! There has never been a comic force in Hawaii quite like him. He has opened for Tom Jones, Kenny Loggins, Natalie Cole, Lionel Richie, Paul Anka, Cool & the Gang, and Charlie Daniels. Andy has headlined at every major comedy club in the U.S. and even had his own shows in Las Vegas! We all probably remember him from the release of his TV special “High School Daze” and the classic “All in the Ohana.”  

This week our guest is Kristi Yamaguchi! In the 1992 Olympic Games, she took Gold and became the first Asian-American woman to do so in ice skating! Not only is she an incredible figure skater, but she can also dance – winning the 6th Season of Dancing With the Stars. She has appeared on multiple TV shows, such as; Everybody Loves Raymond, Hell’s Kitchen, and Fresh Off the Boat. But her most cherished role is being a mother as well as a children’s book author. After winning her Gold Medal she wanted to use her influence to advance the cause of childhood literacy, and Always Dream Foundation was founded! ADF advocates for childhood literacy through innovative reading programs and partnerships and has been helping children and their families all over California as well as here in Hawaii for the last 24 years! America’s Ice Skating Sweetheart.

Lanai Tabura & Brook Lee wala’au (talk story) with local boy turned Spiderman’s best friend, Jacob Batalon, on this episode of It’s A Hawaii Thing! Jacob Batalon is a Filipino-American actor Damien Memorial School graduate best known for his supporting role as Peter Parker’s best friend, Ned Leeds, in Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home as well as Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Jacob has also played roles in movies such as Every Day, Blood Fest, Night School, Let It Snow, and Banana Split.  

FULL 4k VIDEO INTERVIEW WIth Jacob Batalon:

#JacobBatalon #itsahawaiithing  #SpiderMan