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

Myron Armstrong, better known as 8R08, is a musician from the island of Oʻahu. He has become one of fastest-rising artists to ever come out of Hawaiʻi and is one of the leading voices of Hawaiʻi's new generation of music.As a singer, songwriter and producer, he's created a sound that blends R&B, hip-hop, reggae, pop and island influences while proudly representing Hawaiʻi through his music, his pidgin and his culture. Along the way, he's earned more than 17 million streams across digital streaming platforms, grown to nearly 470,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, been recognized by Spotify as one of its Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month Artists to Watch, collaborated with artists like P-Lo and J Boog, and received co-signs from artists including Kehlani, Doechii, Cuco, thủy, and more.He recently released his highly anticipated debut full-length album, HAMMAJANG, and is now taking that music on the road with his first headlining mainland tour.In this episode we talk story about growing up on different parts of O’ahu, growing his love for music, the start of his music career, staying true to his roots, his new album Hamajang, representing his home and cultures, his future plans, and so much more. Enjoy!Find 8R08 here:https://www.instagram.com/myreeen/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

Kirsten and Erika Titus popular content creators from the island of O’ahu. They are two sisters who turned making videos for fun into one of the biggest social media success stories to ever come out of Hawaiʻi.Kirsten first exploded online through her humor, storytelling, and relatable personality, becoming one of the breakout creators of the early TikTok era and building an audience of millions across social media.Erika would go on to build a massive platform of her own through beauty, fashion, lifestyle content, and honest conversations that resonated with people all over the world. More recently, she sparked an important conversation around beauty standards, confidence, and identity after documenting her journey of shaving her head and redefining what self-worth meant to her.In this episode we talk story about growing up in Wahiawa, their family, how they began creating content, moving away, life outside of Hawai’i, the first time they went viral, mental health, their sisterly bond, and so much more. Enjoy!Find Kirsten here:https://www.instagram.com/kirstentitus/Fine Erika here:https://www.instagram.com/erikamtitus/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

Cole Mynah is a Hawaiʻi entrepreneur and content creator from the island of O’ahu. This local braddah is a passionate storyteller who has built a career helping local businesses and brands share their stories through the power of digital media. What began as a passion for giving back and content creation eventually grew into Just Small Kine Things, a company dedicated to showcasing Hawaiʻi's people, businesses, and culture while helping clients navigate an ever-changing social media landscape. Through video production, marketing strategy, and storytelling, he has worked with a wide range of local organizations and businesses, building a reputation as one of Hawaiʻi's emerging voices in the creator and entrepreneurial space. Beyond creating content, he's passionate about supporting local business, building community, and proving that meaningful impact often comes from the small things done consistently over time. In this episode we talk story about growing up in Hawai’i around diverse people, his family, going to college, starting his social media, his goal with content creation, his life mission, future plans, 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

Olin Kreutz is a Hawaiʻi football legend from the island of O’ahu. In high school he received All-State and SuperPrep All-America honors while serving as football team captain during his senior year, and would additionally go on to win the Hawai'i state wrestling heavyweight championship. He then went on to star at the University of Washington, where he became a Consensus All-American before being drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1998. Over the next 13 seasons in Chicago, he became the heart of one of the NFL's most storied franchises, earning six Pro Bowl selections, First-Team All-Pro honors, and a spot on the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 2000s. He helped lead the Bears to Super Bowl XLI and is widely considered one of the greatest centers in franchise history. Today he's a respected football analyst, coach, mentor, and remains one of Hawaiʻi's most successful football exports.

In this episode, we talk story about growing on O’ahu, playing different sports, getting into football, training with his grandpa, moving away for college, getting drafted by the Chicago Bears, his NFL career, his life after retirement in Chicago, and so much more. Enjoy!

Find Olin here: https://www.instagram.com/olinkreutz/

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

Our guest today is a professional surfer and all-around waterman from the island of Maui. He is widely considered one of the greatest watermen of all time. This athletic freak has spent his life pushing the limits of what humans can do in the ocean. From charging giant waves at Jaws and Nazaré, to helping pioneer modern hydrofoiling, to competing at the highest levels of stand-up paddling, kitesurfing, windsurfing, tow surfing, and big-wave surfing…there may not be another athlete on Earth as versatile in the water as this man.He is an 8-time SUP World Champion, winner of the Nazaré Tow Surfing Challenge, former WSL Big Wave Performer of the Year, and the youngest person ever inducted into the Surfer’s Hall of Fame. He’s surfed some of the biggest waves ever ridden, inspired an entire generation of ocean athletes, and helped redefine what’s possible across multiple water sports. He is also the star and producer of the upcoming feature film Kai. In this episode we talk story about growing up on Maui, being in the water at an early age, trying many different water-sports, riding big waves, his new film “Kai” coming out this summer, his mindset, lifestyle, family, 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

Hirie is a global artist originally from the Philippines, Italy and the island of O’ahu. She has gone on to become one of the leading female voices in modern reggae. As the frontwoman of Hirie, she’s built a worldwide following with hundreds of thousands of monthly listeners and millions of streams across platforms.Her album Wandering Soul debuted at number one on the Billboard Reggae charts, she’s headlined major festivals like California Roots and Reggae Rise Up, and toured with some of the biggest names in the genre including Rebelution, Slightly Stoopid, Dirty Heads, and Sublime with Rome. Along the way, she earned a San Diego Music Award and built a reputation as one of the most dynamic live performers in the scene.Most recently, she's continued to evolve her sound with new releases like Blazin, while collaborating with artists across the reggae and island music world—including a recent collaboration with our past guest Wavvy. In this episode we talk story about growing up around the world, moving to Hawai’i, being bullied, starting her music career, life in Cali, touring, how she met her husband, becoming a mother, mental health, new music, 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

Kala’i Pomroy and James Shaw are musical artists from the Big Island of Hawai’i. These Hilo boys are now based on Oʻahu, and represent a new generation of local music — one that blends island reggae, R&B, hip-hop, and pop into something that feels both rooted and global at the same time.

Their breakout track Keep Me In Mind helped put them on the map, and since then they’ve continued to build momentum with songs like Thyme, POUNDTOWN, Peaches, Sunshine, and Long Day.They’ve performed on platforms like HI Sessions, HI Now, and Sugarshack Sessions, and recently released their debut project Sink or Swim, collaborating with artists like HIRIE and Likkle Jordee, the Steppas, and 8R08 along the way.In this episode we talk story about growing up in Hilo, how they became friends, the start of their music career, their hustle to make money, taking a break to refocus, their reemergence to the music scene, their first album, and so much more. Enjoy!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