Kalani Pe'a is a three-time Native-Hawaiian Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter from the Big Island of Hawai’i. His debut album “E Walea” won him his first grammy award in 2017 for Best Regional Roots Music album and a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for best Hawaiian contemporary Album, making Hawaiian history as the only album to ever win both a Grammy and a Nā Hōkū. He sings everything from classical, musical, ballads, R&B, soul to traditional and original Hawaiian music displaying wide-ranging talents as a songwriter and music composer. This Kanaka is also a fluent Hawaiian language speaker and has illustrated and published five Hawaiian language children stories. In this episode we talk about growing up in a Hawaiian immersion school, the Hawaiian language, how he started in music, coming out to his family, and so much more. Enjoy!

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Alexis Akiona is a Native-Hawaiian designer from the Big Island of Hawai’i. She is a local fashion entrepreneur who launched her business, Lexbreezy Hawai'i, during the Merrie Monarch in 2016 and has since climbed her way to the top with her creative designs that blend classic island style with a modern, sophisticated aesthetic.  This second generation Alohawear designer is also a wife and mother of two. Most recently she gifted the Honolulu Community College $50,000 which will be provided over the course of five years to create 20 scholarships each year to fashion and cosmetology students, with preference given to Native Hawaiian students. In this episode we talk about growing up in Hilo, her time with Farmers Market Hawai'i, how she started Lexbreezy Hawai'i, what Alohawear looks like today, and answers a special Patreon fan question live in the studio. Enjoy!

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Elijah Kālā McShane is a kahu from the island of O’ahu. This father of one is a direct descendant of chiefly lineages. He is the co-founder of Awakened Aloha which is an organization that focuses on inspiring a world where aloha is the heartbeat of humanity. His work bridges ancient wisdom and ancestral connection to modern wellness through mauli ola (healing arts) lā’au lapa’au (natural plant based medicine), aloha education, and community development. He runs a popular Instagram account where he educates people about Hawai'i and all the aloha we have here. He also was a former teen bodybuilding world champion. In this episode we talk about his deep roots, overcoming a speech impediment, how he gained his Hawaiian knowledge, aloha, bodybuilding, and so much more. Enjoy!

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Puamakamae DeSoto is a 9x National Surf Champion from the island of O’ahu. Daughter of Longboarding World Champion Duane DeSoto, Pua is the first athlete in history to win both the explorer women’s shortboard and longboard titles at the NSSA Nationals in Huntington. In 2018 and just recently again in 2023, she was named the Buffalo Keaulana Waterwoman of the year after competing numerous events known as the waterman olympics. She was the youngest honoree ever to compete against an open men’s division in eight of the events and was acknowledged by the Hawai'i’s state legislature. In this episode we talk about going to high school as a professional surfer, her future goals, what makes her proud to be Hawaiian, and so much more. Enjoy! 

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Kaniela Ing is a Native-Hawaiian politician and community organizer from the island of Maui. He was a former member of the Hawai’i House of Representatives from the 11th district representing South Maui from 2012 until 2018. Kaniela currently serves as the national director of the Green Network where he leads national campaigns to combat climate change. He also serves on various coalitions including Our Hawai’i, the Climate Power advisory board, and the Hawai'i Community Bail Fund board of directors. In 2014 he introduced a bill that was signed into law to provide a same-day voter registration. In this episode we talk about being the first graduating class of Kamehameha on Maui, political and Hawaiian history, kūʻe, protesting, and so much more. Enjoy!

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Dillon Pakele is an up-and-coming Native-Hawaiian, Samoan musician from the island of Oʻahu. He is the son of the late and great Kaulana Pakele, lead singer of Manaʻo Company, and specializes in island reggae music with an influence of R&B and gospel.  You can hear this singer, songwriter and guitaristʻs hit singles ʻForgive Meʻ featuring Fiji, ʻNothing Nowʻ and Heaven in the Skyʻ on the radio and Spotify. In this episode we talk about carrying on his fatherʻs legacy, how he got into music, local culture, and so much more. Enjoy!

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Kahanuola Solatorio is a Hawaiian language teacher from the island of Oʻahu. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in both Hawaiian Language and Hawaiian Studies and a Masterʻs degree in Elementary Education from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He is also a member of the Hawaiian musical group, Keauhou. They have released three albums and they have a total of 17 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards. This kumu began his @ehoopilimai social media journey in 2020 for Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language month), posting videos to his story teaching ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi to his mom, “student cousin Cappy”, and his page took off with followers from around the world. Since then, he has built a community of learners across the Hawaiian islands and around the world who participates in his free weekly classes hosted on Zoom and continues to collaborate with our businesses and organizations to platform Hawaiian Language in all places possible. In this episode we talk about his journey learning and teaching Hawaiian language, we play a new Hawaiian game, and so much more. Enjoy!

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Kamu Grugier-Hill is a Native-Hawaiian professional football player for the Arizona Cardinals from the island of Oʻahu. This soon-to-be  8-year veteran in the NFL played college ball for Eastern Illinois where he earned first-team all OVC honors. In 2016 he was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 6th round before going on to play for the Philadelphia Eagles. Kamu is one of only a handful of Hawaiʻi-born players to ever win the Super Bowl during his time with the Eagles when they defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 52. Before getting traded to the Cardinals in 2022, on December 5th, 2021, in a game against the Indianapolis Colts, he set the Houston Texanʻs franchise record for tackles in a single game, with 19 tackles. In this episode we talk about his childhood moving back and forth between islands, how he got into football, his journey to the Super Bowl, life outside of the game, and so much more. Enjoy the episode!

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Olena Heu is an award winning journalist from the island of Kauaʻi. She is an accomplished and sought-after television personality, entrepreneur and journalist with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Speech Communication from Hawaii Pacific University. As an award-winning reporter and news anchor, she received recognition for her journalistic excellence as a recipient of the distinguished Edward R. Murrow award, numerous Society of Professional Journalist awards and recent work has garnered a Telly and an Emmy nomination. In 2004, the Kauai native held the title of Miss Hawaiʻi representing The Aloha State at the prestigious Miss America pageant in Atlantic City. Currently she is the founder of a successful marketing and communications firm with clients across the globe. In this episode we talk about the different Miss Hawaiʻi competitions, misconceptions people might have about her, and of course Hawaiian culture. Enjoy the episode! 

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Big wave surfer Mark Healey is back on the Hawaiiverse Podcast fresh off of a 3rd place performance in the historic 34th Annual Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational to talk story with Kamaka. No script, uncut, and unfiltered...so things might get weird. Enjoy!

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