Sandwich Islands Social Network

Former Michigan State All-American fullback Bob Apisa notched his second hall of fame honor.

Apisa was named one of five inductees to the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame's 2018 class. He was the lone inductee in the contributor category while the other four were in the player group. That followed his formal induction into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame.

Bob talks with host Kamaka Brown about Polynesians in professional football and his story from American Samoa to his time on and off the field over the years.

On December 24th, 1953, comedian and pidgin advocate Andy Bumatai was born.  

Bumatai was born in Germany, spent much of his childhood in San Francisco, and didn’t come to Hawaii until he was 13, but he’s always been a local boy. After living in Kalihi for a year, Bumatai’s family moved to Waianae. He attended Waianae intermediate and high school, earning a name for himself as the class clown. He dropped out of high school in the 11th grade and started working odd jobs, from a dishwasher to a surfboard polisher. He became a successful salesman, and by his early 20s he saw that there were virtually no stand-up comics playing shows in local restaurants and clubs. He decided to fill that void, becoming one of Hawaii’s first stand-up comedians.

Andy "talks story" with host and friend Kamaka Brown.

A fun conversation with Hawaii radio personality Dave Lancaster who has a long history in entertainment and broadcasting. Lots of stories and plenny aloha in store for you!

Kenneth Va'a Niumatalolo (born May 8, 1965) is an American football coach and former player who is the head coach of San Jose State. He was the head coach of the Naval Academy from 2007 to 2022, accumulating the most wins in program history. Niumatalolo played college football at the University of Hawaii. As a quarterback he led Hawaii to their first postseason bowl game in 1989. Niumatalolo is the second person of Polynesian descent to be named head coach of an NCAA Division I FBS college football program and the first ethnic Samoan collegiate head coach on any level. Niumatalolo was inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame on January 23, 2014.

Coach Ken shares his story with host Kamaka Brown. A humble man of faith and family with football as his passion.

Keola Beamer is a Hawaiian slack-key guitar player, best known as the composer of "Honolulu City Lights" and an innovative musician who fused Hawaiian roots and contemporary music. Keola Beamer descends from one of Hawaii's most respected musical families.

Keola shares his story of the Lahaina fires with host Kamaka Brown on this very introspective "Aloha Friday" podcast.

Yvonne Elliman had it all, in her late teens and early 20s.

Fresh out of Roosevelt High School (Class of 1969), she journeyed to London, where Andrew Lloyd Webber swiftly signed her to do the first commercially successful "concept" album, "Jesus Christ Superstar," in which she sang the role of Mary Magdalene.

That was in the early '70s. The rock opera eventually became a hit Broadway show, then a popular film, and Elliman did both on her way to the big time.

In the "talk story" session, Yvonne shares with host Kamaka Brown what her journey was like from living in Hawaii to being in the spot light with rock legends of the 70's and 80's.

SIN radio throwback session with the SIN Krew: Annie Rivera, Danny Lagronio, Kamaka Brown and the rest hang out and share their aloha on the SIN Krew Radio Show.

A fun weekly talk story session with Hawaiians and Hawaiians at heart. Like when we were kids growing up in Hawaii, friends and family gathered on the porch to eat, talk story and play music.

This is a virtual "On the Porch" gathering to do just that. It's just a bunch of friends who love the islands talking story....

A weekly gathering of Hawaiians and Hawaiians at heart to talk story, laugh and share the aloha.

What started as a weekly means to keep connected to each other during the pandemic almost 3 years ago has resulted in a fun virtual gathering each week to "catch up" with each other. It's unscripted and a free flowing dialogue that results in a virtual hug of aloha each time!

it started during the pandemic lock down as a way to keep in touch with friends in the community. Three years later we still gather virtually to talk story, laugh and share the aloha. It's the longest running virtual gathering of Hawaiians and Hawaiians at heart in Southern California!