Talk Story with Aunty Piilani

In this episode, Aunty Piilani shares a series of close calls from her catering days in Eaton Rapids. With the help (and occasional chaos) of her employees, she recounts a handful of unforgettable situations that could have ended in disaster, but didn’t, thanks to a little quick thinking, a lot of experience, and what she likes to call her magic.

It’s a glimpse behind the scenes of events that guests thought were seamless… and the reality that was anything but. You'll have to listen to find out, but let's just say that we almost called this one Don't Let Jeff Drive.

In this episode, Aunty Piilani begins her Michigan chapter, starting in Lansing and adjusting to a completely different life, climate and pace before eventually making her way to Eaton Rapids. But once she gets into the kitchen, things pick up. We hear about the early days of Piilani’s Restaurant and Catering, her high standards for her staff, and the reputation she was determined to build — even if it meant she felt like she was "Lady Gordon Ramsay.” And yes, this is the episode featuring the infamous pineapple incident. It’s a quiet start with flashes of the fire to come in our next episode.

In this episode, Aunty Piilani tells the story of meeting Paul, the man who would become her fourth and final husband. What begins as a chance encounter while she’s working as a tour guide quickly turns into something much bigger. Swept up by persistence, charm, and more than a little sparkle, she makes a series of fast, life-changing decisions. Within weeks, loose ends are tied, bags are packed, and she leaves Hawaiʻi for Michigan, beginning a chapter that would last more than three decades. It’s a story of momentum, risk, and the moments that quietly reroute an entire life — with a few surprises best left uncovered by listening.

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault, adult themes, and crime. Listener discretion is advised. In The Waikīkī Years, Part 2, Aunty Piilani concludes a turbulent chapter marked by loss, survival, and hard lessons. She reflects on the aftermath of a failed marriage, dangerous relationships, and experiences she never expected to face. Along the way, she recalls pieces of Waikīkī nightlife from the era, including drag performers and Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand. For privacy, the name of one individual has been intentionally replaced with a duck quack.

In this Christmas episode, Aunty Piilani shares memories of the holidays in Keaukaha, from the traditions of her childhood to the years when she was raising her own family. She reflects on how Christmas has changed over time and what the season means to her now. Along the way, she sings a few beloved Christmas songs and sends heartfelt holiday greetings to friends and family, making this episode a fun and nostalgic pause in the story.

⚠️ Content Note

This episode includes adult subject matter related to Honolulu’s 1970s nightlife, including discussion of an adult bookstore, sex work, and crime. Listener discretion is advised.

In this first half of the Waikīkī years, Aunty Piilani remembers her time running a small hot-dog stand that just happened to sit beside an adult bookstore on Kuhio Avenue—right in the middle of the wild Waikīkī nightlife of the 1970s. The stand drew every kind of customer imaginable, each with a story of their own. Amid the chaos, she also meets her third husband, whose promise of opal mines turns out to be far from shiny. With plenty of laughter, surprises, and street-corner wisdom, this episode captures the energy of a city—and a life—always in motion.

⚠️ Content note: This episode contains discussion of Hawaiian spiritual practices, including kahuna and spirits.

In this special Halloween episode, Aunty Piilani shares stories of the unseen—her encounters with kahuna who helped lift curses, calm spirits, and make sense of her lifelong gift of sight. She also recalls a childhood prank gone wrong, when she and her friends blamed their mischief on the “boogeyman.” A mix of mystery, laughter, and island spirituality, this episode offers a glimpse into the supernatural side of growing up in Hawaiʻi.

In Part 2 of the Olaʻa Bakery story, Aunty Piilani serves up more history and hilarity. She recalls how the Shipman family’s influence helped change Olaʻa’s name to Keaʻau. Then, legend or fact? From Mr. Sonoda, she shares how the Hilo Macaroni Company got its famous saloon pilot cracker recipe and how those cracker tins found new life as kulolo pans. There’s also a laugh-out-loud moment when childhood Kye breaks a bad mood with an embarrassing confession, memories of hippies flocking for her bread pudding, and one unintentional but very audible guest star: Kady the dog, who pants through the whole episode. E kala mai, listeners!

In this episode, Aunty Piilani shares how she was taken under the wing of Mr. and Mrs. Kazuyoshi Sonoda, who passed on their recipes, skills, and bakery know-how at the Olaʻa Bakery in Keaʻau, Big Island. From learning to handle commercial mixers to producing hundreds of the bakery’s famous manju, this was a year filled with both hard work and lasting memories. Along the way, her children pitched in—sometimes with comic disasters, like overflowing cupcake batter and run-ins with an unforgiving mixer paddle, and as the chapter closed, a surprising discovery is revealed as a hidden piece of the bakery’s history.

From a disastrous family partnership to star-studded nights on Hilo’s Banyan Drive, this episode follows Aunty Piilani through her first restaurant, Keoni’s, and into the world of hotel row dining and entertainment. Along the way, she brushes shoulders with Hawaiian greats like Danny Kaleikini, Don Ho, and Peter Moon, while navigating the hard truths of business partnerships and marriage. The story includes plenty of laughs, a dose of chaos, and reflections on the lessons learned when both love and business fall apart.