The Blue Hawaii Podcast

(*Recorded before the election*)

After Josh does his best Cardi B impression to shill for Homebrew In Paradise (we are so, so sorry for subjecting your ears to this), we get deep into the mad week that led up to yesterday's election -- the Hawaii Supreme Court ruling on TMT, drama at the finish line in the governor's race, Super Typhoon Yutu, troops heading to the border, the future of birthright citizenship, and the aftermath of the Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh. Plus, it's not all futebol and caipirinhas down in Brazil -- meet Jair Bolsonaro, Latin America's answer to Trump.

We also have an exciting event to tell you about! (And no, it's not the live show, but you should be there anyway). Adrian Tam from Senator Stanley Chang's office joins us to talk about their upcoming conference on affordable housing: “How to achieve 65,000 housing units by 2025” -- Friday November 16, at the Hawaii state capitol auditorium. We also shout out the UH Rainbow Wahine Soccer Team and revisit our pre-election predictions.

PS - TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY! Don't forget to check out The Blue Hawaii Podcast Live and Direct, at Marks Garage. Like, share, and stay tuned for more!

40! The news is bleak (just ask #TopYouthSoccerRecruitsForTrump). But after some cathartic banter on the "caravan," a vanishing island, Megyn Kelly, transphobia, and baby boomers on the internet, as well as a next level #Bikileak, we've got a wonderful interview at 23:23 with the inimitable Bassima Al-Ghussein! Bassima is the

CEO of Alghussein Global Strategies, which specializes in government affairs and strategic communications in the United States and the Middle East. True story: CSIS paid her 55 cents on the dollar, so she quit and started her own company!

We talk about her journey from Kahuku High School to Washington, D.C. and ask what it's like to hang your own shingle as a consultant and international media commentator (especially on the president's favorite show). We also pick her brain about the biggest stories in the middle east and DC: the murder of Jamal Kashoggi and what it means for the US-Saudi relationship, the futures of Palestine and Israel and the possibilities for peace in the region, and the shamelessness of Hillary's #MeToo double standards and the bigoted corruption of California Republican Duncan Hunter. And we had to ask -- her restaurant recs are Le Diplomate (in DC), and Giovanni's Shrimp Truck and Ono's Hawaiian food (on Oahu)!

PS: is former Iranian PM Mahmoud Ahmadinejad "woke" now??

PPS: RIP to Nairobi, the Honolulu Zoo Giraffe

PPPS: Shoutout to St. Oscar Romero, Frost City, and Snoop Dogg's new cookbook!

PPPPS: We'll see you at the live show at Marks Garage on November 8!!!!

We've got some ugly politics and beautiful art in this episode! What does Elizabeth Warren's problematic attempt to outfox Trump have in common with a recent lawsuit over Guam's referendum on sovereignty? Native Hawaiians who remember Rice v. Cayetano know all too well (shoutout to UH Law Professor Troy Andrade for his awesome scholarship).

Plus, with election day fast approaching, the Hawaii Supreme Court cancels our most controversial ballot issue, the wagons circle in opposition to a Constitutional Convention, and there are serious shenanigans in a big city council race. We've also got a hot new Bikileak for you, fresh off our text messages: is a leadership shakeup coming in the Hawaii Legislature?

Our guest (32:00) is Matt "Maka" Kwock, local photographer extraordinaire and our former artist of the month. Hear his story, how he got into photography, what inspires his art, and where he goes for the best glimpses of Hawaii's natural beauty. Check his work out at @mmkwock, at https://www.mattkwockphotography.com/, or on the Hawaiian Airlines website! (PS - His restaurant rec is Duk Kee in Kaimuki!)

Don't forget to come by and visit us at our first-ever live show at The ARTS at Marks Garage on Thursday, November 8, from 7:30 - 9:30!!! We promise it will be better (and cheaper) than Bill and Hillary's new speaking tour. Hope to see you soon!

We've got a supersized 3-part episode for you! Starting at 3:07, we hit the Local 5 picket line in Waikiki to talk to friend of the show Paola Rodelas and two striking hotel workers about their dispute with Kyo-Ya, what the #OneJobShouldBeEnough campaign means to them, and the better deal they're fighting for. Then, at 18:30, Josh and Ryan combine their strong male energy to discuss an unexpected turn in Melania's "#BeBest" campaign, America's relationship with Saudi Arabia, and the cataclysmic death of our planet. Last but not least, at 34:30, we sit down with our new friend Sha Ongelungel, a Palauan digital activist and host of the Sha Nanigans podcast. She tells us about working in Micronesian politics and growing up in an activist family (actual quote: "I knew the word 'decolonize' before I quite knew how to read"), and we discuss her #BeingMicronesian twitter thread that was picked up by Civil Beat and is making headlines around the world. Our restaurant recs are Umeke Market, Jun Bo Chinese Restaurants, Coquito's Latin Cuisine Restaurant, Bravo/Anna Miller's, and Papa's Cafe.

And because we could all use some more good news, we've got an announcement: our first-ever live show will take place at Mark's Garage on Thursday, November 8!!!! Stay tuned for more details and please keep listening, rating, and sharing!

On Episode 37, we get right to it: this was a rough week for America, but things look a bit brighter on the other -- or should we say "under" -- side of the world. We're of course talking Kavanaugh, we're of course talking the decline of the American republic, but, we're also tempering our national depression with a bit of cheery news from Josh and Antoinette in New Zealand! They talk about what a fantastic country the 'ole N-Z is, how New Zealand navigates tough cultural issues, and why Josh has been pretty stinky lately.

Then, at 26:17, Ryan talks with friend-of-the-show Alex Marks, a Millennial candidate running for office in the Victorian seat of Kew in Australia. Alex is running on a progressive platform that includes massive public investment in green infrastructure, jobs training for underemployed workers, and *gasp* a rail!

All that and *so* much more this week. Please be sure to like our facebook page, tag us on your Instagram posts, and share this episode with your friends!

This week, we start off by getting to know a new Josh -- Josh Cox, our producer and partner at the Pod. Ryan and (new) Josh talk about Josh's life, what things are like where he lives in Birmingham, Alabama, and even about Josh's podcast "This Was A Mistake."

Then, they jump into the news by talking all things Kavanaugh. They move from there into the 99%+ rejection rate of Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness applications, and then quickly about HART's 'rapid' need to 'transit' $44 million into Honolulu's rail project.

After our first break, we check in with (old) Josh, Antoinette (his lovely wife), and a new friend, Li'l Roo. They talk about Kavanaugh, the insanity of cricket, and Australia's national obsession: rugby.

Then, we end with shoutouts and food recommendations. Learn what yet another haole from Alabama thought was memorable about Honolulu's food scene (Dagon, Leonard's), and where you should eat if you're ever passing through Birmingham (The Garage, Johnny's).

All that and more on our newest episode! Like, tag, share, and subscribe!

Goin' live with 35! This episode finds the guys talking about the things you're always supposed to talk about: politics and religion! At 3:20, they chat about whether racial reconciliation and Christianity are divorceable or inextricably linked. At 8:12, they dive into James C. Cobb's interview with Gregory Rodriguez of ZocaloPublic Square about why America has been so reluctant to own the South. At 21:39, local news starts, with a quick-hitter on the opportunity for a Hawaii Constitutional Convention. At 25:25, there's a piping hot BIKILEAK about how a certain minority political party in Hawaii is melting down, despite the 'rah rah' BS spouted on a recent visit by a diaper-wearing-man-child and a woman only famous for being mean. Then, at 27:25, they chat with Maui-resident and Twitter celebrity Delilah Asterales (@HawaiiDelilah) about the current state of affordable healthcare, the ongoing saga of serial-virgin Brett Kavanaugh, and her efforts to get out the vote. Delilah also gives them her restaurant recs for Maui (Fish Market on Lower Hanoapiilani Rd., Honu, Mala Tavern, Merriman's, and Monkeypod). Keep the conversation going on Twitter (@bluehawaiipod) -- and don't forget to rate us, tag us, like us, and share us.

The boys are back in town -- we've got a great show for you and an even better guest! We're talking with Aaron Wills, a local attorney and two-time NCAA champion with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Aaron shares his inspiring story of perseverance -- from the gridiron in Lincoln, to surviving law school as a single dad, to hanging his own shingle in Honolulu. We also talk about the nascent college football season and some big local and national stories off the field -- including the killing of Botham Shem Jean, Nike teaming up with Colin Kaepernick, and why Josh was enough of a masochist to watch Ben Shapiro and Clay Travis whine for an hour about sports being "too political."

But first! Ryan and Josh discuss President Trump's continued hurricane-themed disgrace, Cynthia Nixon's loss to Andrew Cuomo in the New York governor's primary, Unite Here! Local 5 voting to STRIKE!!!, and Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho's problematic new bestie, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte -- the daughter of Filipino strongman and world-renowned lunatic Rodrigo! Let's just say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Don't forget to like, share, rate, subscribe, and continue the conversation with us on Twitter @BlueHawaiiPod! PS: How do we get on the Joe Rogan Experience???

33! Ryan is on his way back from the mainland, so Josh is flying solo into the new year. After recapping the outstanding event that friend of the show Dr. Akiemi Glenn and the Popolo Project put on at the Honolulu Museum of Art, featuring Ta-Nehisi Coates and two excellent films, Josh examines Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's troubling views on Native Hawaiian rights (shoutout to Mazie Hirono and Civil Beat's Nick Grube), a new twist in Honolulu's biggest law enforcement corruption case, and the sad passing of Maka, the world's oldest monk seal, -- at the Waikiki Aquarium.

Then, it's our big feature story of the week: who is the Hawaii GOP bringing to its Constitution Day fundraiser, and why should you care? Josh shares the illustrious biographies and "greatest hits" of Stephen Moore, Candace Owens, and Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk, and discusses how Trumpism and the conservative media victim/grifter complex might consume our local Republicans just as they have devoured the national Republican Party.

UPDATE: After recording, we found out Kirk and Owens are going to be at UH Manoa Campus Center on 9/20, hosting a TPUSA event/troll session called "White Privilege Is a Myth: Change My Mind." So that should be....interesting? We had no idea there was a TPUSA Chapter at UH, but it's probably just for the kids who couldn't name enough breakfast cereals to join the Hawaii Proud Boys.

We conclude with a special shoutout to a previous guest and a new track ("My Vibe") from our good friend TTA. Ryan will be back next week, but until then, please like, share, subscribe, and rate us wherever you get your podcasts! PS: Stay dry tomorrow everyone!

32! We have two unique treats for you in this episode. First, Ryan is on the mainland, but Josh got his wife to join him for another edition of Blue Hawaii Spousecast! He and Antoinette talk about some of the week's biggest news, including Hawaii football smashing Navy, the wild governor's race shaping up in Florida, ISIS coming to Oahu, John McCain's complicated legacy, and Serena Williams' clashes with sexism. Plus, we yell at Chuck Schumer in Yiddish.

Then, at 21:35, Ryan sits down with Jake Carnley of The Great Bear Wax Co. for our second ever #SouthernStory. Jake talks aabout life as a millennial entrepreneur, maker, and small business owner. They also discuss their perspectives on faith and their experiences with Christianity and Evangelical culture in the changing American South.

PS: Shoutout to our boy Will Caron for his piece in the Star-Advertiser - It's time for publicly financed elections

http://www.staradvertiser.com/2018/08/26/editorial/island-voices/its-time-for-publicly-financed-elections/ -- and his work with an up-and-coming new project, the Hawaii Budget & Policy Center! Check them both out, and please subscribe, rate, share, and stay tuned for more great content!