The Blue Hawaii Podcast

27! It's been a crazy week, so we've got a crazy episode for you. First, we're in the basement with our good friends Nate Hix and Will Caron, and they join us for a look at some news: homophobia in the US Women's national soccer team, the stinky in Helsinki, sassy boomers hating on millennials, Chik-Fil-A coming to Mililani, Doug Chin's newest campaign commercial, Brian Schatz's profile in NY Mag, and a smorgasbord of other Hawaii news. Plus, Josh has to apologize for his mom's angry texts to a local campaign volunteer.

Then, at 41:04, we have a fantastic interview with Beth Fukumoto! We talk about her departure from the Hawaii GOP and her decision to run for Congress, the serious shade that got thrown at the first televised CD1 debate, the struggles of being a millennial in Honolulu, and her favorite beers. Plus, she and Ryan bond over Panic at the Disco and Yoga with Adrian. And in case you were wondering, her restaurant recs are Thai Village Waipio, JJ Dolan's, and Square Barrels!

Our outro is "Far Away Home" (HI Sessions Live) by Izik. Tag, like, share, rate, and subscribe!!!!

The union makes us strong! After Ryan and Josh do the news thing, Paola Rodelas and Sarah Ramos from Local 5 join us at 15:00 to talk about the importance of labor organizing and their fight for workers' rights in Hawaii's hotel industry. You also get some pre-recorded World Cup predictions (we were halfway there) and all the best shoutouts and restaurant recs (namely Tim Tebow and Hy's Steakhouse). #SavePaliLanes #300BackPacks

Our outro is Strawberry Moon by Izik. Check him (and this episode) out!

25! We sit down for a great conversation with Sherry Alu Campagna, Commissioner on the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women and former Statewide Chair of the Women's March, to talk about her race to unseat Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard in the August 11th Democratic Primary. We also discuss the importance of a good old-fashioned protest, the path forward for the Democratic Primary in the age of Trump, and her punk rock glory days (what machine does Paul Ryan think he's raging at?) And you know we had to ask: her restaurant recs are Ken's House of Pancakes in Hilo and Mud Hen Water in Honolulu!

This week's outro is "Privilege To Nostalgia" by Izik, a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winner and all-around superstar. Have a listen, subscribe, rate, and share!

Happy 4th of July! What does it mean to be an American? We're joined by our dear friend Shingai Masiya, immigration activist and DREAMer, who shares his incredible story. We discuss his journey from Zimbabwe to Hawaii (via Texas), his discovery that he was undocumented and the challenges that followed, what it meant to finally receive his DACA card, what life is like for the thousands of DACA recipients and Dreamers in Hawaii, and why we desperately need to fix our broken immigration system. He also shares his thoughts on the family separation crisis at the border, the dysfunction in Washington, and what he's watching for in Hawaii's August 11 Primary Election. Check it out!!!

PS - This week's shoutouts and restaurant recs:

Derrick Low and HD League

2 Scoops Rice

Iolani Summer League

Matt Kohatsu

Luka Doncic​

Kostas Antetokounmpo​

Fook Sau Tong

The Red Hen

Pig and the lady

Scratch

Wing ice cream and shave ice

Mai's smoothies

Sura Korean BBQ

Buho Waikiki

Tenkaippin Ramen

We have a special Monday Minisode for you! We hopped on the mics to talk about a tumultuous week at the U.S. Supreme Court and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's stunning victory in her congressional primary. Can we stop pretending the Supreme Court is anything but an arm of the GOP? Will the Democrats stop trying to win over mythical centrist swing voters that don't exist? We connect the dots and figure out how to respond.

PS: Stay tuned for our special 4th of July episode coming later this week!

The Number 23! After a World Cupdate (Messi v. Ronaldo, Mexico's ascendancy, and Balkan beef in Serbia v. Switzerland), we get depressed by how much it feels like 1933 on the mainland and in Europe -- so we turn our attention to some local news: Kaniela Ing's huge fine for monetary malarkey, Mayor Kirk Caldwell's veto of a bill that might have pushed Uber and Lyft out of the city, and the slow-motion death match between Hawaii's (endangered) monk seals and its (millions of) feral cats.

Then, at 24:01, we're joined in the basement by Senator Jill Tokuda, who is running to be Hawaii's next Lieutenant Governor! She shares her story of how she got into public service, the challenges of being a working mom with two young kids, and the importance of bold progressive policy changes like #PaidFamilyLeave. We also talk about our public schools, agriculture, Game of Thrones, Guns n Roses, Harry Potter, and much more. Her Restaurant shoutout is Chao Phya Thai in Kaneohe (get the coconut ice cream and Thai iced coffee!)

PS: Check the fadeout from our Musician of the Month, ReUp843!!!(https://soundcloud.com/user-273017604)

The Number 23! After a World Cupdate (Messi v. Ronaldo, Mexico's ascendancy, and Balkan beef in Serbia v. Switzerland), we get depressed by how much it feels like 1933 on the mainland and in Europe -- so we turn our attention to some local news: Kaniela Ing's huge fine for monetary malarkey, Mayor Kirk Caldwell's veto of a bill that might have pushed Uber and Lyft out of the city, and the slow-motion death match between Hawaii's (endangered) monk seals and its (millions of) feral cats.

Then, at 24:01, we're joined in the basement by Senator Jill Tokuda, who is running to be Hawaii's next Lieutenant Governor! She shares her story of how she got into public service, the challenges of being a working mom with two young kids, and the importance of bold progressive policy changes like #PaidFamilyLeave. We also talk about our public schools, agriculture, Game of Thrones, Guns n Roses, Harry Potter, and much more. Her Restaurant shoutout is Chao Phya Thai in Kaneohe (get the coconut ice cream and Thai iced coffee!)

PS: Check the fadeout from our Musician of the Month, ReUp843!!!(https://soundcloud.com/user-273017604)

Sittin on 22! Josh and Ryan talk about immigration, have a bible study with Jeff Sesisons, discuss Anita Hofschneider's great civil beat article about why Honolulu's rents are too damn high, and contemplate our automated future.

Then at 28:20, we're joined by South Carolina rapper ReUp843 for our first ever artist interview! We chat about his musical influences and what drives him to succeed, sample his fire new track, and ask the question on everyone's mind: what's Tekashi69 like in real life?

His new single HEARTLESS is on iTunes now, and his album Carolina Vibes is dropping July 27! GO GET IT!!!!!

This week we're talking about: (1) the sad loss of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade; (2) Trump-Kim Singapore Summit; (3) why Josh is so salty about the Warriors greatness; (4) who can do a better version of Matisyahu's "One Day"; and tell you who you should pull for during this year's World Cup!

Then, at 16:54 we sit down with Kim Coco Iwamoto, the trailblazin', policy makin' candidate running to be Hawaii's next Lieutenant Governor. We talk about affordable housing, education, and (we wouldn't be Millennials if we didn't) student debt. Restaurant shoutouts include Helena's Hawaiian Food and Grondin -- and you better get to Grondin before it closes at the end of June!

This one is the real deal, folks. Listen, like, tag, and share!

The Sports Episode! This previously recorded chat with friends of the show and ravenous UH Sports Fans Peter Boylan and Danny Cup Choy goes beyond the boundaries of traditional sports talk. Of course we start out talking about the role that UH Athletics has played in our lives and in Hawaii's culture -- but, we get into deeper issues, like adequate funding for public schools, the cultural dynamics of why Hawaii's students are pushed to mainland schools, and even pose some solutions. Also, you know we're doing restaurant recommendations. Listen, like, tag, and share! And don't forget to rate us on iTunes!