The Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi Podcast Presented By SilverShark Media

We begin our 4th year of the podcast series with Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaking to the Steve MacKinnon, CEO of Maui Humane Society.  In this episode Steve talks about his path that led from criminal justice to Maui Humane Society, some differences in large shelters in big cities vs smaller shelters like MHS, the ongoing issue of overpopulation at animal shelters, an insight into some of the services offered by Maui Humane Society including 4EverPets that provides supplies and support for the local community, how the animal foster program helps both the community and animals involved, potential upgrades that are planned for on site facilities, the dedication of the staff and volunteers, challenges and goals for the year ahead, how their enforcement offers look to educate the community when possible, and how to find out more online about Maui Humane Society including upcoming events and fundraisers.  

Diane Woodburn speaks to Kyle Kawakami of Maui Fresh Streatery.  In this podcast Kyle talks about growing up on Maui, winning the Aipono Chef of the Year award in 2019 (and other awards for Best Food Truck),  mentoring under Chef Tylun Pang, why he began his Aloha Tip Jar and how the money raised gets dispersed into the community, his approach to the menu for Maui Fresh Streatery, the challenges in adding local venison onto the menu, the importance of creating family time in his career, and his goals for the future for Maui Fresh Streatery. 

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Diane Woodburn, former publisher of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine.  In this podcast Diane announces her decision to retire from Maui No Ka Oi Magazine, what went into her decision, how her career on Maui started, her intentions for Maui No Ka Oi Magazine when it began, how she had to evolve over the years, what it's been like covering the food industry over the past few decades on Maui, the history of the Aipono awards, her advice for those looking to start a business, her advice for women in particular looking to start a business, what she is most proud of with Maui No Ka Oi Magazine, and what she will miss the most.  

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Executive Chef Michael Patria from the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea.  In this podcast Michael talks about the upcoming Four Seasons Maui Wine & Food Classic which will be held over Labor Day weekend, the approach to balancing food & wine pairings as a chef, when he first realized he wanted to become a chef, how his career took him from Atlanta to Maui, what the role of Executive Chef entails for a resort property, his approach to menu design (and why collaboration is important), an update on Ferraro's (including their new chef), an update on Duo, and an update on the Lobby Lounge, how the pandemic put an emphasis on mental health for the culinary industry, challenges the industry still has been working through since 2020, involvement in the upcoming Festivals of Aloha series in late October, and how people can find out more about the Four Seasons Maui Wine & Food Classic (including purchasing tickets and finding a schedule of events).

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Laurie LaGrange of Pasha Hawaii.  In this podcast Laurie explains what Pasha Hawaii does, how it's a family run business with roots dating back to the 1940's, the different roles that vessels have in transporting cargo, some of the largest and more unique items that have been loaded onto a Pasha Hawaii vessel, what goes into the preparation for shipping large items, how the pandemic affected operations, how they deal with business challenges like rising fuel costs, their new vessel which will run 100% on liquid natural gas (and the benefits this will have in reducing emissions),  the goals for the future, and how people can learn more about Pasha Hawaii. 

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Chef / Restaurateur Peter Merriman.  In this podcast Peter talks about what the past 2 years have been like, the correlation between staffing challenges and affordable housing on Maui, navigating through the workforce shortage in general, industry changes created by the pandemic that will stick around, what went into the decision to switch to a prix-fixe menu at Merriman's Kapalua, the challenge the industry is facing with increased costs, how he will be the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Aipono Awards on August 20th, recounting what it was like to get local products for a restaurant back in the mid-80's compared to what it's like today, his passion for conservation and sustainability in Hawaii, his goal to transform one of his restaurants into a carbon neutral business (and what that will entail), and his goals in general for Merriman's and Monkeypod here on Maui over the next 6-12 months. 

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to chef Taylor Ponte of Kamado.  In this podcast Taylor talks about how his career has evolved since May of 2020 when we last spoke to him, how he used time during the pandemic to adapt, what it was like learning he would be receiving the 2020 Aipono Chef of the Year award during the pandemic, how he will be recognized for that award in person at the upcoming Aipono Awards on August 20th, how he's seen the culinary industry on Maui evolve over the years, what restaurant industry adaptations that surfaced during the pandemic that he believes will stick around, challenges that the industry is still working through, how he and his girlfriend started their private chef business Kamado, the difference in creating menus as a private chef compared to working in a restaurant, the goals for Kamado, a few rapid fire questions about his favorite meal to cook & eat + some of his favorite Maui restaurants to visit, what qualities he looks for in chefs when he votes for Chef of the Year, and the contact info for Kamado.  

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks with Mark Malone, Instructor at the Culinary Arts & Hospitality Program at UH Maui College.   In this podcast Mark talks about his background on Maui where he worked with the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, Maui on the first Aipono Awards event that was held at a resort, how students benefit and learn from the Aipono Awards event, the importance of supporting culinary education here on Maui, why the culinary arts is important to him, why Maui and Hawaii in general are such great locations for students looking to work in the culinary field, some details about the culinary program that is offered at UH Maui College, and the upcoming Aipono Awards event that will be held on August 20th at Old Lahaina Luau.  

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks with Daniel Chun, Director of Sales & Public Relations in Hawaii for Alaska Airlines.  In this podcast Daniel talks about his history working with Alaska Airlines for the past 11 years, growing up in a family business on Oahu, how Alaska Airlines was a recent recipient of an Airline of the Year Award, how the airline is celebrating 15 years with service in Hawaii, the innovative technology that is being developed to help air travel, the support the company gave to non profits and food banks during the first two years of the pandemic, how air filtration works on board an aircraft, the culture of inclusion at Alaska Airlines, the sustainability goals for the airline, how Alaska supports events in Hawaii such as the Aipono Awards as title sponsor in August, and how they support local talent like Kalani Pe'a through his journey in the music industry.  

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks with Kawika Freitas, Director of Public and Cultural Relations for the Old Lahaina Luau.  In this podcast Kawika talks about a brief history of Old Lahaina Luau (including development of Aloha Mixed Plate and Feast at Lele), how Old Lahaina Luau has won the Aipono Gold Award for Best Luau for every year for almost twenty years, what his role at Old Lahaina Luau entails, some of the national and international campaigns they have participated in supporting good causes, the owners of Old Lahaina Luau winning the Icon Aipono Award in 2017, how Old Lahaina Luau will be hosting the 2022 Aipono Awards on August 20th, some of the challenges of the past two years, examples of adaptations the luau has made due to the pandemic including adding plated service, how people can get tickets to Old Lahaina Luau, the importance of booking your tickets as far in advance as possible, and the success of Star Noodle & Leoda's over the years.