Keep it Aloha

From ER Doctor to Governor of Hawai'i | Josh Green Keeps It Aloha (Ep. 217)

Josh Green is a medical doctor from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the Governor of the State of Hawaiʻi. Before stepping into public office, he spent more than 20 years as a family physician and emergency room doctor, and even while serving in government, he continued caring for patients in rural and underserved communities across Hawaiʻi. He’s one of the few governors in the country to keep practicing medicine while in office and has been recognized twice as Hawaiʻi Physician of the Year by the Hawai’i Medical Association, most recently in 2022 for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond Hawaiʻi, he also led a medical team to Samoa during the 2019 measles outbreak, helping vaccinate tens of thousands of people in just days. This husband and father of two has delivered the largest tax cut for the middle class in Hawai’i State history and has made the largest investment in reducing homelessness in Hawai’i State history, and granted over 2,500 Hawaiian Homestead Land leases in 2025 — the most awarded in a single year in DHHL’s 100 year history.In this episode we talk about growing up in Pittsburgh, his education, how he ended up in Hawai’i, living in Kaʻū, working in healthcare, running for office, becoming governor of Hawai’i, his hobbies outside of work, and so much more. Enjoy!Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod

Mauna Kea, ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and Hawaiian Identity | Kaho'okahi Kanuha Keeps It Aloha (Ep. 216)

Kahoʻokahi Kanuha is a prominent Native Hawaiian educator from Moku o Keawe and a respected cultural practitioner dedicated to ʻike Hawaiʻi and cultural revitalization. Many first came to know him during the movement to protect Mauna Kea, where he became one of the key leaders helping guide and organize the kiaʻi. He has served as a Hawaiian language advisor for Apple TV’s Chief of War and as Jason Momoa’s personal ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi teacher. He also hosts the fully Hawaiian-language podcast Mai Ka Pūnana Mai. Beyond advocacy, he is a father, mentor, and youth soccer coach committed to passing culture to the next generation.In this episode we talk about going to Hawaiian immersion schools, learning Hawaiian language, the usage of diacritical marks, the protests on Mauna Kea, aloha ʻāina, working with Jason Momoa on Chief of War, our future as a lāhui, and so much more. Enjoy!Find Kaho'okahi here:https://www.instagram.com/kahookahi/Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod

Revitalizing the Hawaiian Language in Hawai'i | Michael Sonoda Dias Keeps It Aloha (Ep. 215)

Michael Sonoda Dias is a Hawaiian Language speaker from the island of Oʻahu. He is the father of podcast host Kamaka Dias and the man who brought the Hawaiian language into their ʻohana. Through his work at ALU LIKE, he’s dedicated his life to serving Hawai'i and uplifting Native Hawaiian and indigenous families through education, culture, and opportunity. In this episode we talk about Uncle Mike’s upbringing on O’ahu, lots of memories from the 70s, how he learned Hawaiian, why he taught it to his kids, his love for God, the legacy he wants to leave behind, and so much more. Enjoy!Find Mike here: https://www.instagram.com/mikelehalelu33/Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod

How a Foreigner From Hawai'i Changed Sumo Forever | Konishiki Keeps It Aloha in Japan (Ep. 214)

Konishiki Yasokichi (Saleva'a Fuauli Atisanoe) is a cultural ambassador and sumo legend from the island of Oʻahu. He became the first non-Japanese-born wrestler to reach Ozeki, the second highest possible rank in the sport. During his career, he won the top division championship on three occasions and came very close to becoming the first foreign-born grand champion, or Yokozuna. At his peak weight of 287 kilograms or 633 pounds, he was also at the time the heaviest wrestler ever in sumo earning him the nicknames “Meat Bomb” and most famously, “The Dump Truck”. After retiring from sumo in 1997, he transitioned to a successful post-sumo career in entertainment, music, and philanthropy.In this special Keep it Aloha on the Road episode sponsored by @HawaiianAirlines  we talk about growing up in Hawai’i, getting scouted for sumo, moving to Japan with nothing, his legendary sumo career, life lessons, career after sumo, his sumo tours, and and so much more. Enjoy!Find Konishiki here: https://www.instagram.com/konishikiyasokichi/Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod

Faith, Leadership & Empowering Women | Lisa Kai Keeps It Aloha (Ep. 213)

Lisa Kai is a Senior pastor, author and entrepreneur from the island of Oʻahu. She is a visionary leader with a heart to advance faith, purpose, and community. Alongside her husband — and past podcast guest — Mike Kai, she serves as senior pastor of Inspire Church, a thriving multi-site congregation based in Honolulu. Hawai’i. Each year, she hosts the Arise Conference, empowering women from across Hawaiʻi, the U.S. mainland, and around the world. She’s spoken all over the world, authored Perfectly You and Wake Up!, and is the host of the I Am Her podcast. In this episode we talk about her family moving to Hawai’i after she was born, growing up in a very Asian household, giving her life to God, meeting her husband Pastor Mike, marriage, the upcoming Arise Conference, her faith, and so much more. Enjoy!Get tickets to Arise Conference here:https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0A00636AE77B8C8E?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnolV1km59i71Rhma9GBl3zMPNVNvZObGAh8eUIjmFkQaPHLUK0al3XOHYwdM_aem_kZjCX9wyjMd_Vu07oky-8QFind Lisa here:https://www.instagram.com/lisakai/Buy our merch:🛍️ https://keepitaloha.com/Support us:🤙 https://www.patreon.com/kamakadiasFollow us:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/🎵 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod📘 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod