A side hustle that takes off because of shower curtains sounds like a joke, until you hear how it actually happened. I’m sitting down with Marnee, the owner of MarnZaza, a fast-growing local Hawaii brand with a loyal community, bold prints, and a real-world retail presence that keeps expanding. She’s also still doing hair and lashes, which makes her story hit even harder if you’re juggling a day job while trying to build something of your own. We talk through the full path: starting in the salon world, experimenting with products, then getting forced into a COVID pivot that pushes her into social media marketing. One raw Instagram reel turns into huge demand, and suddenly she’s figuring out product sourcing, sampling, outsourcing, and how to keep prices reasonable for local shoppers. She breaks down what pop-up life really requires, how different neighborhoods shop differently, and why her prints aim for “feels like home” instead of tourist shop energy, including collaborations with local artists. We also get into the parts people don’t post: dealing with negativity online, setting boundaries, and building thick skin without turning cold. Then we shift into brick-and-mortar growth at Harbor Center and Windward Mall, why foot traffic still matters, and what it takes to staff and coach a team when your business is open seven days a week. If you’re searching for real talk on small business in Hawaii, Instagram marketing for retail, pop-up strategy, and women-owned entrepreneurship, this one delivers. Listen now, then subscribe, share it with a friend who’s building a hustle, and leave a review. What’s one product or idea you’d “ride the wave” on if it started blowing up tomorrow?

A band can disappear from the release radar and still soundtrack your whole life. That’s why sitting down with Ho’onu'a felt like a full circle moment for us, from the classics we grew up on to the new music they’re finally ready to unleash. Jared and Christian share what changed since the peak island music days, what stayed the same, and why coming back now is less about “nostalgia” and more about purpose, family, and perspective. We go deep on the stuff nobody warns you about: the financial chaos of kids’ sports, how raising daughters rewires your mindset, and how time gives you a wider view of your own lyrics. Then we zoom out to the bigger question fans always argue about, the status of island reggae and Hawaiian music today. They break down why comparing eras misses the point, how roots reggae and R&B influences opened new doors, and why a good song still stands the test of time when the hook is real. On the business side, we talk modern music production and promotion: recording on laptops, collaborating across Hawaii and the mainland, giving producers credit, and the grind of social media marketing for independent artists. We also get real about live concerts, viral moments, and the challenge of getting people to put the phone down and actually be present. If you love island music, band origin stories, and honest behind-the-scenes artist talk, this one delivers. Subscribe to Above the Bridge Podcast, share this with a friend who grew up on Ho’onu'a, and leave a review with the song that brings you straight back to Hawaii.

A lot of people love the idea of being a fighter. Far fewer can explain what that mindset looks like when the cage lights turn off and real life starts asking for overtime, tuition money, and patience. I sit down with Nate Yoshimura, a former MMA fighter who went from college wrestling to competing on big Hawaii cards and Bellator, and he keeps it honest about the parts nobody glamorizes: nerves, fatigue, getting rocked, and the weird calm you have to find when everything goes sideways. We dig into the lesson wrestling drills into you for years, the one Nate’s coach summed up as “Do it anyway.” We talk about the pain of discipline versus the pain of regret, why mental toughness beats raw athletic talent, and how staying humble matters when you’re tempted to build an identity around being “a fighter.” If you’re an athlete, coach, or anyone trying to stay consistent, you’ll hear practical ways that mindset carries into the gym and into everyday decisions. Then the story shifts to what Nate does now: working as a psychiatric technician at the Hawaii State Hospital while grinding through nursing prerequisites to earn his RN. We get into verbal de-escalation, professionalism under pressure, and choosing between med-surg skills and psych nursing quality of life. The conversation ends with a big personal update that puts everything in a new frame: Nate is about to become a dad. If you got value from this one, subscribe to Above the Bridge, share it with a friend who needs a push, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What part of your life needs a “do it anyway” mindset right now?

Running a business is hard. Running it from 3,000 miles away forces you to learn the one skill most owners avoid for too long: letting go. We sit down with Ikaika Reppuhn, owner of iRep Detail Supply, to talk about what’s changed since launching the Las Vegas location, how he builds a team he can trust, and why real customer service still beats fast shipping when people need answers, not just products. We also get into his next big move, a new west side Oahu location designed with a different model: retail up front and a commercial warehouse mindset behind it. That shift powers a growing B2B operation, from larger commercial accounts to potential government contracts, plus the behind-the-scenes value of brand exclusivity and on-island inventory. If you’re into small business growth, entrepreneurship in Hawaii, or scaling without losing your sanity, this part hits. Then we go deep on car detailing trends and education. The industry has moved from wax and paint sealants to ceramic coatings, and the product world has exploded from a few legacy brands to hundreds of options. We break down what ceramic coating actually is, how long it can last, what maintenance really looks like, and the step-by-step prep that makes the difference between a great result and wasted effort. We close with a real conversation about fatherhood, being present, and building the kind of legacy that matters more than any title. Subscribe, share this with a friend building something, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

She’s shooting University of Hawaii games, building trust with athletes and coaches, and still choosing the harder road. We talk story with Photos by Kaikai as she pushes past the “big fish in a small pond” trap and chases real growth in sports media and sports photography. We get into how her athlete background shaped her eye and her work ethic, plus the exact moment she decided to stop waiting and start reaching out. That one email to ScoringLive turns into credentials, constant reps across multiple sports, and the confidence to keep leveling up. Kai also explains why the Hawaii photography community feels different, how she learns through YouTube and mentors, and why being yourself matters more than copying someone’s edit style. Then we go deeper on the craft and the business: planning shoots ahead of time, narrowing down thousands of photos, and keeping edits clean with Lightroom and Photoshop so the image speaks for itself. She shares what it’s like to photograph elite events, including getting the chance to shoot an NBA game and capture Steph Curry up close while following media rules that protect your future access. We close with her dream assignments like pro volleyball and the NFL, plus advice for any creator trying to break in. Subscribe, share this with a friend chasing a goal, and leave a review to help more people find the show. What’s one uncomfortable move you know you need to make next?

Hawaii feels more expensive every year, but the breaking point for a lot of families is childcare. When preschool tuition rivals rent and infant care can hit $2,000 a month, parents get trapped between working to survive and paying just to keep working. I sit down with Malia Tsuchiya from Hawaii Children’s Action Network to talk about what’s driving that pressure and what’s actually moving at the Hawaii State Legislature to make life more livable for local families. We get into the real story behind early childhood education and why preschool is not babysitting. Malia explains what kids are learning from ages 0 to 5, how play builds language, self-regulation, and learning readiness, and why early investment can change a child’s whole path. We also talk through major policy efforts like Preschool Open Doors, how subsidies work for community-based preschools, and why expanding income eligibility matters for the “too much to qualify, too little to afford it” families. Then we zoom out to civic engagement and power. Malia breaks down how bills are drafted, how public testimony can change outcomes, and why election years make accountability real. We also touch on federal funding cuts that threaten programs like SNAP and Med-QUEST, plus the ripple effects on Native Hawaiian education and health resources, and what Hawaii can do when federal dollars shrink. If you care about childcare affordability in Hawaii, public pre-K, paid family medical leave, or simply keeping local families from having to move away, hit play. Subscribe, share this with one parent who needs it, and leave a review telling us what issue you want lawmakers to hear next.

We talk with the Hoku Award winning ukulele artist Brittni Paiva about how she went from classical piano training at age three to committing to ukulele at eleven, learning by ear, and stepping into major festival stages while still figuring out who she wanted to be as a performer. We also get practical about the modern music grind. Brittany breaks down her home studio approach, why she works in Logic Pro, and how her songwriting process changes depending on the goal, from ukulele-forward releases to sync licensing for film, TV, and commercials. If you’ve ever dealt with writer’s block, tight deadlines, or the pressure to sound “perfect,” you’ll hear a grounded system for stepping away, saving ideas, and coming back when the timing is right. Then the conversation turns real. Brittany shares how homeschooling and autism shaped her need for routine, how health and fitness support life on the road, and why staying humble matters in an industry that can pull artists off course. She also opens up about stepping away from music, addiction, and getting sober in 2019, plus the role support systems and faith play in building a steady life and career. Listen now for ukulele inspiration, music production insight, and a story you’ll be repeating to your friends. If you enjoy the show, subscribe, share it with someone who loves Hawaiian music and ukulele, and leave a review so more people can find it.