The story of Hawaii’s hip hop isn’t a straight line—it’s a flow that bends through island reggae, battle rap, day parties, and studio nights that run past last call. We sit down with Rappa Nui to trace that path from Puna to Oahu, where a poetry-loving kid grew into a meticulous writer who prefers the booth to the spotlight but still knows how to light a room when it counts.

We dig into process first: how stacked notes turn into finished verses once the right beat shakes the walls, why he sometimes shifts from pure rap to island reggae textures, and what it takes to “shop” for a studio sound that feels like home. Along the way we give flowers to local pillars—Fiji, Angry Locals, Osna—and unpack how battle rap made sharper writers and braver performers in Hawaii long before algorithms could push a clip. There’s a standout chapter on collaboration too: the Kanaka Fire link-up that became a radio moment and proof that one hook can move from Hawaii to global feeds in a day.

It’s not all highlight reels. Rappa Nui is candid about industry and the discipline it takes to keep the art clean: family over everything, clarity over chaos, and humility as a strategy, not a slogan. We trade top-five island vocalists and essential tracks, talk nightlife then vs now, and kick around a “verses” concept for island reggae that would pack any venue. He shares goals—bigger collabs, stronger reach, and songs that carry Hawaii’s voice without dressing it up for export—and drops practical advice for up-and-comers: shake every hand, learn from doers, and keep going when platforms reset.

Cue up this conversation if you love craft talk, local-to-global stories, and the sound of a scene leveling up without losing its roots. Stream, follow, and share with a friend who needs a spark. If it hits, leave a quick review and subscribe so you catch the next drop.

A national championship ring on one hand, a turntable on the other. That’s the unexpected arc of DJ Nasty Nate, who traded Auburn football practices for late nights in Honolulu’s Chinatown and found a craft worth building from the ground up.

We dive into the real playbook for breaking into Hawaiʻi’s DJ scene—no clout chasing, no gimmicks. Nate walked us through how showing up to clubs and venues, listening before asking, and introducing himself with aloha opened doors faster than any pitch. He breaks down the differences between Birmingham’s trap-heavy nights and Oʻahu’s genre-blending crowds, why Latin sets became his biggest learning curve, and how he balances new heat with the familiar records people forgot they love. From reggae to R&B to hip hop to reggaeton, he treats each night like a puzzle: peak, reset, send folks to the bar, and bring them back without burning the room out.

We also get into the craft. Nate still practices on turntables to keep his ear honest, avoids repeating the previous DJ’s set, and builds crates as a foundation before freestyling where the crowd leads. He shares candid thoughts on timeless R&B versus TikTok-fast trends, why some songs will outlive the news cycle. The community piece matters too: Hawaiʻi’s collaborative culture, Scratcher Hawaiʻi, and Bay Area ties that prove sharing shine doesn’t dim your own.

Offstage, Nate coaches at UFC Gym Kailua with a functional fitness focus—helping clients move better, feel stronger, and build sustainable habits. The mindset that earned him a scholarship at Auburn now powers long nights, consistent practice, and a growing party brand with DJ Marknado. He’s building Much Loved into a traveling R&B experience while keeping Hawaiʻi as home base, investing in social content, and wearing all seven hats modern DJs need.

If you care about crowd reading, set building, vinyl respect, or how to enter a tight-knit market the right way, this conversation is packed with examples and honest advice. Hit play, subscribe for more Above the Bridge stories, and drop a comment with the one song that never fails in your city.

Ever wonder how a single song can spark a movement? We sit down with Uncle Dave—educator, musician, and community builder—to explore how Menehune Beach Bum Boogie led to a purpose bigger than charts or gigs. He shares a candid journey from Pololo Valley to 34 years in the classroom, working with at‑risk students and discovering that Aloha becomes powerful only when it moves from slogan to practice.

We break down ALOHA in full: Akahai (kindness with tenderness), Lokahi (unity with harmony), Oluolu (agreeable with pleasantness), Haahaa (humility with modesty), and Ahonui (patience with perseverance). Then we go deeper with teachings passed through Aunty Pilahi Paki and Pono Shim—grace and mercy, unbroken covenant, gentleness as strength under control, the empty cup ready to learn, and active waiting that chooses response over reaction. Through vivid stories—a traffic merge without expecting a shaka, a stallion’s power guided by a bridle, a classroom growing taproots—Dave shows how to turn values into habits.

We also talk strategy: the Aloha Roots Program uses music as curriculum, aligning social‑emotional learning with a clear why before the how and what. Outcomes are fruit; processes are branches; Aloha is the root. Community efforts like Tools for Schools and Valley to Valley put these principles into action, proving that culture shifts when we model it consistently. If you’ve ever felt Aloha was vague or overused, this conversation gives you a practical map—and a reason to start at home, at school, and on the road.

Listen, share with someone who lives Aloha, and help us grow taproots. If this moved you, subscribe, leave a review, and pass it on so more people can practice kindness, unity, humility, gentleness, and patient perseverance every day.

A five-hour flight talk, a dare to build something new, and the belief that R&B can still make a whole room sing—this is how Laid Back came to life. We kick off the year with DJ Hapa Boy to trace the journey from a chance question at lunch to a full-fledged R&B day party crafted with intention and island flavor. No filler, no gimmicks—just great DJs, careful curation, and hospitality that makes people feel invited, not processed.

We dig into the blueprint: assembling the team, locking the name, shaping the brand, and sweating the small details that turn an event into an experience. From flower leis at the door to Noms, we bring back the lost art of promotion by caring more than the flyer. Hapa Boy opens the crate on craft too—why reading the room beats pre-planning, how multiple record pools keep sets fresh, what gear fits which stage, and how sobriety sharpened focus, transitions, and crowd engagement. We talk island culture with pride: the right local track at the right moment, a room bursting into song, and the joy of seeing new DJs get their first real stage.

The heart of this episode is connection. R&B as a bridge across generations, families showing up and singing together, and the way intention changes everything—from how you treat people to how you build a brand that lasts. If you care about music scenes, event design, and the craft of DJing, this one gives you playbook and purpose in the same breath.

Grab your tickets to Laid Back: Sunday, January 18, 3–8 p.m. at Capitol Modern. Hit laidbackrnb.com or Eventbrite and come sing with us. If you enjoy the show, follow, rate, and share—then tell us the one R&B song you need to hear next time.

The most honest year-end recap happens across a kitchen table with sneakers by the door and game film still fresh in our heads. I sat down with my daughter, Aria, to trace the real story behind her varsity leap: the extra lifts, the OC16 nerves, the bad game that shook her, and the next-day reset that proved her mindset is built for pressure. It’s a tour through the grind you don’t see on highlight reels—how you hold your energy when you don’t start, how you become a better teammate, and how belief sneaks up on you one rep at a time.

We also open the lens to school life and growing up in Hawaii. Sophomore year means tougher classes, early college prep, and the noise of high school drama. Aria keeps it simple with an inner circle she trusts, a sense of humor that won’t quit, and a clear boundary around what matters. The conversation drifts into travel tournaments in Vegas, Anaheim, and Maui, the joy of Disneyland, and the feeling of being more bonded as a team after a full season together. When she talks about coaches, you hear two styles—strict and structured, calm and player-first—both shaping a competitor who adapts fast.

Music ties generations together. Old-school R&B—SZA, Ashanti, Miguel—becomes our common ground, a reminder that songs with depth outlast trends. We look ahead, too: a West Coast volleyball scholarship is the dream, with a return home to Hawaii after college. And we share gratitude—family rides, Starbucks bribes, and all the quiet support that makes the loud wins possible. If you’re chasing a goal, this conversation is your nudge: bounce back harder, keep your circle tight, and let consistent work do the talking.

If this resonated, follow the show, drop a rating, and share it with someone who needs a push. What goal are you committing to before the new season starts?

Ever wondered what a city looks like from the driver’s seat? This episode we sit down with Christina, the voice behind Beauty and the Bus, to pull back the curtain on Honolulu transit—equal parts comedy, chaos, and community. She shares how an encouraging regular nudged her into the job, the nerve-wracking first days behind a flat, oversized wheel, and the little tricks it takes to move a 60‑footer through drivers who won’t make room. If you’ve ever ridden the 40 from Makaha to Ala Moana, you’ll feel the pulse of West Oahu in her stories.

We dig into the realities most riders never see: timepoint rules that prevent leaving early, on‑route bathroom pit stops, and why she’ll run a minute late rather than stall a full bus. Christina explains how she reads the aisle, de‑escalates when someone gets loud, and calls HPD when safety is on the line. She speaks with candor about post‑Covid ridership, rail connections at Kapolei, and the difference between day-shift gridlock and night-shift serenity. The wild tales are here too—from back-row sleepers to beer spills to a legendary seat incident no one mentioned until a brave rider whispered, “Auntie, get something in the back.”

Her viral rise started with a simple shaka, and now Beauty and the Bus offers a running chronicle of island life through the windshield: kupuna kindness, teen drama, houseless struggles, tourists with scooters, and everyday locals just trying to get home. We talk content craft, why sharing these moments matters, and how humor helps keep a heavy job light. Christina also opens up about career goals beyond the driver’s seat, rising street risks, and the patience it takes when phone-addled drivers cut a bus off with inches to spare.

If you care about Honolulu, public transit, or just great storytelling with heart, you’ll love this ride. Hit follow, share with a friend who rides TheBus, and drop a review to tell us your best or wildest bus story.

Five years on the mic feels different when you slow down and look back. We open with gratitude—listeners, guests, and day‑one sponsors—and then dive into a story of reinvention with our friend and radio pro, Becky Mits. She takes us from a tough November layoff to a whirlwind weekend in San Diego that led to a new home, a new team, and a role that finally fits: executive producer who still jumps on the mic with a fresh perspective. The reason she said yes wasn’t a bigger market; it was a healthier culture. Real collaboration, clean communication, and space to bring her voice when it counts.

Becky pulls back the curtain on modern morning radio: day‑ahead prep, log timing, phones, prizes, news beats, music flow, and why her single‑30 POV balances cohosts with families. We get into craft—cutting crutch words, board work, and the weird magic of talking solo for three minutes without a net. Life in San Diego comes with tradeoffs and perks: stolen packages and street noise, but also Padres games, SeaWorld throwbacks, LA concerts, and actual hoodies weather. She’s honest about privacy too—enjoying low-key anonymity after Hawaii and keeping a new relationship off social while still sharing life on-air.

We also celebrate personal milestones: wedding memories, a father–daughter dance that shook the room, and the everyday work of parenting a teenager with trust and guardrails. On the business side, we break down “Leid Back,” our R&B day party built for grown energy—great DJs, early evenings, sold‑out vibes, and smart scaling. If you’re chasing a pivot, this conversation is a blueprint: protect your mindset, choose your rooms carefully, and let gratitude fuel momentum.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend, and drop a rating with one takeaway you’re bringing into your next chapter.

This week we sit down with Maegan, the baker behind Meggles Makes, to trace how a childhood love of crepes and banana bread turned into a dessert brand locals plan their week around. From her first Ziploc brownie sales to sellouts at Whiskey Smoke, she walks us through the honest steps of going full time: tightening costs, pricing for profit, managing inflation, planning bake days, and shooting content that actually converts.

What makes this journey pop is the mix of craft and community. Maegan shares how Kaneohe neighbors became customers, how Corey and the Whiskey Smoke family opened doors, and why certain flavors win next to barbecue. We get into the signature ube cheesecake that converts skeptics, the year-round staples that anchor the menu, and the seasonal surge of pumpkin chantilly, pumpkin crunch, and pumpkin cheesecake that flies off shelves. She’s candid about experiments that flopped, why she added gluten-free options, and how she reads demand signals so she can scale without overbaking or disappointing regulars.

At the core is a steady mindset fueled by faith and family. Maegan talks about losing her dad, the push he gave her to chase big dreams, and the daily rituals that keep her grounded—journaling, prayer, and showing up even when the week hits hard. A chance moment with a diner who stopped to pray for her becomes a turning point, a reminder that resilience is as essential as butter and eggs. If you’re building a food business, you’ll find practical tactics here: batching work, using Instagram trends with intention, pairing flavors for context, and letting customer feedback shape production. If you’re looking for courage, you’ll find that too.

Craving more? Follow Meggals Makes for weekly restocks at Whiskey Smoke, watch for the Thanksgiving menu, and get there early if you want a slice. If this conversation fed you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a push, and drop a review to help more listeners find us.