SEASON 6
Episode 601:
Business of Lei
In Hawaiʻi, lei are more than flowers strung together. They are expressions of aloha, connection, and identity. On this episode of Aloha Authentic, we take a closer look at the business behind lei and how families continue to keep this tradition alive.
Our journey begins in Haleʻiwa at the Little Plumeria Farm, where Kamaka meets with renowned photographer Clark Little and his son, Dane. From the North Shore, we head to the Kahala Hotel and Resort to talk story with Karen Lee of Cindy’s Lei Shoppe in Chinatown. The conversation continues at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport with Joaquin Vierra of Sophia’s lei stand.
Episode 602:
Kūpuna Check-In
On this episode of Aloha Authentic, host Kamaka Pili reconnects with some familiar faces, past guests who continue to inspire through their dedication to preserving and sharing Hawaiian culture. It’s a special reunion filled with reflection, updates, and meaningful conversation about their ongoing journeys. Our guests include Aunty Dalani Tanahy, Uncle Umi Kai, and Uncle Brook Parker.
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Aloha Authentic is a show celebrating Hawaiian culture. Through conversations with local artisans, cultural practitioners, kūpuna and community members, we all learn more about Hawaiʻi, our native culture and unique lifestyle.
Episode 603:
Cultural Exchange with The Tulalip Tribes (Part 1)
In this special episode of Aloha Authentic, host Kamaka Pili steps beyond Hawaiʻi’s shores to take viewers on a cultural journey to the Pacific Northwest. For the first time in the show’s history, Aloha Authentic features a cultural exchange, traveling to the homelands of the Tulalip Tribes, a sovereign Native Nation just north of Seattle, to explore the shared experiences, values, and challenges between Native Hawaiians and Native American communities.
Kamaka is welcomed by the Tulalip people with warmth, respect, and a deep sense of cultural pride. His first conversation is with Andrew Gobin, Director of Treaty Rights & Government Affairs for the Tulalip Tribes. Andrew offers insight into the tribe’s long-standing fight to protect their sovereignty, natural resources, and the promises laid out in their treaties.
Kamaka also sits down with Sheryl Fryberg, a respected Tulalip tribal member, who speaks from the heart about cultural identity, healing, and their native religion. Throughout the episode, Kamaka draws thoughtful parallels between Native Hawaiian and Native American experiences: the fight for land and water rights, cultural revitalization, political recognition, and the ongoing effort to maintain identity in a rapidly changing world. While the histories of these two Indigenous peoples are distinct, their stories reflect a shared journey of survival and empowerment.
This special cultural exchange offers more than just conversation, it is a reminder of the deep connections that exist across the Indigenous world, from Hawaiʻi to Tulalip and beyond.