MidWeek » Old Friends

It is very possible that we would not be tasting the very best from chef Alan Wong (pictured below with Roy Yamaguchi) today had he not ventured outside of Hawaii at a young age. Before we get to that, Wong credits the culinary program at Kapiolani Community College for opening his eyes to the kitchen. Prior to his enrollment at KCC, Wong had been a jack-of-all-trades at Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel and Don The Beachcomber's tiki restaurant. "I started as a dishwasher in 1972 and then I actually worked about 10 different positions for the hotel. From bus boy, waiter, host, cashier, front desk clerk, assistant restaurant manager and finally cook," says Wong, who was featured on MidWeek's cover Feb. 5, 1997. With a general understanding of the restaurant and hospitality business in his pocket, it was the hands-on knowledge acquired at KCC that oiled the path for his esteemed career. "That's where I had my first raw oyster," says Wong. "I started not only eating but cooking with things that I never ate growing up. I grew up in a small town called Waipio. I grew up thinking bread came out of a bag and salad dressing from a bottle. Then all of a sudden I'm making them with my bare hands." After knocking around at a few more restaurant jobs, it was time for Wong to head to the Mainland. He accepted an apprenticeship at the famed Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, W. Va. "The most important thing about the Greenbrier is I learned about myself," Wong says. "A local kid moving to the Mainland for the first time, you learn a lot about yourself. About overcoming homesickness, overcoming being by yourself. Those are my biggest lessons, besides the culinary ones." With Greenbrier and West Virginia etched on his traveling belt, Wong wasted no time getting acquainted with one of the world's biggest adrenaline rushes - New York City, working at the world-renowned French restaurant Lucese on the city's East Side. "In New York you learn things like resiliency, perseverance and keeping your dreams and goals in mind," says Wong. "That helps you overcome all the challenges and adversities you may have, besides the culinary ones." Returning to Hawaii a disciplined and matured chef and man, Wong was ready to become a leader in the restaurant industry and as a teacher. Trying to stay one step ahead of his staff and leading by example, Wong has assisted in many openings including Canoe House at Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows on the Big Island. On Oahu, Alan Wong's on King Street and Pineapple Room at Ala Moana Center have achieved enormous success. Taking on Maui for the first time, Wong opened Amasia at Grand Wailea Resort recently. Wong has had the privilege of traveling worldwide, gaining knowledge of international cuisine and culture - all of which he subtly drops into his own recipes and menus. He takes a strong stance that cooking is very regional, very narrow to its specific pocket in the world - Italian is more than spaghetti and pizza, and Japanese goes well beyond katsu and teriyaki. With an Anthony Bourdain-like appreciation for foods of small villages and remote regions, Wong highlights Hokkaido in northern Japan. "They have enough farmland to grow grapes for wine. They make their own cheeses, milk and butter," says Wong. "You can walk into a store that has live king crab. You pick one, they'll steam it, you sit on a bench, put the newspaper down, order a beer - what is better then that?" Wong has taken the advice of his role models before him and now, as a role model himself, he carries the advice: "Attitude trumps skill, desire trumps passion, and what is really important is that you can achieve anything, as long as you're willing to pay the price for what you want."

Alan Wong

Chris Fleck

No one should ever doubt Mike Malone's grit, talent or toughness as an MMA fighter. Malone is a fighter who, in 2007, had the courage to step into the ring with Korea's 7-foot-2 gargantuan K-1 fighter Hong Man Choi. Malone took some shots, but hung tough with Man Choi before splitting his shin in round 2 and losing on a technicality. "I had a chance to fight this giant; if I won, I could be boosted to big-time Japan stardom overnight," says Malone, who was featured on MidWeek's cover April 27, 2007. Despite the loss, Malone never drifted out of sight, and returned to Hawaii with a confident and respectful attitude. He describes himself as a better trainer and teacher than a fighter, and that's just part of the many things he's been up to over the past few years. Before his fight school, Eastsidaz Fight Club, shut down, Malone was able to gain and build a friendship with Pablo Gonzalez, founder of Lanikai Juice. Since tasting some of Gonzalez's refreshing smoothie concoctions, Malone has been promoting Lanikai Juice's delicious benefits across the island. Recently, Malone has helped launch the third Lanikai Juice store in Haleiwa. "What we do is provide fresh, local juices. Most of our stuff is organic. We provide a healthier and tastier way of living. You can get a bowl (acai) for something a little heartier, or our fresh-squeezed juices. We are starting to incorporate new greens like kale, spinach and mint in our smoothies and juices," says Malone, who starts his day with a Hawaiian Energizer, which is a mix of spirulina, ginseng and bee pollen. "Hawaiian Energizer is what keeps me going every day instead of loading up on caffeine," he says. Malone notes that the caliber of athlete and fighter is rising because of more-dynamic training methods as well as healthier and smarter eating habits. Speaking about nutrition: "In MMA and sports, you can tell the difference. A lot more athletes are in better condition because of the way they eat. They are eating less-processed things with few additives or preservatives. It might cost a little more, but it's much healthier for your body in the long run," says Malone, who also promotes and uses AlphaBrain, a line of health supplements. A fighter at heart, he is working with a few other partners and friends scouting locations for their next gym. "We want to help people on this side (Windward Oahu) who want to train not only MMA, but general fitness and Crossfit," he says. "We'll teach everything around MMA. I'll focus on kickboxing, jiu-jitsu and MMA. We'll bring in other guys to teach other stuff. Our school will always be well-rounded."

Mike Malone

Chris Fleck

The flair, exhilaration and pace of Latin music most likely would not exist in Hawaii if not for the path that Rolando Sanchez has taken for more than 25 years. Born in Masaya, Nicaragua, Sanchez relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area with his musical family at a young age. It was in California where Sanchez knew, very early, that music was to be his life, his passion, his calling. He immersed himself in the wide variety of Latin music that was being created and tweaked in the 1960s and '70s. What gave him and many other Latin musicians confidence and pride in their potential was the explosion and instant popularity of Santana. With the Latin music scene's flood gates opening up, Sanchez started his own band called SOLAR, playing a mixture of Latin rock and Latin jazz fusion. For nearly 20 years Sanchez toured the West Coast and Canada before seeking a change of pace in 1984. After visiting his sister in Hawaii, he knew this was the culture, climate and atmosphere in which he belonged. With virtually no Latin music in Hawaii at the time, Sanchez initially introduced salsa to Hawaii at Compadres in Waikiki, using street performers he found on Kuhio and Kalakaua avenues to fill out his band. Since then, Sanchez has grown a culture of Latin music in Hawaii. He has won numerous local music awards and has been a frequent ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) award-winner. He helped create annual events such as the Latin Explosion Concert and Hawaii International Latin Music Festival. A seasoned veteran and bandleader of Salsa Hawaii, Sanchez has his own take on the evolution of Latin music the past few decades. "As I become more mature, I find more-mature themes. You have so many genres; it is not only salsa. That is why most of my albums are a variety of music like cha-cha, rumba, salsa, Marengo, Latin pop, Latin rock and jazz," says Sanchez, who cites that Latin music's progression and adaption is generational. "Every 10 years or so you get a batch of new artists. You have a new contingency happening. Every 10 years somebody comes along with some music and people think it is brand new. You can see the transformation of salsa has become a dance instead of a music genre. Salsa is dominated by DJs now; it is a dance thing, not a music thing," adds Sanchez, who was featured in MidWeek Sept. 13, 1995. With 11 to 12 percent of Hawaii's population consisting of Latin ethnicities, Sanchez is seeking leadership to help keep Latin music thriving in the Islands. He, of course, continues to do his part. His newest album, Vamonos De Fiesta (Let's Go Party), was a Contemporary Album nominee at the 2011 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, and was a winner at the 2012 Big Island Music Awards. You can purchase Vamonos De Fiesta on iTunes or Cdbaby.com. You also can check out some of Sanchez's latest produced videos on YouTube.com.

Rolando Sanchez

Chris Fleck

Referencing his grandfather's archived tapes, high school student Kanoa Leahey worked to find his broadcasting voice, and in the process found a passion he continually finds both enjoyable and challenging. Son of Jim Leahey and grandson of Chuck Leahey, the former "Voice of the Rainbows" in the 1960s and '70s, Kanoa was born into a broadcast family. "I didn't know my grandfather that well, but I heard all the stories growing up in our household. I remember playing Wiffle Ball in the driveway and doing the play-by-play, making up names and the lineups, changing up stances to match players. It may have been borderline crazy, but was imagination-filled," says Leahey, who was featured on MidWeek's cover Aug. 26, 1998. Rehabbing a knee injury while at Iolani High School, Leahey was asked to help cover radio play-by-play of ILH girls basketball games. "Naively I took the position, not thinking about the ramifications of the fact I had no real experience other then sitting in the booth with my dad throughout childhood. I didn't think I was good, but also didn't think it was beyond me. When you fall in love with something, you allow yourself to be able to strive for excellence, and I think over the years I've been able to grow as a broadcaster because of my enthusiasm for what I do," adds Leahey, who as a freshmen at UH-Manoa was offered a unique scholarship by then-Hawaii Pacific University president Chatt Wright to transfer to HPU to cover the Sea Warriors athletic radio broadcasts. Leahey then climbed the sports desk ranks of the local television stations and was offered the sports director position at FOX affiliate KHON2 in 2004, a position from which he has recently stepped down to concentrate on his play-by-play endeavors. "It's the thing that brings me the most gratification - when you're out there, essentially at a big community festival, and have this big group of people paying attention, hanging on to every movement, every bounce of the game that is at hand. I love being in that atmosphere," says Leahey, who has plans to cover more NCAA basketball on ESPN's national and regional networks. Leahey also continues to cover high school sports for Oceanic Cable station OC-16, a job in which he takes much pride. "That's what it all comes down to. When I first started doing play-by-play, I did high school sports. It is essentially what I consider the purest form of athletics. These kids are playing because it is something they enjoy, something they want to be a part of. What we (broadcasters) have to stay away from is the notion that somehow we are a part of the story. The story is the people on the field, they surround the athletes and the coaches that are putting themselves on the line each and every game."

Kanoa Leahey

Chris Fleck

This week Michael Paulo is traveling to perform in the world's largest jazz festival, and it isn't in New York City, Los Angeles, New Orleans or Paris. The Java Jazz Festival in Jakarta, Indonesia - now the largest in the world by attendance - has grown exponentially over the years, a remarkable feat given the differences in cultures from where jazz originated. "It's funny because Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world. I find it astounding they've embraced an American art form such as jazz," says Michael Paulo, who was featured on MidWeek's cover Oct. 27, 2011. "I think it is a special feat, especially in the world where we have so much conflict. It is nice to be involved with an event that actually bridges the gap and promotes peace through jazz." Prompted by his high school band director to expand his enthusiasm for jazz, Paulo followed his passion, turning his musical talent into a thriving career. After graduating from Saint Louis High School, Paulo joined music group Kalapana, traveling the U.S. and Europe playing and building relationships with predominant jazz artists of the last several decades. In 1982 he landed a phenomenal opportunity touring with jazz legend and seven-time Grammy Award winner Al Jerreau. Paulo received tremendous notoriety for his work on Jerreau's Live In London album. After nine solo records, Paulo shifted more toward production and event coordination, keeping avenues of jazz entertainment open to the devoted fan and those just getting the jazz itch. "Jazz is freedom of expression," he says. "It goes back to our First Amendment rights. You're not tied to certain structure. We can bend and shape harmonies. Jazz is very free, which makes it so interesting." For the third year, Paulo presents Pacific Rim Jazz Festival Nov. 3, about which Paulo is excited for many reasons. "We're trying to grow the event, and we have support from the Hawaii Tourism Authority," he says. "We also have a ton of great local artists who we are trying to expose, as well as exposing Hawaii as a constant tourist destination." This year's Pacific Rim Jazz festival will feature top-notch performers including Russ Freeman and The Rippingtons, four-time Grammy winner Denice Williams and Japan's saxophone sensation Kaori Kobayashi. "Kobayashi could be ranked up there with the best contemporary saxophonists in America. Her YouTube videos have 5 million hits. I can't even get 50,000," Paulo says laughingly. For more information, visit PacificRimJazzFestival.com; for tickets, go to TIX.com.

Michael Paulo

Chris Fleck

As people and societies, we humans have the capabilities to be kind, compassionate and understanding on a daily basis. Yet we also have the ability to shun certain people, places and things, most times out of fear, pressure, resentment or just plain ignorance. Hawaii's cultural history tells a story of this dilemma, and Makia Malo plays a pivotal role. Malo - one of the last 18 living residents from Kalaupapa Leprosy Settlement on Molokai - in 1947 was taken from his Papakolea home and parents days before for turning 13. Like his best friend, kid brother PiliPili, and older sister Beka, Malo was diagnosed with what we now call Hansen's disease. Between 1865 and 1969, Kalaupapa Leprosy Settlement was the location where Hawaii segregated the "diseased," ostracizing innocent men, women and children by means of isolated quarantine. For the majority of its history, Kalaupapa was a place where people went and never returned. Malo was not one of those people. He also had nothing to prove to those who sent him there. He says he enjoyed his time on the Kalaupapa peninsula, the place with a storybook setting secluded behind the world's tallest sea cliffs. Malo went through physical and psychological perils, though, suffering from depression at times. Leprosy took its toll on his body, claiming portions of his fingers and toes. He has lost feeling in his hands and feet, as well as his vision. Despite the hardships, Malo made a fulfilling life for himself, playing to his strengths. He had always been a storyteller, even before he knew he was one. In the 1950s, with an effective leprosy treatment discovered, Malo spent much time back and forth between Kalaupapa and Hale Mohalu treatment center on Oahu. He began a steady education, gaining confidence as a writer and storyteller. He remembers first meeting master storyteller Jeff Gere. "Jeff Gere came over and saw me outside. He said, 'What's your name?' I said Elroy Malo. "'Mr. Malo, would you like to come tell stories with me?,' he said. "'Tell stories, I don't know how to tell stories,' I said. "'Yes, you do, I heard you by your apartment,' he says. "'I wasn't telling stories, I was only talking story,' I said. "Jeff tells me that's the same thing. Turned out to be just that. I started doing storytelling with him, going to different places around town," says Malo, who was featured on MidWeek's cover June 4, 1997. Malo spent decades telling stories and educating. He earned a degree in Hawaiian studies from UH-Manoa and travelled with Aunty Nona Beamer telling stories to schoolchildren. Malo tells his stories with vivid description, emphasized by body gestures. He speaks about a life he knows. He recalls weekend trips to Laie with his family as a boy to gather taro for poi they would make before church on Sundays. He remembers impressing young servicemen, diving for money at Beauty Hole pond in Laie. He speaks about former wives, of love and pain. Malo has a unique fluctuation in his tone, spreading from bold and boisterous to high and surprised. Malo tells stories of hunting in the Kalaupapa valleys with friends and swimming off the Kalaupapa shoreline, screaming back at the cliffs, using the echo as his compass back to shore. With a creative imagination even today, Malo has written and told short stories, fables and poems. He combines his worlds - his childhood before being sent to Kalaupapa with what he discovered on the peninsula - and his re-integration into society afterward. He traveled to Belgium and Rome for the canonization of Saint Damien in 2009. It was on that trip he bonded with KITV news anchor and MidWeek columnist Pamela Young. Young, who grew up with a blind sister, felt completely comfortable around Malo. After asking her for a DVD copy of a news special she produced about coverage of Kalaupapa, Belgium and Rome to give to his niece Noe, Young, who graced MidWeek's cover Oct. 15, 2008, thought it would be more fitting for Malo's niece to have the memoirs of her uncle's storied life. Malo and Young spent three years creating My Name Is Makia: A Memoir of Kalaupapa. When asked who Makia Malo is to her, Young, with serenity in her eyes, says, "He is my friend; he is my teacher. He is a living treasure. He was a part of a dark part of Hawaii's history and just living proof of how you can descend to hell and triumph. He has had a fantastic life, and I think a lot of people can learn from him and his life." To purchase the book or for more information, go to books-hawaii.net or visit your local bookstore.

Makia Malo & Pamela Young

Chris Fleck

Life for Jake Shimabukuro keeps strumming along, and it all sounds pretty sweet. The iconic ukulele master has just released his ninth solo CD, Grand Ukulele. This album blends a variety of musical styles including classical, blues, flamenco, mandolin, rock and surf rock. On the CD, Shimabukuro was thrilled to work with one of music's legendary producers, Alan Parsons, who helped create The Beatles' Abbey Road and Pink Floyd's Dark Side of The Moon. "The guy is just a genius. For the sound he captures and the way you watch him work in the studio, it is incredible. He just makes magic," says Shimabukuro, who was featured on MidWeek's cover Sept. 30, 2005. "Alan, as a producer, really pushed me in the studio, really wanted me to play beyond what I was accustomed to. He constantly kept challenging me. Sometimes, as an artist, you get focused on the technical work, so it is good to take a step back and look at the big picture the way Alan does." Grand Ukulele comes with no overdubbing, as all recordings are featured live, including accompaniment by a 29-piece orchestra. Preparing for a 40-city tour is usually a highlight for Shimabukuro, and although he is excited to be covering the Mainland by bus over the next couple months, a special someone he is leaving behind makes this tour a little bittersweet. Nine weeks ago, Shimabukuro's wife, Kelly, gave birth to their first child, a baby boy they named Chase. On his emotions about becoming a father, Shimabukuro says, "This is by far the most incredible experience ever. It is funny, because it really is so much different when it is your child. When it is your own, every little thing is the most precious in the world." Before taking off on tour, Shimabukuro showcased his first full-feature documentary. Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings, produced by Center for Asian American Media, premiered at the Hawaii International Film Festival. The documentary reveals Shimabukuro's emergence from small stage success in Hawaii to international recognition. On gaining reception throughout the world, he says, "It has really been thrilling seeing the popularity of ukulele rise. People like Eddie Kamae back in the 1950s really helped its transition. More recently, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's Over The Rainbow helped people hear the instrument in the way we do in Hawaii. Ukulele is very spiritual and has a lot of depth." "Now you see artists like Eddie Vedder and Paul McCartney playing. People are starting to understand it is not just a toy anymore. It's really great for the instrument, seeing musicians loving and embracing it in a whole new way."

Jake Shimabukuro

Chris Fleck

Way back in the 1990s, when Go Jimmy Go was merely a collective group of rambunctious musicians finding their groove and vibe together, they made a tactful decision - a decision that seems to be a significant reason why they are still well-known and performing 16 years later. "We were a band that never had the illusion to support ourselves by selling our music. A lot of bands tour or play live shows to make their living. We always reinvested into the band," says Go Jimmy Go tenor saxophonist Eric White. "We didn't pay each other all these years; we just put it back into the band so we could tour and travel and do cool things together. That's how we were able to survive this storm. Now we're in a position where we can just play and have fun." With five albums released to date and a novel worth of stories from touring worldwide, Go Jimmy Go has gone through a natural evolution of sound, but constantly stays true to its ska, reggae, rock-steady roots. "Our influences aren't very modern; they are more original. I think over time, especially through touring all over the U.S. and Europe, you are exposed to so many different sounds and styles. I'm sure being in those environments for so long had an impact on us," adds White, who was featured with Go Jimmy Go band members on MidWeek's cover Nov. 4, 2009. "When you're in Serbia, their take on ska and reggae is a trip. Touring with a band like The Toasters, we were out for two months, playing every day together in Europe. I think we started sounding more like them, more two-toned, faster, more aggressive. But it's so funny, when we came back I think we were more toward who we are, but, you know, it's all progressive." Where that progression has brought Go Jimmy Go - where at one time all members quit their jobs to tour for three years - is back to home, a place where they can enjoy playing the music they love as well as concentrate on other aspects of their lives. "From 2009 to now we've started going toward the family style. We were going hard there for awhile (touring and performing). We've all sprouted families and just play shows to enjoy and not stress anything," says White, pictured here with band members Ryan Kunimura, Ian Ashley, Jay "Jayder" Kalk, Jason "Bison" Friedman and Shon Gregory. White also says there are talks about recording a new album, as well as performing shows where cover or ticket charges are reasonable and less than $10 - the way they remember live music when they were growing up.

Go Jimmy Go

Chris Fleck

As a trial lawyer with more than 30 years experience, Jim Bickerton has represented several high-profile clients, including former Honolulu mayor Frank Fasi, New Yorker magazine and Simon & Schuster publishing. Recently, another significant lawsuit has made its way to his caseload, featuring mayoral candidate Ben Cayetano. In a libel and slander case, Cayetano has filed suit against Pacific Resource Partnership, PRP executive director John White and PRP partner Hawaii Carpenter's Union for their recent push poll activity and radio and TV advertisements that accuse Cayetano of profiting from illegal campaign funding, distributing government contracts in exchange for contributions and keeping contributions for himself. With no personal attachment to Cayetano's campaign, Bickerton says one of the reasons he took this pro bono case was because the PRP advertisements go beyond common campaign jabbing, and enter a realm of criminal accusation. "It is one thing to say that somebody believes in a policy with which you don't agree. That is what politicians do all day, they criticize each other. But to say that an opponent has broken the law and engaged in criminal activity, then you better have some proof of that. That is the line I think they crossed here," says Bickerton,who was featured on MidWeek's cover June 23, 1993. Bickerton understands that nationally courts have made libel and slander cases much more difficult, especially when a person with a strong public presence is involved. But he also accepts Cayetano's opinion of the effect these types of campaign tactics could have on the public's opinion both in this and future elections. "He (Cayetano) believes that if this sort of campaigning is allowed to work, it will be with us in every election," says Bickerton. "A guy like him (Cayetano) may be able to overcome it because he is a two-term governor and well known, but he says what person with ideals would enter the fray and try to strive for public office if they had to face this kind of attack, where it is OK to accuse people of criminal activity when it is false." The magnitude of the Cayetano case is very high, but so are other cases Bickerton is currently handling. They include suits which represent the vulnerability and protection of free public space in Hawaii and what is at jeopardy if they are lost. Most notably Bickerton represents Kaimana Beach Coalition in its attempt to keep the space that will replace the Natatorium War Memorial a free and public commodity, most reasonably a beach. He also represents Haleiwa Beach Park Coalition in its fight to stop a sale that would see sections of Haleiwa Beach Park go to a private developer. In response to the Haleiwa Beach Park Coalition and Save Kaimana Beach Coalition suits, Bickerton says, "If we keep letting this happen, pretty soon we'll wake up and realize there is nothing public anymore, nothing that is free anymore, and that will be a sad day. That is a theme in my cases which I have been coming across lately."

Jim Bickerton

Chris Fleck

Thawing out from a recent concert in Anchorage, Alaska, electrifying ukulele artist Taimane Gardner might be a bit more blessed to call Hawaii home now more than ever, but she loves each new place she has the opportunity to visit. "I've never been in that cold of weather before. I went sledding for the first time. The show went really well, and we're talking about another," says Gardner, who was featured on MidWeek's cover July 14, 2006. Growing up with an ukulele in hand, Gardner has innovated the ukulele style, adding a flair and ferociousness that few can duplicate. Gardner was discovered as a teen by Don Ho while she was playing on the streets of Waikiki. Performing with Ho, nearly until the day he died, Gardner gained confidence as a musician and entertainer. With a wandering, artistic heart Gardner finds solace in the creative process and recently has branched out from being solely a musician. She is beginning to establish herself in the art of production, creating theme-based performances at Ong King Art Center. "I was doing a lot of corporate shows and luaus, a lot of stuff in Waikiki. Then I started going to Chinatown and seeing the art scene there, and found Ong King Arts Center," she says. "I started making my own music over there, which sort of grew into these productions. Instead of playing a set, I would incorporate a storyline, dancers and other musicians and have a theme." Her first themed production at Ong King Arts Center was a circus-based performance, followed by her most recent universe or solar system show, where Gardner wrote a song for each planet and incorporated slam poetry, aerialists and taiko drummers. Currently in the creation process, Gardner is leaning toward an element-based concept for her next production, incorporating fire, earth, wind and water as the centerpieces. About her recent Ong King productions, Gardner says, "I really am ethereal with the universe theme or I can get really dark and go with the circus or madhouse theme. I guess I pull from those extremes. My art focuses on visual art now, making a visual to music." A musician's musician, Gardner says some of her favorite places to play are at open mic nights. "All my friends are some type of artist in some way. It's really fun to collaborate and make something together," says Gardner, who also warmed up nicely to Paris on her first trip to Europe earlier this year. "I enjoyed their sophistication, their food. It is very artistic; they are all about beauty." Gardner also is thrilled about her new album, Ukulele Dance, which features two songs from her Ong King Art Center solar system production. Ukulele Dance can be purchased at mountainapplecompany.com or itunes.com.

Taimane Gardner

Chris Fleck

Can you believe it has been more than 12 years since Linda Jameson kept Hawaii residents and visitors informed on their daily and nightly news as a KHON-2 news anchor and reporter? Of her ventures since leaving her passion as a news anchor, Jameson says, "Once you transition from news to the business world it is shocking, but amazingly you can do it." The transition she took was quite a leap, going from breaking community and world news to working in the business, technology and even military sectors. Since leaving KHON-2, Jameson spent time as vice president of business development and corporate communications at Trex Enterprises Corp., a high-tech company specializing in cutting-edge technical solutions. Jameson was charged with helping to deliver messages about Trex Enterprises Corp.'s latest innovations and technological creations. She also spent time at United States Pacific Command at Camp Smith working in strategic communications. Jameson was involved in significant projects, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks. She also oversaw communications among 36 United States embassies, providing a common operational picture for each. "Every job I have had has been demanding, but that was exceptionally demanding. I was dealing with classified national security issues," she says. Jameson has embraced each new position head-on, but has taken a very personal liking to her newest title as Kapiolani Health Foundation's director of philanthropy. "I love children, I love helping people, and the idea of raising money for a hospital and creating a family-centered facility for the future of Hawaii would be such a wonderful opportunity," says Jameson, who was featured on MidWeek's cover March 24, 2004. Jameson has a lot on her plate now, as she and Kapiolani's leadership team - which includes board members Chuck Sted, Ray Vara, Dr. Ginny Pressler, Martha Smith, Mike Robinson, Lynne Wooddell, Bert Kobayashi and Dee Jay Mailer - are focused on generating $30 million for a capital campaign that includes funding for a major redevelopment of Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children. "People really want to give back. I am not out twisting people's arms to donate. People have generous hearts," she says. Just a few of the initiatives of the capital campaign include construction of a new neo-natal intensive care unit, a pediatric intensive care unit as well as expanding capacity from 46 to 70 rooms. There are extensive plans to add new conference rooms for training and an education auditorium. "When I tell people what I do, without question they will tell me an amazing story about something that happened at Kapiolani," says Jameson.

Linda Jameson

Chris Fleck

Japanese Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, maybe unknowingly, helped pave the way for the American development of our own Iron Chef competitions, as well as the expansion of numerous food-related television shows that have become a craze for millions of amateur and professional foodies. Before sharpening his blades, though, Hiroshima-born Morimoto had more than just a dream to play professional baseball - he did play for a professional Japanese league until a shoulder injury deflected his ventures toward cooking. "I constantly check how all the Japanese players are doing in MLB. I don't follow any specific team though," says Morimoto, who threw out a ceremonial first pitch at a Philadelphia Phillies game this past summer. Embarking on his culinary career, Morimoto developed a knack for creating dishes as a sushi and kaiseki student in Hiroshima. He then ventured to the U.S., New York particularly, and opened what is now world-renowned Nobu restaurant with chef Nobu Matsuhisa. Morimoto's prowess as a chef and restaurateur skyrocketed from Nobu's success, and his appearances on Iron Chef. Since 2006, he has helped open self-titled restaurants in Philadelphia, New York and Honolulu, as well as a variety of related dining establishments internationally. "I always try to reflect the local food culture. I also enjoy integrating local food in my menus. My Morimoto Waikiki menu has several dishes that utilize Hawaiian food and ingredients," says Morimoto, who was featured on MidWeek's cover Jan. 5, 2011. A busy chef, Morimoto likes to get back to Hawaii every couple months or so. He has had the privilege to travel, getting better acquainted with the foods and cultures of countries and continents. "Every country has its own unique, delicious food. I recommend Chinese food in Japan," he says. Even for the mighty Iron Chef Morimoto, cooking is a learning process that comes with experience, sampling and pairing. When asked about challenging ingredients he has had to mix into his recipes, Morimoto says, "Anything I have never tried. In one of the Iron Chef battles I had to use all kinds of chili peppers because they were the secret ingredients. It was a tough battle because I was not familiar with any of those exotic peppers."; Morimoto's restaurants have quite a soothing, comforting atmosphere, which helps to raise the dining experience. "As a restaurateur, I've learned that the food is just 30 percent of the business in terms of how much it can influence guests. Other important elements include service and the décor. Although I am a chef, I pay attention to not only food, but all other details."

Masaharu Morimoto

Chris Fleck

For most, the Christmas spirit starts to take shape following Thanksgiving, but for Owen Ho, designer of the Honolulu City Lights Christmas display, his innovated Christmas ideas and positivity seem to be churning all year long. Under Ho's creative leadership, what once was simply an annual tree lighting has ballooned in the past 25 years into a seasonal exhibit of joy, culture and celebration. "It is satisfying to see the number of people who show up with their children and children's children talking about the display and what it was like when they were kids," he says. This year Ho and his team had many ideas in their Christmas think tank, but the one that rose to the top was their Santa's Underwater Adventure, featuring many of our friends of the sea in ornament fashion, including an 8-foot octopus. "We played with a few different concepts with the Friends of Honolulu City Lights. Rather than an aquarium scene, we did this a little more cartoonish. I'm proud of it," says Ho, who was featured on MidWeek's cover Dec. 24, 2003. Honolulu City Lights easily separates itself from any other Christmas displays on the Mainland, or internationally for that matter, with one polarizing, classically Hawaiian gesture: the shaka. "Frank Fasi's political symbol was the shaka sign, so we created the Shaka Santa. We did it with the intention that when Frank finally retired, we would cut off the hand and have Santa waving. It was such an icon for the city that (Mayor) Jeremy Harris said not to take the shaka off. That's how we have our Shaka Santa," explains Ho. On a full-time basis, Ho has held display designer positions for many retail companies, most particularly Duty Free Shops. "Duty Free Shops got me to live in Hong Kong - I took care of Alaska and California divisions and Hawaii," says Ho. "Duty Free Shops allowed me to get out into the community, and that's how I got involved in the City Lights display." Moving forward, Ho would like to keep participating as long as he continues to be invited to the organizational planning. He really does get a kick out of watching the delight in people's eyes as they walk through the display. "It is free for the community, and I think the Christmas tree is the highlight for the city," he says. "It's nice to be anonymous. I can just walk through and listen to comments. I enjoy that part."

Owen Ho

Chris Fleck

Fashion and design guru Takeo Kobayashi has designed gowns and outfits for some of Hollywood's brightest stars, including Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jennifer Lopez, Kelly Hu and Jason Momoa, who was featured in Game of Thrones and Conan. During his 40-year career, Kobayashi - pictured here with ChiBi - has become a profound presence in his native Japan and in the U.S. His designs have been seen by millions of viewers as he has represented actresses and actors who have been nominated for Emmy, Tony and Academy awards. Kobayashi, along with Eric Chandler, his partner and co-founder of 2Couture, continues to make the combined Miss Hawaii USA and Miss Teen Hawaii USA an admired pageant. Since recovering from a stroke and heart bypass surgery in the summer of 2011, Kobayashi has a new outlook on life and has gained an appreciation for giving back. "My life has turned 180 degrees," says Kobayashi, who was featured on MidWeek's cover Dec. 15, 2006. "I decided to change and start to support others now. I decided I wanted to help young people and do more charity work. I want to help someone else; want to help young people's dreams." Since attending Nippon Design School and the prestigious Art School of Los Angeles, Kobayashi has understood the fashion and design process from heel to crown. He wasn't guided by a red carpet to success, though. Kobayashi faced hardships early on in his career, rising above certain competitive ignorances that were projected toward him. "You have to have thick skin. People are always trying to push around young talent. Things have changed a little, but 40 years ago in California they would call me names and nasty comments. Now I want to give my experience to young people," says Kobayashi, who is now working with Emma Wo. "She is only 22," says Kobayashi, known to friends as Ta. "I want to give her the chance to learn about coordinating events. That includes everything from finances to music. "It's her time now ... If all the people I know need help, I'll help. That's my commitment for the rest of my life. If I am helping them, they are helping me, too." With Kobayashi's new appreciation of life comes a desire to expand another creative outlet that has always meant a lot to him. "I still have design, but I like to paint more now," he says. "There I can control myself instead of trying to please someone else."

Takeo Kobayashi

Chris Fleck

You would think after 25 years as Iolani high school's boys soccer coach, which included five state championships and 10 state championship appearances, Bob Barry would be satisfied calling it a career. Apparently not. Since he left Iolani in 2002, Coach Barry expanded his resume to the collegiate level as coach of University of Hawaii, Chaminade University, Willamette University in Oregon, and most currently as goalkeeper coach for both the men's and women's teams at Husson University in Maine. "The way we have worked it out is I leave (Husson) at the end of the season and come back to Hawaii to identify local kids who might be interested in Husson soccer," says Barry, who was featured on MidWeek's cover Sept. 21, 1988. As a coach and now part-time recruiter for Husson University, Barry sees tremendous potential for high school soccer players with a desire to continue their soccer careers. "Hawaii girls in particular are very athletic. For the boys, there's a small percentage who could play at the Division I NCAA level. It's the next tier of players I see that could play anywhere in the country," he says. "Those are the kids I'm scouting." With more than 40 years of coaching experience, Barry has seen many developments in soccer skills and the game itself. He credits expanded playing opportunities and Hawaii's favorable climate as attributes, which increase the talent being generated from local high schools. "The biggest change is the fact our high school kids and youths have gone from playing three months a year to 11 or 12 months," he says. "Soccer is like tennis or golf; if you really want to play at a high level, you have to evolve yourself, and that includes playing on club teams after the school leagues are over." Not only has he helped enhance the abilities of Hawaii's young athletes, Barry also has been taking the time to keep his own health and interests at a peak level. Over the past five years, he has participated in the USA Track & Field Senior masters discus events. A sport in which he once participated in high school, Barry now has revisited discus successfully, winning a bronze medal in 2011 at the national championships in Cleveland. "It's one way I stay competitive," he says. "I can't keep playing soccer. I'm competing against guys who have tremendous backgrounds - they were NCAA champions who represented the U.S. What keeps me healthy is just being involved and taking interest. I don't feel a bit as old as I look."

Bob Barry

Nicole Kato

There's no doubt that Jeff Chung loves the Korean culture, and as general manager of KBFD TV, he is able to promote it in Hawaii. "Seeing how many locals have so much interest in South Korea, from food, language and travel" is what he loves most about his job. Since being featured on MidWeek's cover Oct. 20, 2004, Chung is proud to announce that KBFD TV has expanded to four more channels in Hawaii, including Arirang TV (UHF 32.2, Oceanic and Hawaii Telcom), KBS (Oceanic Cable), Korean music video/movies Video on Demand (Oceanic Cable) and KTN (Korea Travel Network, the only hotel channel for the growing Korean tourist market in hotels statewide). "We are planning to go HD by the end of 2013," Chung says, noting that the network is planning an expansion to more channels in Hawaii. And that expansion seems to be much-needed, as Korean culture is becoming more and more popular throughout the state - especially TV dramas. "Core family values, which is the theme to most dramas, have cross-cultural reach and are universal to all families, especially Asian families," says Chung, who also works as a consultant linking Hawaii companies to South Korean conglomerates. "Also, many just don't know much about Korea and Korean culture, so it's interesting to learn that South Korea is so modern," he says. "With brands like Samsung, Hyundai, LG and Kia all around us, it's hard not to be curious about Korea." Chung, who came to Honolulu from South Korea in 1974, married wife Claire back in 2007, and the two have a 4-year-old son, Winston, who brings joy into their lives on a daily basis. "Becoming a husband then a father shortly after has brought my life into more focus and changed my life priority," he explains. "Where work was first when I was single, now it's family, then work." The balance he now has in his life has taught him time management, which he needs along with his additional duties. Apart from his duties at KBFD TV, Chung still serves as a board member for Hawaii International Film Festival, which has brought a number of Korean films to the Islands since its inception in 1981. He also sits on the boards for American Red Cross, Hawaii chapter, Saint Louis School and Honolulu Festival Foundation. And for those who need their weekly Korean drama fix, Chung has been a Sunday newspaper columnist for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser since 2005, writing synopses of all the dramas playing throughout the Islands. Despite all that he does, he claims there's nothing quite like having his own family. "Marriage and fatherhood have brought me good fortune and countless blessings," he says.

Jeff Chung

Nicole Kato

Although the holiday busyness has died down, Grammy- and Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winner Dennis Kamakahi is still keeping busy. Since being featured on the cover of MidWeek March 7, 2001, Kamakahi has been taking the stage at performing arts centers, music festivals and concerts around the nation, as well as in Canada. And if he's not performing, he's recording and teaching music classes. "I have now been a full-time professional musician in the Hawaiian music field for 45 years," says Kamakahi, who worked on the movie soundtrack for The Descendants, which was nominated for a 2013 Grammy Award. He also has three Grammy-winning CDs, produced two records that won Na Hoku Hanohano awards and has worked on Disney Studio's Lilo and Stitch II soundtrack with his son David. "Music has always been my profession and has given me the opportunity to play Hawaiian music all over the U.S., Canada and Japan," Kamakahi explains. "I haven't been to Europe yet, but working on it." Although the performing aspect of music is exciting, Kamakahi finds that teaching is the most-satisfying, and he enjoys seeing his students excel. In addition to his music career, Kamakahi became a grandparent in 2009 with the birth of his granddaughter Michele, and again in 2011 with the birth of Ariana, whom Kamakahi and wife Robin adopted. "Being a grandfather is most satisfying - watching both grandchildren grow and to know that you can never love them enough," he says. Kamakahi wanted to continue the Hawaiian practice of hanai, as he was adopted by his grandfather, David Nao'o Kamakahi, who taught him the Hawaiian language, culture and family roots in Molokai. He wants to pass down the knowledge he received as a child to his grandchildren in the hope they will carry it on to their own mo'opuna (grandchildren) one day. "Ariana is the daughter of my daughter Marlene. She has brought my wife and I renewed life," he says. This means he had to learn how to change diapers again, but says he now has the experience of more than 32 years of being a wiser father. He's still playing music today, but with a big difference. "Now, at my age, I can pick the performances," Kamakahi says. "If I feel like taking a month off, I take a month off. No more six nights a week playing in nightclubs or restaurants. "I only do concerts, no casual gigs. I like it that way."

Dennis Kamakahi

Nicole Kato

Any mom will tell you that motherhood is busy, busy, busy. But Kiana Tom takes being busy (and successful) to a whole new level. She has been making waves in the fitness industry with ESPN shows such as Kiana's Too Fit 2 Quit, Kiana's Hot Summer Nights and Cross Training with Kiana, as well as Super Bowl Nightlife for ABC and Extreme Energy for ESPN 2. Tom married Dennis Breshears, a fire chief for Los Angeles County, on Maui at the Grand Wailea. "When I filmed Kiana's Flex Appeal at the Grand Wailea and saw the chapel along the ocean, I knew that if and when I got married, that was where it had to be," says Tom, who was featured on MidWeek's cover July 18, 2001. "Our wedding was spectacular, the entire chapel was lit by candles and it was a black-tie affair. More than 200 guests flew in from all over." Together, Tom and Breshears have two beautiful daughters, Anelalani (10), which means "angel of the sky" in Hawaiian, and Kiana Jr. (6), who is exactly like her mommy - everything fitness. "After having children, my heart grew a million times," Tom says. "I never knew I could love anyone as much as I do my kids. Of all the things I've accomplished in my life, my family is the best part of my life. "I love being a wife and mom. I am so proud of my husband and my kids. I love teaching them to be healthy, loving, smart, responsible little fit kids." On Jan. 15, Tom launched Fit Mom TV Live!, which broadcasts live streaming workouts (that are totally free) for women from her outdoor fitness studio Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9 a.m. PST at Kiana.com and FitMomTV.com. "I was inspired to create Fit Mom TV after the birth of my second daughter," Tom explains. "Long gone were the pre-kid, two-hour workouts. I was lucky to get 15 minutes to myself." As a busy mom, she realized that her regular workouts were not working and the routines she was used to were not able to get her body back into shape. Tom's experience as a busy mother inspired her to reach more people on a personal level in regard to fitness. "The computer is intimate - you are one-on-one at your desk, living room, bedroom or office," she says. "That is how Fit Mom TV was born. "Watch from wherever you are, work out with us, feel good, look better." While her current ventures are keeping her busy, Tom still has big plans for her future. She's hoping to get Fit Mom TV on television and is partnering with a top production company in L.A. "I would also love to do another movie and kick Fit Mom booty!"

Kiana Tom

Nicole Kato

Darah Dung's parents refer to her as their Chinese New Year baby because she was born on Chinese New Year in the Year of the Rooster. It seems that it was written in the stars that Dung would become the first person to earn the titles of Miss Chinatown Hawaii (2003), Miss Chinatown USA (2003) and Narcissus Queen (2005). Dung was featured on MidWeek's cover for the first time July 9, 2003, after she was crowned Miss Chinatown Hawaii. Shortly thereafter, she went on to compete with women representing Chinatowns from across the nation at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, and was honored to bring home the national title of Miss Chinatown USA. On Feb. 16, 2005, the Year of the Rooster, she was featured on our cover once again after she was crowned the 56th Narcissus Queen. During her year of service, Dung was fortunate to travel to China to represent Hawaii, and was able to meet with ambassadors, delegates and the prime minister of Taipei. While in China, she was given the opportunity to visit the home her great-grandmother grew up in - Namlong Sun Tin Di village -where a few of her family members still reside. "Going there, it was still uncertain if we were at the correct residence," Dung admits. "We arrived and walked down a dirt path to a house with the address that said '1.' It wasn't until I heard my Aunty Pat calling my name from inside that I ran into the house, and she had a photo album with pictures of our family that were taken at my great-grandmother's 104th birthday. "My eyes filled with tears as we couldn't believe we were meeting our family who lived across the world." As Dung and her family left, she said to her mother, "Even if we go home tomorrow, this will still be one of the most memorable experiences of my life." Since then, she has continued to pursue fashion, print and commercial modeling, and also has acted in Fifty First Dates, North Shore and Hawaii Five-0. Currently, Dung appears as the on-camera host of Oceanic Time Warner Cable's The Green Channel. "I grew up recycling," says Dung, noting that her childhood spurred her passion for saving the planet. "My parents started the recycling programs at Noelani Elementary School and Stevenson Intermediate School ... it made communities cognizant of the importance of preserving our resources. She always has had a love for musical theater and was bit by the theatre bug when she joined the casts of Flower Drum Song, The Producers and most recently Lisa Matsumoto's The Princess and the Iso Peanut, where she and her real-life Chinese sisters Denby and Dana-Li played Filipino sisters Princess Lumpia, Princess Adobo and Princess Bagoong. Along with her theatrical aspirations, Dung loves to sing, following in the footsteps of her opera singer mom, who is her vocal coach. She and her family are animal lovers and foster for Oahu SPCA, and have adopted five rescue dogs of their own.

Darah Dung

Nicole Kato

Photo from Carol Nakagawa There has been much going on in the life of Communications Pacific (CommPac) CEO Kitty Lagareta, and most exciting developments are her grandchildren Hayden (11) and Michael (8). "It's wonderful," Lagareta says. "I adore my children, and I didn't think they could bring me any more joy, but they have done that with grandchildren." When she isn't visiting her children and grandchildren on the Mainland, Lagareta keeps busy with CommPac and her community service work. She serves on the boards of American Red Cross in Hawaii, Enterprise Honolulu, Boy Scouts and March of Dimes. Also, from 2003-08, Lagareta served on the UH Manoa Board of Regents and held the positions of vice chairwoman and chairwoman. During her service, the board handled some heavy issues, such as the leadership of the university when the decision was reached to appoint Dr. David McClain president. The board also tackled tuition, moving forward with the implementation of UH-West Oahu, building a new dorm on the Manoa campus, expanding to four-year programs at Maui Community College and approving the College of Pharmacy at UHHilo. While those years were busy for Lagareta, 2013 has new challenges and opportunities she plans to embrace. "I don't know if the economy is improving (this year) or not, but coming through the last four years, we're a stronger company for having to go through all of that," she says. "We're in a good place for 2013 and looking forward to many opportunities. "We're in an exciting time," says Lagareta, who notes that CommPac is celebrating its 44th anniversary this year. "We've been continuing to work with interesting clients like HECO, Safeway, Target and Starwood Hotels and Resorts. I think we have continued to be very engaged in a lot of the major issues going on around our state." Lagareta was featured on MidWeek's cover Oct. 11, 2000, with her Airedale, Rodman, who died in 2004. "Shortly after, we got Helen and Serah (both Airedales)," she explains. "But I still look at the cover and miss Rodman." Despite all that Lagareta has on her plate, she still finds time to skateboard. Yes, skateboard. With 2013 looking to be a busy year, she spent her recent three-and-a-half week RV road trip vacation with husband Roland and traveled 4,025 miles across the country to visit family. In the near future, Lagareta hopes to "spend more time with my grandkids."

Kitty Lagareta