Hawaiʻi Rooted

EVERY ISLAND HAS A STORY. IF YOU LISTEN, IT WILL SPEAK TO YOU.

Beneath the breathtaking natural wonder and exotic beauty unique to each of the Hawaiian Islands, there are vital roots. These are the stories of the people who tend to them. Who cultivate ancient ways of living in harmony with the environment and embrace local and Hawaiian culture with equal parts aloha and responsibility. For the next generation. And for Hawaiʻi to stay rooted. 

Island of Hawaiʻi

Keoni Kaholoʻaʻā

A park ranger once disconnected from his culture embraces his identity as a descendent of Pele, the volcano goddess.

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Oʻahu

Kyle Reutner

An ex-bartender works with Hawaiian researchers and local farmers to return glory to noble cane with craft and mixology, redefining the Mai Tai as a worthy cocktail.

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Maui

Isaac Bancaco

A spearfisherman and chef exemplifies taking only what you need, defending the ocean’s bounty and representing local farmers and fishermen in his cuisine.

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Kauaʻi

Lyndsey Haraguchi-Nakayama

An epic storm tests a fifth-generation taro farmer’s legacy of sustaining the community.

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Island of Hawaiʻi

Cliff Kapono

A young Hawaiian leaves home to further his education and returns with the ability to use chemistry as a platform to share ancestral wisdom with the modern world.

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Oʻahu

Mark Noguchi

A tough decision to leave a coveted hula hālau paves the way for a chef to introduce people to cooking - and living - with intention.

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Maui

Kau‘i Kanakaʻole

A kumu hula teaches how to respect the mana (power) of her Native Hawaiian stronghold.

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Maui

Dustin Tester

A trailblazing big-wave surfer empowers women to overcome the gnarliest challenges through surf therapy, just like she did.

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Kauaʻi

Leinā‘ala Jardin

A teacher dedicates her life to take on the duty of bringing hula—the life of Hawaiian culture—from prohibited to celebrated.

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Kauaʻi

Brandon Baptiste

A chef gives up culinary fame to come home, and reinvents a humble plantation-era dessert with world-class technique and local ingredients.

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Maui

Kala Tanaka

An ocean voyager leaves the safety of land to find her connection with her ancestors, and ultimately, herself.

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Lāna‘i

Anela Evans

A cultural practitioner bridges both worlds so that luxury and ease can coexist with the grit and authenticity that shaped her native land.

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Molokaʻi

Greg Solatorio

A cultural practitioner sacrifices everything to carry on his ancestors’ way of life, even as the modern world encroaches.

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Island of Hawaiʻi

Kaumakaiwa Kanakaʻole

Battling stereotype and cliche, a hula luminary expresses the meaning and power of hula from her Native Hawaiian perspective.

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Island of Hawaiʻi

Sheldon Simeon and Brandon Lee

Two Hilo natives buck industry convention to create a more holistic, sustainable farm-to-table experience that can only be created here.

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Oʻahu

Keone Nunes

A Native Hawaiian tattooist bestows ancient, hand-tapped kākau upon worthy recipients willing to endure a rite of passage.

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Oʻahu

Tom Pōhaku Stone

A misled youth returns in his later years to the source of familial wisdom to become a shaper of ancient alaia surfboards.

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