058- Kamaka Dias is an entrepreneur and podcast host from Hilo, Hawaii currently living on Oahu. After paying off college debt in one year and documenting his efforts online, Kamaka co-founded Hawaiiverse, an ecommerce platform that supports local Hawaiian businesses. The corresponding podcast features long-format interviews with local figures to share their stories and promote Hawaiian culture.
Thomas and Kamaka discuss the pronunciation and meaning of his name in the Hawaiian language, the illegal annexation of Hawaii by the United States, the dichotomy of holding American citizenship and not identifying with American culture, the connection Hawaiians have to the land, and how to encourage men to break out of traditional gender norms.
Timestamps:
4:00 – What is the Hawaiiverse
10:00 – US Annexation & Hawaiian Independence Movement
17:00 – Not drinking
23:30 – “the land is chief, man is just it’s servant”
33:00- Masculinity
40:00 – Core Values
52:00 – Hawaiian Music
55:00 – Spark by Seek Discomfort
- Thomas’ Question – what is your love language?
- Kamaka’s Question – what are you looking forward to?