 Let's me take your health back. We are coming to you live from my on-the-road office in Waikoloa on the big island of Hawaii and from the studios of Think Tech Hawaii, which is located in downtown Honolulu. Jay Fidel and Carol Mun Lee, my bosses of Think Tech Hawaii, wants to bring you content of interest from over 40 different show hosts. Today, I'm so honored to introduce to you a young genius of a man who's able to find his passion in life and turn it into his career. Today's show is titled, Haleika Aihui, Japan Joyward Rides, Jammin, TV, Travel and Toons. Yes, he does it all and he calls it work. Really, that's not fair. But today we shall be bringing you greetings and aloha and Pali's travel and journeys of random adventures. What Pali would like you to take away from today's show would be that you always must have appreciation and thankfulness while pursuing your passion. I just can't wait to get started and to let Pali share with you. But first, let's watch this short clip of getting to know Pali. Aloha, my name is Pali Ka'ihoi and I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. Growing up in Kamikide during the 70s and 80s from as early as I can remember, there were two constants that you could always hear and see in my parents' house, music and the original KIKU Japan television. I never thought that these influences would evolve into hobbies that would one day turn into a career. Like 90% of my graduating marital high school class, I thought my path would entail enrolling at UH Manoa, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree and hopefully finding a full-time job. However, for the last 20 years, I've been lucky enough to be able to share my love of music, travel to Japan monthly, and promote cross-culture experiences via television. My journey into music started in high school. The guitar was my main instrument that helped me transform ideas I had into actual songs. Years later as a composer and performer, I released several CDs here and in Japan and was fortunate enough to win a number of Na Hoku Hano Hano Awards. In wanting to serve and help promote fellow Hawaii artists and our music industry, I became a volunteer board member of HARA, the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts. I co-produced the annual Na Hoku Hano Hano Award show for 10 years, was co-creator of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, HTA-supported month-long celebration of Hawaii's music, Mele May, and served as president of HARA from 2011 through 2019. During my time as president, I was able to establish licensing and co-production opportunities with a variety of broadcast, media and production companies in Japan, resulting in the creation of Na Hoku Hano Hano-related concert series and festivals. While volunteering on the HARA Board of Directors, I was contacted by the Grammys National Academy of Recording Arts and Science. In addition to becoming a board member for their Pacific Northwest chapter, I've worked with the Grammy Awards Association for the last 10 years. This past October, the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts contracted me to be the television director and producer of the 43rd annual Hoku Award show and web broadcast, with the challenges and changes of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 further emphasized with the cancellation of all major cultural events and festivals. The HARA Board believed it was important that the Hoku still occur this year, and even though it would not be possible to have a live audience, we would still be able to celebrate our recording and performing artists as well as provide viewers and music fans with amazing performances from Maui, Kauai, Hawaii Island and Oahu. Wow, it seems like Polly, I gather you have a passion for music. Is that a passion of yours, Polly? Yeah, it's definitely a passion. Sometimes it's a curse because these things don't work like they used to. I don't know if they ever actually used to work the way they're supposed to, but yeah, it is a passion. It's definitely a passion. Wow, that's amazing. You've accomplished so much. And in all those videos, where were you performing there then? A couple of them were in Tokyo. Over at Tokyo Dome City, there's a hall there that some of the performance clips are taken from. And then a few of those are at different Hoku Hanahana Awards or from some of my live venues that I played in across Japan, like some in Sapporo or some in Yokohama. It's a mix of places. Yeah, you know, when I first saw you on TV, I actually thought you was a Japanese. You know, probably right there. And then I said, wait, wait, how come you get that name? I was like, wow, right? So then I looked you up and I thought, oh, brother, this is no go. In fact, you went to the same high school as us. Me, so shout out to Marino. The Spartans. Spartans. The house. Okay, so that's really cool. I tell you, and this world is so small as we talk story, we find out that we know almost everybody intertwined and some very close relations within your, your network of friends. So that's, that's amazing. So I know on the next slide that we're going to be showing this, it's quite a set up what you have on this slide. I was like, whoa, what is this? Is this Hollywood? So what do you enjoy the most about television and production? You know, like when we first started doing Doppelgaard TV, it was because I was a fan of all the stuff like the old Kiku television, you know, so I grew up on that. And then I got into, wow, we should do something that's kind of more updated, you know, and kind of showcase so much of Japan's great culture and food and people now. So that's how Doppelgaard started. But here what happened was I started getting into the actual production side of stuff. So filming, editing, directing. And this shot that the slide is on is Melissa Chang, myself and Amy Hill, which, you know, for 51st dates at Magnum PI, we did a restaurant called Istanbul. And this is kind of our production setup for that filming. All the gear is mined, which is why I'm broke all the time. But, you know, it's also really good so we can learn how to use it properly and, you know, film and do that kind of stuff on top of being in front of the camera. Wow. So wait now, let me, can you repeat that? What is the location of that set that you set that up there? So that's Istanbul, Hawaii. They're right across the street from Whole Foods. It's Mediterranean type of Greek type of, you know, that type of cuisine and something that I'm not familiar with at all. So thankfully Amy was there who was a guest of ours and Melissa Chang was there. So, you know, Melissa really helped explain what it is that we're eating. Everything just tasted good. Oh my gosh. And Polly, you know, that's the direction that we all really, you know, like with my show being taking your health back. That Mediterranean food diet, it's yummy. It's flavorful. It has all the different herbs that you never knew about. But it just makes even the hummus. Their hummus there is just outrageous and as simple as chickpeas and sesame paste, tahini, you know, and then they put their magic and their love in there with the mother and the daughter and just producing fantabulous food. And so, yes, we got to go there more often and change our palates to receive that because the food there is very helpful. And I just, I appreciate it so, so very much. So let's continue on our show journey. So besides being a composer and performer, the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards is something you've been involved with for some time, man. I understand. And that last year, there were wrench in the whole mix. I understand that last year's Hokus was quite a challenge while being a milestone for Hara, which stands for the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts and the recording community. Can you share a bit about the 2020 Hokus? Yeah, that was, it was definitely something that I was so proud to be a part of. I've been with Hara for probably a little over 10 years and I termed out as president in 2019. So it's in 2020, it was obviously everyone had the most difficult 2020 and not being able to do events, not being able to do, celebrate like, like Mary Monarch with Honolulu Festival, with Pampasipic Festival. The Academy really wants to still be able to do something for our artists because, you know, a lot of them did record, a lot of them do celebrate their music once a year. And this was the 43rd, that was the 43rd year that, you know, it would have been, that would have been celebrated. So there are some years early on and maybe a couple in between that weren't televised, but it's always happened. Like there was, it never, 43 years straight, the very first one was the Alamona Hotel. So last year decided, okay, we'll do it. Not so much virtually, but we'll film it as a regular award show. Hawaii Theater came on board, which that's why it looks amazing. You know, we have the incredible, yeah, it just, it's so picturesque and beautiful. And McKenna Maduli from Talk Story, the honor of filming and working with. And of course, so Hawaii News now, Hawaii, you know, Hanna was so great. And then we filmed it. We filmed everything out of order. We filmed everything so that the one good thing was that we could actually really showcase the performances, which I was really happy. We could spend time with their edits and to make sure everything looked good and lit properly. And we had the highest amount of viewership. On the awards. And the one big thing was usually the nine of the awards are held at the convention center live. And you would find out who won. And the winners had run off stage. Well, this time everyone had to watch because we didn't tell who the winners were. So we, the people announcing it and the winner is and we cut. And then only myself, like two other people knew who the actual winners were. So I added it in the winning portion. And we told all of our members, anyone that's going to win, send in a thank you speech. Because no one knew who was going to win. So then we would add it in the one that actually won. And then played it out. Yeah. Well, that is the, I wondered how you did that part because, you know, just that, that suspense, you know, that everyone had to pretend, but they didn't pretend. You didn't know. They didn't know. They didn't know. Yeah. Yeah. It was quite a bear. But my DP, Michael Keeney, who I worked with for a year with Oh, God, you know, he was instrumental in this all coming together. Of course, Janet Medulli and the horror board, Amy Hanayali. So, and the other thing we wanted to do is the first time that would showcase performance is from neighbor Island. So over at the math, we had Amy and we had a few artists there. And then from Hawaii Island, we had Mark Yamanaka. We had a couple of performances from there. And then from Kauai, we had Kupaua. So I was working with their editors and people filming simultaneously. And they would send them their stuff. And then we formatted for their show. So yeah, that made it really cool. And, you know, to celebrate four to third annual and to really showcase, you know, the music and the artists, especially in a very challenging time. That I'm glad you answered that for all of us because that would have put the winner in a very odd predicament because they would know when they wouldn't be, you know, like how they have these shows and you have to keep quiet because you can't tell them because it's going to air later. So you took that element out of a lot of the performers. And I'm sure they all appreciated that because otherwise, that would be very difficult for the winner to have to zip it. And, you know, And, you know, me and Portuguese would be so hard to pretend like I didn't know. Wow. That's amazing. I love all of them. I love all of them, but I know none of them would have been able to actually keep it under wraps. Of course not. So again, like I said, a genius of a young man, you are positive. I'm not a genius nor young, but thank you. Yes. Receive it. Receive it. All right. So, you know, I just wanted to ask you, so how do you think we can help the musicians of Hawaii as they try to recover from 2020 and the effects from COVID? I think on for businesses, you know, and of course this would have to play together with the safety guidelines of, you know, we're in tier three right now. Thankfully, hopefully more people are still continuing to be diligent and wear masks. And as the vaccine continues to work, it's way through our community, you know, we'll be able to, they'll be able to have more opportunities to gather, you know, and to, for businesses to actually have live music. You know, Blue Note, you know, it has been starting up again. They have plexiglass in front of their stage. So Martha and the folks over there, I commend them for that. I think supporting artists definitely to watch them live when the opportunity is, is available. And a lot of them do online performances now. So by all means, you know, they have like a virtual tip jar, you know, if you can, you know, if you can, you know, and obviously buying their stuff on iTunes or, you know, any of the digital platforms where you can purchase their music, that all helps, you know, and I think that that's something that in 2020, we didn't really have them lighted into the tunnel. We just kind of had the, you know, the doom of when is this going to be over? So I think that's really, exactly, exactly. So now we actually have the ability to, to, you know, kind of look at, wow, this is really, it's over the horizon. We can see it now, you know, so for our artists, definitely support by buying their music, watch them online when they perform. A lot of them have Facebook, you know, live performances and for the venues, you know, as more of these places start to say, you know, it's just going to be, Henry's going to be on hair, blue note, or Kimie, or Anuhea, or Isaac, you know, go out and support if you can, you know, and some even hotels and stuff. Yes, go and grab a bite, go to one of the restaurants, support our restaurant tours, and then we'll have a night out and listen and be entertained and let your heart just soak it all up and just escape, you know, into their, into the world of great entertainment. I just love it. I just truly, truly love it. So I'm going to ask you a question, Pali. I said, I just want to know what, I'm sure a lot of people want to know. Can you share with us any special projects that you are currently working on? Um, one of the things that was started in 2020, it was a series called Ola Hawaii, which, um, takes place at the Monalua Gardens. And it's funny because, you know, I remember going to high school or whatever, I remember it as beautiful, but having not gone back in so many years and actually going there and scouting the area, it's so beautiful. And there's so many spots within the gardens that look, you know, that are independent of the other spots in the garden. So we started that series in 2020. Um, and that's been one of the, like, the things I've been proud of to be associated with, um, with that show. We're continuing filming this year as well. Um, there's a couple of other, a couple of other projects, uh, involving, um, Kyushu, Southern Japan Tourism and Government, and they're, um, you know, they really want to reach out to Hawaii folks. And, uh, a few years ago, I had the opportunity to work with Hokkaido, with Hokkaido television, you know, and bring their show up Hokkaido here to Hawaii. So we want to kind of do that for Kyushu, the Southern Japan side too. That's also in the works and, um, yeah, a couple of, uh, a couple of more music projects. I'll be behind the camera again. That's coming up and unfortunately I can't say what it is yet because I signed an NDA, but, uh, you'll know it when you see it. All right. I knew, I knew you put in, but I thought if I did ask you maybe give us a cheater. So we're going to just keep looking for you and the productions that's yet to come. And I know there must be many in the pipeline. Because you can't just be from all that great Hawaii music. So that's the first part of, you know, what I really wanted to talk to you about, uh, how you support the local entertainers and entertainments here in Hawaii. But there's also another side of you. And I have another video that we collected from your, uh, resources that will show another side of what you do, Pali. So let's watch this video. Follow. Music helped my second passion. A love and fascination with all things Japan turned into an actual occupation that fostered and fueled my love of video production and television. Winning my first Hoku Award brought me back to Japan as a performer. And this reignited an idea I had about trying to create a modern day version of the beloved Kiku television show, Sokoga Shiritai. This concept funded by my day job and lots of sweat equity resulted in the creation of the weekly television show, Tokugawa TV, Japan Mania. And later a joint production with Hokkaido television broadcast and Hokkaido. Tokugawa TV and Love Hokkaido both showcased must-see attractions, culture, history, cuisine and touring of Japan and Asia airing on Hawaii News Now's KHNL and K-5. In parallel to my work in Japan I wanted to channel my efforts in videography to help promote Hawaii's music and performers. Music-centric TV shows K-5 Melee, the Music and Manao series and K-5 Mule Gardens Ho'ola Hawaii were launched. These programs celebrate long-standing traditions, Hawaiian music artists and celebrated entertainers to local, national and international audiences. As viewership for Tokugawa TV and Love Hokkaido started to grow several opportunities had arisen. In 2016 I was appointed as Hokkaido Smile Ambassador a Goodwill Ambassador program established by the Hokkaido government. Interest in Japan tours of the cities and locales I had filmed also grew and partnering with non-stop travel JTB and Hawaiian Airlines resulted in Tokugawa TV themed tours in Japan and Asia. Hey, so this is the other genius part of this genius of a young man. So, your show Tokugawa TV is filmed in Japan or was or is, okay? But this looks like you're enjoying sushi with Chef D.K. Kodama. Are you featuring Hawaii segments now as well? Yeah, you know usually prior to 2020 I was in Japan once a month I did a film or for meetings or for tours and of course not being able to fly and go back one of the things that I had started on the show years ago was a segment called Oishi Itoi which was to feature good restaurants here and when it started it was actually a way to kind of help my friend's restaurant either plate lunch places or actually good Japanese food and so we resurrected Oishi Itoi and we did that and also wanted to feature restaurants like there with D.K. over at Vino's there are a number of restaurants Roy's, Chines, D.K. and Miley's that are doing they represent great food but they're doing this kind of very challenging time special like family meals where you can get Roy's had a separate tour for four for like 70 bucks for filet mignon and lobster and you can't get that for like one person if you go to a restaurant let alone four so a lot of these restaurant tours and these owners are doing stuff to really help be able to provide a level of food and great dining experience at home so enjoy it from the safety of your own home and not dress up put on makeup and not have to you can dress up and put makeup in when you eat Chines you can it's optional I'll admit I don't I skip makeup for that one so it's really that wasn't a way that we also wanted to help local restaurants that were really doing things on the community and then also too for like small businesses that I've been able to kind of go over the years cloud nine in market city was another one we did to have the best boba drinks and souffle pancakes that are Japanese inspired so that's what we're filming here in the islands too so that's yeah that's how they kind of reincorporated into the show into the series Wow and thanks to you Pali for continuing to promote the local not just entertainers but also the local restaurant tours which are using locally grown foods you know and sourcing the local talent to continue to survive a lot of different businesses which is most important and that's what this show is all about and I know that's where your heart is as well Pali is to continue just to encourage and enhance where we're at right now in this point and just keep promoting and going forward so mahalo to you for that in advance if no one's mahalo to you thank you you're welcome so I know that local has a new co-host what you was lonely always I know it's a celebrated and award-winning journalist and she's one of our performers which I've been working with for the last five years so I really have been excited that TV personality I know her as Elena Rubin that's right and so how did you two meet and what's in store for local TV viewers we actually met because Hokkaido we did a familiarity trip to Hokkaido so which is for those that don't know it's kind of like for media to help promote destinations in that area so it was myself it was Melissa Chang, Yumi Ozaki and Elena jumped on so we were there she had a commitment she could only be there for like two full days and she just had sharp throat so she didn't have a voice but it was still fun to work with her and she was a champ she really did make it very entertaining and a lot of fun so we had an opportunity I partnered with I've been very thankful to be partnered with Nonstop Travel and Hawaiian Airlines for the show and Nonstop Travel had an Alaska tour on the Norwegian cruise line to Bliss and I was like hey that would be kind of fun to have Elena on there she's like yeah I'm game so we did the show and like a video diary series of our experience that's Alaska on the ship and it was probably one of our most highly viewed you know episodes that series that we did and we had such great chemistry and it's so much fun and she's also into like extra sauce on her stuff which I'm into big time extra sauce yeah right gotta have extra sauce yeah I don't care yeah and she's also a vodka fan so we had a lot of fun on the tour and yeah I'm so happy that she's co-host of the show I also have a variety of guests co-host Melissa Chang being one of them our mutual friend and it's been a lot of fun you know it's been great to have them on the show well Elena too really we just met the other day in fact talking about the travel the end of the year and other local things that we're going to film together as well as of course hopping around the globe in 2022 so well you're on track again there because you got two very beautiful and outstanding co-host Elena they're way smarter than I am so that works you got the beautiful sandwich going right there you go there you go see how pretty you are I told you I'm glad that you're featuring Alaska because people just know Hawaii is loving Vegas but of course white people love Japan and they love love Alaska and once you go there oh it's amazing the fishing and all the fresh catches that you can bring in just I love it and I can't wait to go back as well we had great times there speaking about traveling with the challenges of travel last year when was the last time you went to Japan Fully I went in December actually so I got to celebrate Christmas there New Year's I had to get a visa for it and then there's the big Gundam statue that I have a huge fan of I had to get a visa and do a lot of paperwork before I went but I also wanted to kind of document what the process is like to travel during COVID thankfully things will be not as I guess as crazy as they were going in but even with that said I flew Hawaiian Airlines over there I got my test before I left when you land at the Rita airport they give you another test and then you wait for the results and then you're allowed to leave but they have private ones you can arrange and stuff too and then you have to quarantine for two weeks so that's something that I kind of wanted to see what the process was like and also a lot of meetings too with clients for businesses that are going forward and for our tours and filming going forward for this year and next year and that was the first time to be honest usually during Christmas January they work in Japan but you don't do meetings you don't do planning stuff because they're all celebrating and closing out the year which is like the after-drinking party and all that kind of stuff but this is the first time that everyone's been affected by that we were meeting up Christmas Eve Christmas Day January 1st was off-limits exactly they're like yeah we'll meet yeah that was really telling to show that everyone is very passionate and hungry to kickstart business again back to normal wow I want to just sneak this one how has COVID impacted your work both locally and in Japan well in Japan it's kept me away from Japan up until December actually I was supposed to be back there right now to cover the 10-year anniversary for the tsunami the tohoku tsunami and earthquake but they're still under lockdown right now for foreigners so it's really effective business in a sense not being able to do tours with nonstop travel and not being able to film there we had some pretty big things that we were worked out for filming for our next focus for the show as well as obviously Olympics which was supposed to be last year so that's been a huge thing but locally it was one of the things that to be honest with you I was really worried about because without that business going on locally here of course everyone is suffering here but I was very thankful to have opportunities like hola hova ii with monologue guarded and to be able to be hired as director producer for the holk this year for television that's a great feather in your cap I mean I'm so thankful to be able to have those opportunities and other little production jobs that have come up so it's kept me pretty busy and my very busy and our crew so for that eternally thankful well we run out of time right now we're eternally grateful to you and your staff and your team that was able to pull that off in a most professional and profound way to kind of make things normal for us at home with all that great entertainment and talent so we've got to say goodbye to you right now but I know there's more great works coming down the pipeline with you and all the talents that you can gather so keep up the great work congratulations to you and we look forward to seeing more of your great works so mahalo mahalo to you aloha aloha