Afro Aloha

Lehman Bliss, an Atlanta native, Savannah State graduate, and US Navy sailor, joins us on the Afro Aloha Podcast. In this episode, we delve into the complexities of joining and serving in the US military, the importance of therapy for black men, building healthy relationships, coping with the grief of losing a parent, and navigating the transition out of the military to forge a new and brighter future. The Afro Aloha Podcast is produced by Afro Aloha and filmed in Honolulu, Hawai'i. To learn more about Afro Aloha, visit www.afroaloha.com and follow us at @afroaloha and @afroalohapodcast.

Dearonne Bethea, retired chief warrant officer and real estate investor, has amassed a portfolio of over 100M from his first investment of $236 in 2002. The North Carolina native is the CEO of Band of Brothers Investment Group, which was named SBA's Top Veteran Owned Business in Hawaii in 2023. From probation to prosperity, Bethea shares how he turned his life around and began paving a path to financial literacy and liberation. His mission is giving back through financial education, mentorship, and providing resources including scholarships, meals to Hawaii's houseless communities, and more. Afro Aloha Podcast is produced by Afro Aloha, Hawaii's cultural hub for black locals and travelers. Filmed in Honolulu. www.afroaloha.com www.instagram.com/afroaloha

Dr. Danielle McCleave became the first black woman to earn a Doctorate in Architecture from the University of Hawaii Manoa in 2022. McCleave is an architectural designer and artist from South Florida and relocated to Honolulu 6 years ago. Using her diverse educational background to fuel her creative pursuits. Mccleave, whose grandfather was a Tuskegee Airmen, joins us to discuss her fine arts background, living abroad in Italy before relocating to Honolulu, the importance of diversity in architecture, and how she uses design as a form of activism, and more. The Afro Aloha Podcast is filmed in Honolulu, Hawaii. Produced by Afro Aloha, Hawaii's cultural hub for black locals and travelers. IG@afroalohapodcast

United States Army Major, entrepreneur, mother, and Howard University graduate, Paris Holman, pulls up to the Afro Aloha Podcast. Holman is a Maryland native and has lived in Honolulu for 4.5 years. In this episode we discuss growing up in a religious household, being homeschooled in Japan, and what led her to join the military and attend Howard University. Holman is the founder of She Her Go, a brand dedicated to creating spaces for mothers. To learn more, visit www.shehergo.com Holman dives into the pros and cons of raising kids in Hawaii, balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, in addition to a career in the military, and more. IG:shehergothebrand Episodes are filmed in Honolulu and produced by Afro Aloha. To learn more, www.afroaloha.com. IG:@afroaloha IG:@afroalohapodcast

Former pro basketball player & Harlem Globetrotter, Geremy Robinson, initially relocated to Honolulu 26 years ago after being recruited by University of Hawai'i at Manoa basketball team. Currently the CEO and coach of Team Opencourt Basketball Club in Hawai'i. Robinson is also a real estate investor. Robinson Topics: Male role models, professional basketball, sports politics in Hawaii, youth mentorship, real estate, and more. IG: team_opencourt_tv

From Married at First Sight to relocating to Honolulu a year ago, data analyst and content creator Meka Jones, stops by The Afro Aloha Podcast. The Clark Atlanta University alumna jokingly tells us her dating experience in Hawai'i, key tips on negotiating salaries, using her platform to empower local businesses, and more. Guest: Meka Jones @_solobliss Host: Amy Benson @amybenson808 The Afro Aloha Podcast is filmed in Honolulu, Hawai'i. @afroalohapodcast To learn more about Afro Aloha, Hawai'i's black cultural hub, go to www.afroaloha.com @afroaloha

Raised on the westside of O'ahu, entertainer Juju discusses his island upbringing, peaks and valleys of his entertainment career, mental health, work ethic, staying true to yourself, and more. Juju also dives into the gatekeepers of Hawai'i's music industry and the complacency that plagues Hawai'i, despite the astronomical amount of talent here. @afroalohapodcast @amybenson808 @jujuthequi @donclix The Afro Aloha Podcast is filmed in Honolulu and produced by Afro Aloha, Hawai'i's cultural hub for black locals & travelers. @afroaloha www.afroaloha.com

Trained aerospace engineer and ballet dancer, known as The Dancing Rocket Scientist, stops by to discuss her experience navigating aerospace as a young black woman, mental health, her new book (Balancing Your Center of Gravity) and being a newlywed. Her company, The Steam Collaborative empowers black youth through designing and implementing STEAM Equity programming. www.thesteamcollab.com Host: @amybenson808 Guest:@thesteamcollab The Afro Aloha Podcast is produced by Afro Aloha, Hawai'i's Cultural Hub for black locals. Filmed in Honolulu, Hawai'i. www.afroaloha.com @afroaloha @afroalohapodcast

Kailua, O'ahu native Irie Love is an Indigenous mixed-race earth protecting recording artist, youth advocate, and wellness curator. In this episode, Irie reflects on growing up in Hawai'i, taking a 6-year hiatus from music, navigating grief, her upcoming album, and more. Guest: Irie Love @thisisirielove Host: Amy Benson @amybenson808 The Afro Aloha Podcast is produced by Afro Aloha, Hawai'i's Cultural Hub for black locals. www.afroaloha.com

Stephen Hill is a Honolulu based actor and photographer. For the past 5 years, Hill has played the role of Theodore "TC" Calvin on the show Magnum P.I. You can also catch Hill in the upcoming film, The Color Purple, as "Buster." Guest: www.instagram.com/stephenhillacts Host: www.instagram.com/amybenson808

Amy Benson is the Founder of Afro Aloha, Hawai'i's cultural hub for black locals and visitors, and the creator and host of the Afro Aloha Podcast. Benson relocated from Atlanta, Georgia to Honolulu, Hawai'i in 2013. To learn more about Afro Aloha, visit afroaloha.com

On the season premiere of the Afro Aloha Podcast, Dr. Camonia Graham-Tutt, Associate Vice Chancellor at University of Hawai'i West O'ahu, joins us to talk story. Dr. C. attended Howard University in addition to graduate school at Baylor University and completed her post-doc at University of Hawai'i/UH Cancer Center. In this episode, Dr. C. discusses the path that led her to Honolulu 12 years ago, education, leadership, mentorship, culture, community, service, gratitude, and what Hawai'i has taught her the most. Dr. C. highlights the individuals that have been influential in her life, including her mom, mentors, and organizations she's a part of such as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and The Links Incorporated. The Afro Aloha Podcast: Produced by Afro Aloha www.afroaloha.com Host: Amy Benson Guest: Dr. Camonia Graham-Tutt

Amy Benson, Founder of Afro Aloha & host of the Afro Aloha Podcast sheds light on what the Afro Aloha Podcast is & the inspiration behind it.

This trailer consists of footage from Afro Aloha's signature events including the Hawaii Black Entrepreneur Awards, DripNiq Ultimate Picnic Festival, Black is Art, Juneteenth Cookout Celebration, and Honolulu Black Pride. Afro Aloha is Hawaii's cultural hub for black locals and travelers. To learn more, vist afroaloha.com