About Us

Michaela Wong, General Manager

I am originally from the San Francisco Bay Area in California, and I am a Marine Science major. I first started at URH Fall 2021 as a DJ with my co-host, Josh. I love to listen to all types of music, but my main go-tos are country, 50s-70s rock, Motown, and R&B. On Rice Cracker, Josh and I try to keep it light some days and just talk about Asian culture and community, and other days we’ll discuss some of the more serious issues at hand. At URH, my goal is to create a fun and inclusive space where people can take time to sit, listen, and relax!

Kukui Akana, Music & Program Coordinator

I am from the ahupuaʻa of Waimānalo, East side of Oʻahu, also lovingly known as "God'z Country". I am a double major in Hawaiian Studies and Communications, and I am minoring in History and a certificate in Pacific Islands studies. I enjoy spending time with family and my dogs, playing sports, going to the ocean for cleansing, making art, and cooking new and interesting foods! I am interested in social work as a future career and hope to continue on to law school to study family law and another law (that I'm still determining) after receiving my bachelor's degree.

The goal of my show is just to share. I want to share the aloha and appreciation of music with both my playlists and hoʻokani pila ʻana. I wanted to become a DJ to gain more opportunities and experience with performing live music, use the studio equipment for recording and mixing, and align with the goals I have as a musician. I hope in the near future to record and continue sharing the love I have for music.

Fun facts about me: I graduated with an associate degree with an emphasis in music in 2019 from Highline College, Seattle WA I come from a musical background on both sides of my parents (including the Kalapana ʻOhana on my father's side). My first words were singing a song back to my mom because she used to always sing to me every day.

@tutui_nuts

Makanoe Hufana, Events & Promotions Coordinator

I'm from Honolulu, Oʻahu and Haiku, Maui. I am studying to become a teacher in Hawaiian Studies or Hawaiian History. My love for music and art is the reason I signed up to be a DJ. I make art about the songs of Hawaiʻi as well as art about historical events that have happened. I also became a DJ because I want UH Hilo students to have a safe space to talk about the current events such as Red Hill or Maunakea and their manaʻo or thoughts on it. My show will focus on current events in Hawaiʻi and create a platform for the students of UH Hilo to have a voice in what happens to the aina here as well as the other moku/islands. I will be teaching Hawaiian and giving ʻolelo noʻeau or Hawaiian proverbs for people to think about through the week and weekend.

Joshua Baldonado

My name is Joshua Baldonado. I am from Waipahu on the island of O'ahu. I am a junior majoring in Mathematics. I like to chill and play video games.

Luke Bonner

Jacqueline Demers

I am from Frankfort Kentucky, and I'm in my junior year majoring in marine science with a environmental studies certificate. I like to spend time outdoors, giving back to the community, playing games with friends, and practicing martial arts. Hoping to share my appreciation to 90's rap, boy bands and girl groups the show is a throwback to the 90's and early 2000's to let people relax to classics we grew up with or maybe have forgotten.

Elijah Kochenbach

I was born in Oregon and moved around the mainland since the second grade, but moved to Hilo, Hawaii right before going into high school. Some of my hobbies and interests include: listening to music, singing, working out, photography, and video editing. I decided to become a DJ and be a part of the UHR club to showcase music that may help students study or relax.

@elijahend

Alaska Llewellyn

Hi everyone! My name is Alaska and I recently moved to Hilo from Fullerton, California. I have an AA in psychology and interdisciplinary social science, and I am continuing my studies of psychology at UH Hilo. I am very excited to be a part of URH and connect with you guys through my show. I love many genres, especially EDM, indie pop, alternative, classic rock and hip hop. My goal is to play music that appeals to all kinds of people and expose you to music you haven’t heard. When I was younger I played percussion instruments and some guitar, and I have many musicians in my family that have influenced my love for music. I also enjoy anything outdoors, trying new food, working out, and cats! Hope you enjoy my show.

Sean Nicely

I am Sean Nicely, and I am from Aiea Oahu. I am a business management major with a minor in Japanese language. My hobbies are listening to music, playing volleyball, watching anime, coloring, and doing word puzzles. The reason I started this show was to brighten people's days with a positive vibe and also playing an assortment of music so everyone can destress and have a wonderful day, my show will consist of like a podcast/music station where I will talk about certain topics like sports, and music while also playing genres of music like pop, kpop, rock and roll, jpop, etc...

@nicely_done_626
@seanellis26

Hinano Lovell

Aloha e kāua! My name is Brock "Hinano" Lovell, and I hail from Wailuku on the island of Maui. I love all things music! Gratefully, I was raised majority in Hawaiian Immersion Education from Punana Leo O Maui and Kula Kaiapuni O Maui and therefore am fluent in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. Currently, I am working towards my Bachelor's in Business Administration with a minor in Hawaiian Studies and plan to study abroad in Aotearoa for a graduate degree in music. I play various musical instruments, such as piano, 'ukulele, Tahitian 'ukulele, acoustic guitar, electric bass, and the cajón, with the piano being my first instrument since the age of 4.

Raised in an 'ohana of music lovers, entertainers, the cultural upbringing via Hawaiian Immersion, a singer and musician of the KSM Hawaiian Ensemble my last 3 years in high school and being a multi-instrumentalist, has influenced my passion for music and aspirations to be a music producer. Other than music, my hobbies include paddling canoe, bodyboarding, weightlifting, cliff jumping, skiing, dirt bike riding and hanging out with 'ohana and friends.

My music appetite is multi-genre - mixing between old school and new school, whether Hawaiian, reggae, soul, hip hop, RnB, mid-century jazz to space age, blues, big band, pop or country. Allowing my listeners, a multi-faceted place of music! My goal for my show is to provide your Dose of news, music, music trends (New/Old, Mainstream/Underground etc.), artist news, and overall good vibes! So stop by and get your Dose of all things music!!!

Sophia Pierucci

Hi y’all! I’m originally from Texas and I came to UH Hilo to study marine science. My favorite sea animals are cuttlefish and nudibranchs! Some of my hobbies include thrifting, watching anime, reading, and obviously music. I started my show in hopes of introducing new artists and songs in genres you might already be familiar with.

Emie Thornton

I'm from Washington state, and I am currently double majoring in English and Performing Arts. My hobbies are reading, listening to music, and surfing. My goal for my show is to introduce more people to good 70's and alternative music!

@emie.jeane