Finding Aloha in Just the Right Place: Meeting Brother Sam

When I first arrived in Hawaii, I worked at the television station on Schofield Barracks. The station was housed in an old Quonset hut, and my job was to transition the entire studio from analog to digital—a massive undertaking that also involved moving the studio and library to a new location. It was an exciting time, filled with challenges, but also rich cultural experiences that left a lasting impression on me.

One of the greatest gifts of my time in Hawaii was meeting Brother Sam and Sister Lena from Local Kine Grinds. If you’ve ever spent time in the islands, you know that grinds is Hawaiian Pidgin for food—especially the kind that’s so good it feeds your soul as much as your belly. Their show was all about exploring the best local food spots across Oahu, but it was more than just a food review show. It was an extension of something deeper: Aloha.

A Meeting That Changed Me

The first time I met Brother Sam was at a theater where he and his team were setting up for a musical performance. They weren’t just TV hosts—they were performers, storytellers, and ambassadors of Hawaiian culture. My boss, a civilian worker, introduced me, saying, “Hey, this is Eric. He’s a big fan. He watches your show.”

I told Brother Sam how much I appreciated his show, how I loved the culture of Hawaii, and how deeply I admired the spirit of Aloha. He just stared at me for a moment, with a look I can’t quite describe—something that isn’t tangible, something you won’t find on any website or written in any book. Then, without hesitation, he embraced me in the traditional Hawaiian way:

Head to head. Forehead to forehead. Nose to nose.

For about ten seconds, we stood there in that embrace. No words, just presence. In that moment, I felt Aloha—not just as a word, but as an energy, a way of being. I later learned that this embrace is called honi, a greeting that signifies deep mutual respect and a connection of breath and spirit.

When we pulled away, he said something to me. I can’t remember his exact words, but I’d like to believe it was, “Be the Kine”

In Hawaiian Pidgin, da kine can mean a lot of things. It can be a placeholder for just about any word, but in this context, I believe he meant:

Be the good kind.

Be the person who lifts others up.

Be the one who treats people with respect and dignity.

In that moment, I knew I had just experienced something real, something timeless, something that would stay with me forever.

Aloha, Belgium, and Waffles

The spirit of Aloha didn’t just shape my time in Hawaii—it shaped my approach to life. And in many ways, I found that same energy when I lived in Belgium for 12 years.

The Belgians, like the Hawaiians, know how to work hard but also how to enjoy life. They are gregarious people, smart and technically savvy, but also love to joke, to laugh, and to savor the good things. They work to live and don’t live to work. I felt at home in Belgium just as I did in Hawaii, especially when I had a Liège waffle in my hand.

That’s what I want to bring to the world through ËP!K Bites—that feeling of holding something warm, delicious, and comforting, while being fully present in the moment. I want people to experience that simple joy, that epic feeling of just enjoying life, right where they are.

I’m not saying go spend all your money on bottle service at the Luxor in Vegas and put it all on black on the roulette table…I’m saying:

Put down your phone. Stop scrolling. Be here. Be present.

Talk to someone. Share a laugh. Take a bite of something amazing.

That’s what ËP!K Bites is all about. It’s not just food. It’s an experience. It’s a moment of connection. It’s Aloha.

And if I can pass even a little of that on through my waffles, then I know I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.

Uno DeKine - Proprietor