Talk Story with Aunty Piilani

About Talk Story with Aunty Piilani

Join Aunty Piilani as she reminisces about her life as a Hawaiian woman from Keaukaha who has been navigating the world for nearly nine decades. Hosted by daughter Kye and color commentator friend Dana, we will explore her simple childhood on Hilo-side beaches of the Big Island of Hawaii, the birth and fruition of her entrepreneurial spirit, trials and tribulations of a lifelong restaurateur and caterer, and her perspectives on the place of ho'oponopono in the world today.

Publisher

Aunty Piilani

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Apr 2025

Latest episode

13 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

26 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Apr 2026

   Episode 26: Kitchen Magic

   In this episode, Aunty Piilani shares a series of close calls from her catering days in Eaton Rapids. With the help (and occasional chaos) of her employees, she recounts a handful of unforgettable situations that could have ended in disaster, but didn’t, thanks to a little quick thinking, a lot of experience, and what she likes to call her magic. It’s a glimpse behind the scenes of events that guests thought were seamless… and the reality that was anything but. You'll have to listen to find out, but let's just say that we almost called this one Don't Let Jeff Drive.

2. 

   26 Mar 2026

   Episode 25: The Call of the Kitchen

   In this episode, Aunty Piilani begins her Michigan chapter, starting in Lansing and adjusting to a completely different life, climate and pace before eventually making her way to Eaton Rapids. But once she gets into the kitchen, things pick up. We hear about the early days of Piilani’s Restaurant and Catering, her high standards for her staff, and the reputation she was determined to build — even if it meant she felt like she was "Lady Gordon Ramsay.” And yes, this is the episode featuring the infamous pineapple incident. It’s a quiet start with flashes of the fire to come in our next episode.

3. 

   16 Feb 2026

   Episode 24: Michigan Marriage

   In this episode, Aunty Piilani tells the story of meeting Paul, the man who would become her fourth and final husband. What begins as a chance encounter while she’s working as a tour guide quickly turns into something much bigger. Swept up by persistence, charm, and more than a little sparkle, she makes a series of fast, life-changing decisions. Within weeks, loose ends are tied, bags are packed, and she leaves Hawaiʻi for Michigan, beginning a chapter that would last more than three decades. It’s a story of momentum, risk, and the moments that quietly reroute an entire life — with a few surprises best left uncovered by listening.

Podcast Authority Score: 20 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

41

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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