My Secret Growing up in Hawaii 

You’re truly one of the greatest storytellers our generation has seen. Love you jefe!

the great captain potter is back. you have helped bring this world together through culture and community and lets not forget your films are truly professional. glad to see you're back. you may not have been born kama'aina my friend, but you truly were raised Kama'aina. you may be Pilikea, but you have lived the life of a Kanaka. you truly are, a child of this land and you truly do have the right to call it home, especially after all you have done throughout just a few years around the world, bringing the spirit of Hawai'i Nei along with you.

Brah, I had tears running down my face watching this. I'm a kanaka maoli, but I always found it my duty to protect the haoles in school from getting bullied. This vid resonated with me so much. Mahalo nui loa & God bless you & da ohana. 🤙🏽

We need more ambassadors of Love, like you. I'm happy to hear you'll be posting videos regularly again. Keep inspiring the younger generations to follow their Hearts, their Truth and the Aloha. Bless you and your journey. It's one well traveled. 🙏

Hey! I'm a third generation Portuguese girl whose parents moved from Oahu and I too grew up on Kauai, though I was born there. I went to koloa school and then waimea canyon then waimea high before I moved to Washington State. I just want you to know your videos, view points and experiences are such a gift to me because it's something I've shown people about what Hawaii means to me, how I became the person that I am. Who I am at my core. This video now will be shown with the one about Waimea that you filmed with Kaina. Thank you so much❤

My favorite film maker! Felt all the emotions watching this video. I moved to the islands when I was 7 and not being kanaka but having so much gratitude to be able to call the island my home and also a sense of guilt. I resonate with so many things on your journey. What a beautiful way to honor the kanakas

I feel the same my art professor in high school told me to change the chip or someday it would be to late i never understood what he meant until i saw your video maybe that is what he meant

one of my favorite filmmakers!!! a true storyteller & an admirer of the world! thank you & i can’t wait to keep up with this series!!!

"Aloha" One word, SO MUCH meaning. Mahalo Nui for sharing this, and all of your other videos!

Sammy, thanks for sharing your story! You are deeply loved and an incredible storyteller of truth. ❤

🔥

Insane brotha!! Always impressed by your storytelling and authentic films! Inspired everytime I watch your art mate! Love Hawaii !!

Laird said something similar in his documentary and he was eventually embraced. Thanks for sharing.

Truly the best video about hawaii and more importantly its culture aloha. Much mahalo for the video

Beauty be with you and your many adventures. Aloha. ❤

I feel this. I was born in Colorado, but moved to Kaua’i at 3 months old. Spent my entire childhood there too then moved to O’ahu. It’s awesome you had that identity shift. I’m 32 and still struggle with it.

Fantastic video. Excellent production

Brother I'm 32. (Yesterday) and I envy your talent so much. I only touched a camera at 23, and I aspire to be HALF the storyteller and videographer you are. You're an inspiration to many, your skills are completely out of the ordinary especially for your age and I wish I had friends that fuelled me to create more, people to talk ideas with, learn from and push me and each other. I don't, so instead of that I have people like you in that void. Thanks for creating, telling incredible stories and for reminding me when I forget - just how much I want to catch the beauty and tell stories the way you do. I use the camera MAYBE 40 hours a year because I can't find the fire and push myself after a full day of work, until i am reminded of my love for catching stories and cultures by the likes of this one. Thanks for sharing and for inspiring!

I’ve always loved this dudes story telling ability!

‘Finding my Aloha’ is a good way of putting it. I am a fan of your storytelling and I support what you do its so Maika’i please keep going. In all of us, even locals born in the islands and from the islands, we still trying to ‘find our own Aloha’ in one way or another. Keep doing you Sam it is so impressive and uplifting the videos and portrayals you make. I won’t apologize for what you went through as a kid and I hope you don’t feel sorry for it either. It molded you in to what you are and it’s so powerful what you are able to do. I look forward to seeing what’s next. Aloha from this humble Hawaiian from Kona 🙏🏽🙌🏾

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes and Yes. Aloha

I have been following your channel for a while. Watching all the menu adventures and beautiful locations you traveled. But this one video is the most beautiful! Won’t lie. I teared up. I’m born and raised in Waianae, Oahu. But ten years ago I moved away to Las Vegas because financially it was all I could do. But I miss our home so much. I can’t wait to see more of your amazing work, which can be a source of my connection to OUR HOME, Hawaii. Mahalo nui!

Thank you Sam for your soulful art, your dedication to embracing and sharing love, kindness and community through your eyes and art. The beauty of the world is everywhere, and offering us where it lays for you in Hawaii is a gift and true ressource. Thank you for your authenticity, and for helping us to ground and seek ours. I wish you a beautiful journey inside and out, and am looking forward to your art ! Aloha, Alma

You are amazing and this video is amazing! ❤️🙌🏾 Can’t wait to listen to the podcast

Gonna be a sick series!! Can’t wait for the next episodes 🤙🏽

Fire brother 🔥

I lived on Kauai for 40 years, 20 in Koloa. Your story made me homesick.

Yessssss

Born/raised on Kauaʻi, even with old immigrant ties (Portuguese, being one) & Niʻihau Hawaiian family, I was teased/bullied as "haole" too...must be a Kalaheo Elementary right of passage 😂 & kids are just cruel at that age. Unless I'm out in the sun 24/7, I don't hold a tan like the rest of my family. It was frustrating as a kid to understand the name-calling. Also didnt help that I chose to not speak Pidgin regularly. But I remember it pretty much went away in middle school & that's also when I decided I didn't need validation from my peers. I know my family bloodline/lineage, I know I'm a Kauaiian 100%. I don't have to prove anything. & similar to you, it made me appreciate the islands in a deeper way. I used to always dream of "getting off this rock" & live on the mainland or abroad...now that I've traveled the world, there's absolutely ZERO replacement for Hawaiʻi/Kauaʻi & our lifestyle/culture/community. I can't imagine myself living anywhere else**. Anys, I just wanted to say that I love that you didn't let the "otherness" make you bitter. Instead, you turned it into a lesson & into Aloha & look at what you've accomplished since! I'm stoked for the new videos you have coming up 🤙🏽 **tho French Poly, my home away from home since 2017, is kinda hard to deny 🏝✨️ it really is like Hawaiʻi 50+years ago (i hope it stays that way).

We all have an origin story but it's where you grew up or how you grew up that makes you who you become as an adult. I grew up on a a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico but I'm a first generation Floridian in my family. My son was born in Minnesota, lived there until he was 2 then moved to Florida but he calls himself a Floridian. I don't think of myself as a Floridian but an island girl even though I was born in Miami and moved to the island at 12. My teen years honestly sucked because we had friends from very young until we moved to the island where I spent my first summer surrounded by retirees and grumpy old people who didn't appreciate kids making noise, swimming in the canal or us having our bikes up n down the road, but then I didn't understand why they didn't like us or why they were so grumpy all the time. And then there was that horrible commute into town to the grocery store because the island was and still is for the most part very rural although they now have 2 major chain grocery stores it's still mostly rural and retirement heaven. I no longer live in my home state or anywhere near the ocean or a beach but I still consider myself an Island girl, just an old sea hag now, lol. I have waited forever to see your next video and I'm so glad you decided to start filming again. Looking forward to seeing your next video, podcast. Happy trails and safe travels Cap

Can’t wait to explore and learn about all of Hawaii through your channel and hopefully one day in person🫶🏼

Yeah! So happy you will be doing this series, as I live vicariously through you

4 minutes-in and I got choked up! Aloha! What a great prequal, to what we all know will be epic!

Huge!

Beautifully captured and said :)

I’m part native Hawaiian but you are more Hawaiian than I am. Beautiful video. Good work.

What a treat! Mahalo nui for finding you, finding Hawai’i, finding ALOHA and calling Hawai’i, home! Mahalo for your mo’olelo❤

Awesome!💗

I do want to move to HAWAIIIII with my 2 kidssssss captain, is there any space left in your "The Black Pearl" 😍 loved to know how you grew up potter🫡✌🏻

This is one of the best vidoes I have watched. Hawaii has been a place that I have always loved and felt like home to me even though I am not from there or even Hawaiian at all. But my Soul feels the Soul of these islands, its magic. I look forward to watching these videos :)

Your awesome Sam

best videos I´ve ever seen! could not stop watching! this is amazing! your style, your voice, your storytelling! you really make people feel the message, thank you so much for that

so so excited for what is to come

I’m so glad I found your channel. Beautiful story telling

Leave questions for my podcast below!!

Excited:)

This is SO inspiring! Keep the Aloha spirit alive 🤙

yeah boiii

Aloha Sam! I’ve loved watching your videos over the last year and am stoked that you are going to be posting more. Question for the pod: how old were you when you started making videos and how old were you when you first began traveling and how did you get started with both?

New subscriber here. What a great story teller you are, Sam! Significant video. Keep 'em coming. Aloha!

Your videos are amazing and you’re a very good storyteller. It surprises me that you don’t get more views please keep at it and good luck. Aloha.

DUDEEEE! I love it! I don't know who you ended up getting to edit, but they crush! 🙌🙌I love the change in feel of the videos I love it all and I'm stoked to see more! Keep it up! Let me know when you want to go climb! hahaha

Aloha ❤ from Gernany. Mahalo for sharing your story. Mahalo for telling a story of the real Hawai´i. 😍🙏

And its not at all "silly". I was bullied as well and I those experience makes me feel like a doesn't belong nowhere. For a long time. Even the place was my original region for generations... So I guess when we cross this invisible line that u talking about in your video, we can belong simple everywhere and love our lifes truly. Thank you for sharing this with the world!! Thank you wor your kindness and work! I appreciate that . Soon of the sun ❤ I love u kid you did amazing!

I’ve been following your channel for some years now and always love to see a new upload! But I’m curious if there’s ever been a video that you especially struggled with to get the “right” emotions across? In terms of audio, footage, or even the dialogue you had planned for it.

You are just the best Sam! I love you so much!

I thought I was in a cropped video from a movie. Amazing montage!

This video deeply touched my heart and resonated with me on so many levels. Thank you for the way you tell stories and the way that you care. I am constantly so inspired by your work and excited for this new series. Keep going, keep creating - the world needs your art.

Hey you’re back! Watched your videos befire ever travelling and loved them! Great to see you’re back man, all the best! ❤

That was solid great job. I enjoy your style ! Aloha

Can’t wait to follow this ❤

Beautiful work mate

Soo stoked for this 🤭

The best brother!

another awesome and super inspiring video Sam, Hawaii have been on the top of my list to visit for many years, now more than ever. much love from Denmark!

Damnn Sam, you are such an inspiration to me! Every video just hits the right spot and I hope you will keep telling stories for many more years. Thanks :D

Wow, amazing job grateful and ready for more.

What a beautiful family

dammm amaizing dude im so psyched with this video

Goosebumps bro! You’re so talented!! I’m so excited for this series 😆🫶🏽

Absolutely amazing

Beautifully done palala. Cheee yesssa 🤙🏾 from kekaha to u

You’re one of the best storytellers on RU-vid. It’s been a blast working with you as a DP. 🙏🏽

Love this so much for you, Sam. You’re truly one of the most talented creators out of Hawai’i and I’m looking forward to seeing what you concoct. Much aloha to you and mahalo to Okukai for making it a reality.

Keep it up Sam! Your story-telling is always next level!

Mahalo nui - you are Aloha and Aloha is you - IMUA

Great video and message Sam! My wife has always felt a bit like you did as a lighter skinned Asian even with generations of family in Kauaʻi. Real Aloha crosses all those borders though 🤙

dope video guy!!!!

Beautiful ! Had chills the whole video

Awesome braddah. 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤙🏼

Haole is a way of thinking. There are plenty local haoles. Thats what i was told by the most aloha filled hawaiian i ever met.

Beautiful video ❤

Wow, super excited for this series Sam! I Loved the way you it the series by showing your history with the island! I can see this being some of your best work!

Super stoked!! Looking forward to more of your videos!❤

this is awesome men 🔥

This video was insane

Missed your posts !! Welcome back 💚

Wow, I've been watching your incredible videos all morning. You have honed amazing skill in film, story telling, and captivating audiences. I'm so glad I found your channel. I'm an author writing a middle grade fiction book set in Hawaii Volcano National Park, is there any way I can connect with you for an interview?

So stoked for this! Great work

Brother, thank you so much for sharing your heart and your story. You are such a talented filmmaker! We’ve been on the quest of restoration Hawaiian connection, and I have another very inspiring story to share with you from Puna, island of Hawai’i. Let me know if you interested and what’s the best way to share that with you

Man this is beautiful 🙌🏽🔥

Make a welcome video for cruise ships they need one

How beautiful, darling! We who were born in 3D have hard lessons, and the one you eventually believed to be the main one... Learn to accept, love, honor and respect yourself. Even if we learned otherwise! This is liberating! When a person goes through this "awakening", they or open "doors" for other people to access as well. You are privileged to have happened at this age, Many people experience this victory after 40, or at the end of life, others spend their entire lives and don't get... Congratulations on your greatness and courage! Young body... Old soul! I've been a follower of your channel for a while now, and I will also share a secret with you... Your lifestyle is a secret dream to me, a dream kept... hidden... Something I couldn't do... Discover the world, people, places, cultures, learn and share all your love with care, respect and humility are very great! A privilege enjoyed by few... When I see your travels, I feel so happy, because even if it's not me, Is there someone full of love for life and for the Planet by doing so. You are blessed! My name is Luciana, I was born and lived in Brazil, but I believe I was Polynesian in other lives... I love the music, the values, the culture and the philosophy of life of the Hawaiian people, and I feel that the energy of this place is very sacred and special. Being there in this place is still a living dream for me. Distant, but alive... From all my heart... ALOHA! 🌺💖🌈🌊🐳

Netflix worthy!

🖤🖤

Question: In your childhood being looked upon and bullied because of the way you look, did it stop you from doing activities that you would have wanted to do? For example watching movies of the old hawaii and how "haoles" couldn't surf at certain places did you come across that type of situation in real life? I enjoyed the film and can't wait to see more.

W I can’t wait to move to Maui I have family from Hawaii

Aloha nui.. I'm in th beginning My 15th year on Big Island.. I only lived in the 707 & 808. Both My keiki been born here unassisted & although I also have had to wrestle with th fact that I wasn't born here, I finally feel a sense of kuleana greater than just to Kalama aìna like I akwayz felt called to, to Im a Birthkeeper. Momentum iz picking up n I Am Being cared to help steward births already - I'll keep studying & practicing thru certificationz etc az it comez.. th biggest most terrifying knowing I have tho, iz that I'm destined to sit w Kupuna & Kahunas &listen& learn th wayz of Kanaka maoli. I feel like We get to bridge some gaps n straight up help connect People by Being Who We Are here. Malama pono kuleana. Aloha ke Akua Mahalo nui loa for the share & kokua for YourSelf

Question for the podcast: How do you reconnect when you no longer feel like yourself

Kaua'i represent! I was wondering why you look so familiar. Kaua'i high grad here..cheee!