About Us

Now & Then Tours Hawaiʻi was founded in 2024 by Owner and Native Hawaiian Storyteller Kamaka Pili.  From his upbringing in Kailua to the influence of Honolulu, Kamaka uses his personal experiences and knowledge to bridge the gap between tourism in Hawaiʻi and the Native Hawaiian community.

Kamaka is a 4th generation native from Kailua, Oʻahu.  Both his parents grew up in a Kailua much different from today.  His mother and her family were evicted from their home on Kailua Beach in the name of "park improvements."  Today, Kailua Beach is a tourist destination with a pavilion built near where his mother's home once was located.

After graduating from the Kamehameha Schools , Kapālama in 2006, Kamaka attending the University of Hawai'i at Hilo.  With the intention of studying Hawaiian Studies, Kamaka graduated in 2010 with a BA in Political Science.

In 2014, Kamaka started his first company called Naʻau Walaʻau Designs, turning his designs into products. Each product became his first means of storytelling.

Later in 2014, Kamaka and Hawaiʻi Culture & Retail Association (HCRA) launched a new program called "Aloha Authentic" on ʻŌlelo Community Media.  This became a platform to bring exposure to local aritsans, cultural practitioners, kūpuna and community members.

In 2016, Kamaka continued HCRA and rebranded it as the Native Hawaiian Arts & Culture Expo LLC (NH ACE), also known as the Native Hawaiian Expo.   Through event planning and working with local artisans, NH ACE created opportunities to sell products while educating about Hawaiʻ'i's history.

In 2018, Aloha Authentic moved to KHON2 News, a Nexstar Media station.  Aloha Authentic has then evolved to weekly "Street Name" segments and monthly half-hour episodes.

In 2024, Now & Then Tours Hawaiʻi was founded as a way to bring all components together.  From storytelling to media to technology, Kamaka creates an everlasting experience for each guest by simply "stepping into history."

You can continue to catch Kamaka on KHON2 News weekly as a reporter, storyteller, weather anchor, and host.