Lanai Tabura
Occupation: TV host and public speaker
What school you grad? Lānaʻi High & Elementary ‘87
Location: Honolulu, HI
Born and raised on the island of Lāna‘i, Lanai Tabura is an entertainer, entrepreneur and cultural storyteller whose three-decade career spans radio, television, comedy, food and travel. He earned four Emmy nominations and won an Emmy for a piece he co-created called “Ramen Yokocho,” which captures how ramen came to the United States, and specifically how it came to be a staple food in Hawai‘i.
In 2013, he traveled the country with his brother Adam and friend Shawn Felipe on their Aloha Plate food truck as part of The Food Network’s “Great Food Truck Race,” ultimately winning $50,000 and a new truck. He later appeared as a co-host on CNN’s Anthony Bourdain specials and collaborated on multiple international projects with CNN’s Richard Quest. Lanai also hosted Netflix’s Street Food: Hawaii, introducing global audiences to the islands’ rich culinary heritage.
As the founder and host of Lanai’s Travel Club, he curates immersive journeys for travelers that blend local culture, cuisine and storytelling in such destinations as Japan, Spain, Portugal and Thailand.
He can be heard daily across three regions — 94.7 KUMU in Hawaiʻi, InterFM in Tokyo, and Island Style Cruisin’ in Fukuoka — sharing music, stories and aloha throughout the Pacific. His mission remains to uplift Hawaiʻi’s people, music and food while building bridges of aloha around the world.
Q: Briefly describe your journey after high school.
A: I got into radio pretty quick—about two months after graduation, I was on the radio. As I started making a name for myself, I got more into acting and doing television commercials. I was part of a comedy group called the “3 Local Boyz” and we had a few hits like “Rice Rice Baby” and “Me So Hungry.” In my mid 20s, I started creating TV shows, and the rest is history.
Q: What are you up to these days?
A: I created a travel club and I take people all over the world on food tours. I also host and produce a show called Lanai’s Travel Club and Cooking Hawaiian Style.
Q: Why did you choose this career path and what do you enjoy most about it?
A: Radio has always interested me when growing up as well as television. I enjoy both because it gives me a chance to create.
Q: What makes you #PublicSchoolProud?
A: I loved everything about it! Everything from the socializing part to eating school lunch! Growing up on Lānaʻi, we were a tight community. I love representing Lānaʻi High & Elementary. Not too many people can say they do.
Q: Favorite subject in school?
A: History by far! I sucked at everything else.
Q: Favorite school lunch or breakfast?
A: We would have chicken lau lau, lomi lomi tomato and rice once a month!
Q: What type of extracurricular activities were you involved in?
A: I was a jock. I played volleyball, baseball and basketball.
Q: A teacher or mentor you’d like to thank?
A: I want to give a huge mahalo to my history teacher Frank Terrazas and my home economics teacher, Miss Johanna Lum. They always scolded me, but they also pushed me as well.
Q: What advice do you have for students?
A: Pay attention! School is gonna fly by. Also be respectful to your teachers. They are underpaid and have to deal with you everyday! They have one of the toughest responsibilities in the world.
