I want to thank you and those of who that wished me a Happy Birthday before, during, and after Thursday, November 21st, 2019. On my birthday, I gave my "Flip the Script" keynote message at Aliʻiolani Elementary's Parent Night on the importance on having "grit" to not give up even through our life's greatest adversities and challenges. What would the script of your life look like today if it were to go on the big screen? Let's ask ourselves that each day. Are we living the script in our lives the way we ought to and want to today?

I have a special gift for you! Scroll down to watch my birthday keynote presentation!

Principal Joseph Passatino, Nate, Cary Miyashiro, Debbie Kim Morikawa, Jason Tom, Violet Shimoko, Lori, Gale, vice principal Tim.

Jason Tom Birthday Flip the Script Keynote

Video Credit: BloomingGale's

As an unashamed product of Hawaiʻi's Deparment of Education's public school education, I shared my greatest accomplishment in life was being able to fail early in life, because that taught me early on what I needed to do to dig deep to overcome adversities and challenges in life. How when I failed first grade at Liholiho Elementary was pivotal to me beginning my journey as an amateur beatboxer.

I was six-years-old. I knew not how to read nor did I know my ABCs then.

I transferred to Kauluwela Elementary where I began to learn my ABCs, liking toward mathematics, art, and how to read.

15 years later, I ventured into my journey as a professional beatboxer after my collision with a SUV when I judo sprawled that vehicle before being knocked unconscious.

It was then I also decided to take care of my unfinished business academically. I judo flipped my transcript from 1.0 to 4.0 grade point average. I was then rejected then accepted into the Freeman Foundation Scholarship program at Beijing Foreign Studies University. In 2006-2007, I landed on the University of Hawaiʻi at Kapiʻolani's Dean's Honorees List!

I also shared on one of my student's accounts on how she was at the brink of giving up. When I worked with her... she became an A math student and she completed her degree at University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu!

I also shared when I advocated to present my keynote at TEDx Honolulu "It's About Time" Conference with "Vocal Groove" when they originally turned me down and then selected me to present.

Jason Tom Flip the Script Keynote Presentation

Video Credit: Nate Izumi

Ever had a conversation with someone who asks you the same question even after you've already responded to him or her your answer? I will use mathematics to as an analogy to share this scenario.

Person asks: What is the answer to (p + 3)³ (translation: what is the cubed evaluation of the binomial p plus three)? 

You: You want to know the answer to (p + 3)³? Well here it is...... 
(p + 3)³ 
= (p + 3)(p + 3)(p + 3) 
= (p + 3)(p² + 6p + 9) 
= p(p² + 6p + 9) + 3(p² + 6p + 9) 
= p³ + 6p² + 9p + 3p² + 18p + 27 
= p³ + 6p² + 3p² + 9p + 18p + 27 
= p³ + 9p² + 27p + 27 (final answer) 
That is the answer to (p + 3)³. 

Person (months later): Wait, you typed all of that beautifully, but I don't get it, what is the answer to (p + 3)³? You did not answer me. 

You: I answered your question what the answer to (p + 3)³ is. Our conversation was done months ago. 

Person: What is the answer to (p + 3)³? 

You: Here it is, the answer to (p + 3)³...... 
(p + 3)³ 
= (p + 3)(p + 3)(p + 3) 
= (p + 3)(p² + 6p + 9) 
= p(p² + 6p + 9) + 3(p² + 6p + 9) 
= p³ + 6p² + 9p + 3p² + 18p + 27 
= p³ + 6p² + 3p² + 9p + 18p + 27 
= p³ + 9p² + 27p + 27 (final answer) 
That is the answer to (p + 3)³. 

Person: What is the answer to (p + 3)³? You did not include the answer. 

You: I answered your question. Our conversation is done. Mahalo!

Bonus Math Problem: here is of another math problem that could also be used in this scenario.

 Math and Beatbox Music Speaks

I'm honored to have been invited to present at the 3rd Annual Hawaiʻi Explorations Expo, 9am to 3pm at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo, Hawaiʻi on Sunday, October 27th hosted by the Hawaiʻi Science and Technology Museum!

Topics at this expo will include agriculture, robotics, astronomy, mathematics, science, engineering, art education, health care, automotive technology, energy production, marine biology, and more!

Come and join us!

WHAT:
Hawaiʻi Explorations Expo

HOSTED BY:
Hawaii Science and Technology Museum

DATE:
Sunday, October 27, 2019

TIME:
9:00AM to 3:00PM

LOCATION:
Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium

ADDRESS:
799 Piilani Street, Hilo, HI, United States, 96720

WHY:
Science, robotics, mathematics, engineering, technology, audio engineering, beatboxing, art education, and more!

WHO:
Henk Rogers
Kālepa Baybayan
Jason Tom
Keaʻau High School Cougar Techs Robotics Team
Waiākea Intermediate School Titans Ukulele Band

As a product of Hawaiʻi's STEM/STEAM education, mathematician musician, and education advocate, I am stoked!

My mathematics and music career merged as one like when the Constructicons of Transformers merges into Devastator at the right place, right time.

And I nearly did not make it to see it. My life near devastated before it was my Dad's time.

My first math mentor, my Dad, saw the math music merge before he left to be with the Big Boss Upstairs on a Father's Day.

To my Dad it was an achievement and accomplishment up to that point as a human beatbox mathematician.

Want to know about the bouts I battled through to get to be thriving today?

Scroll down to read the rest of my story....

In 2004, on a green light I collided with a SUV at the crosswalk near Pizza Hut and Liliha Bakery. That took place after I completed my training at Shobukan Judo Club. I applied judo prior to the impact and I broke my fall on wet asphalt. I then went into unconsciousness.

Split seconds prior, I heard the calm voice of the Big Boss Upstairs who told me, "stay down Jason, don't get up, and you will be okay." The driver rendered help.

I vaguely recall hearing someone, perhaps the driver, prayed for me while I was knocked out. To date, I had not met the driver.

First responders, ambulance came and took me into Queens Medical Center's Emergency Room. No broken bones. Not fatal.

I woke up at the hospital with my family members who visited me. Due to my judo training, I was strong enough to walk on my own strength, but I was too dazed to collect my thoughts of what happened.

One day later one of my family members took me to see, "The Passion of the Christ," on the big screen. That's the Big Boss Upstairs who protected me. I did not know him then, but I knew of him.

My doctor confirmed I had a concussion and head trauma from that SUV collision. It affected my memory and in later years it caught up to me bad.

I changed my career path in 2004. It was after I collided with a SUV and my recall of Elaine Chao's beatbox performance at the Showtime at the Apollo that compelled me to leave the pursuit of judo, to pursue my actual life's purpose in an ever fulfilling career as a professional beatboxer. 

To figure out a human beatbox and hip hop soloist blueprint, I studied Bobby McFerrin, Doug E. Fresh, Michael Jackson, Rahzel, Michael Winslow, and MC Jin like a hawk.

During that, I returned to community college. After one term back, my math professor Mark Alexander considered me to be one of his top performing math students, and I simultaneously began my mathematics career.

If I am not mistaken, the mathematics position I held as an undergraduate student was more than what University of Hawai'i at Mānoa graduate students earned at the time.

I began my mathematics career as an algebra 1 supplemental instructor in my early undergraduate years while I pursued my music career as a professional beatboxer.

My mathematics supervisor was LaVache Scanlan. 

I was assigned to work with math professor Dennis Perusse's algebra 1 class, and I took notes. My office hours I prepped math sessions. Though not in my job description, I'd go in on exam days to take the exams, and I scored 100% on all of them.

I asked Dennis to grade my exam with no leniency and he agreed.

I used no calculator.

I did that to challenge my math ability and skills, keep them sharp and fine tuned so that I can ensure I am more than equipped to prepare math students. 

Then I got into math tutoring and math note taking. 

My math coaching is in alignment with how I am as a math student, I do not use a calculator when I do mathematics. My academic approach is similar in fashion to how I excelled in judo to win gold medals and I applied that onto the classroom setting. It works!

Then I noticed that my health started to decline over time, but I understood not how come. I got planted at a home church to build a solid relationship with the Big Boss Upstairs to seek answers. My health got better.

Then it got bad. It was then that the Biblical verse like John 10:10 awakened me to what was going on.

I eventually got tormented by night terrors as well as nightmares that I could not shake.

It was through prayer that it was revealed to me that "trauma" continued to afflict me.

After years I warred with the affliction it was through prayer that Big Boss Upstairs uprooted trauma and restored my health completely whole today.

Galatians chapter 5 on the "fruit of the spirit" helped me as well as instructions from all of Proverbs, and the book of Job. Ecclesiastes helped me too.

When I applied those Biblical verses and chapters into my daily life, I witnessed a transformation upon my life and health.

Big Boss Upstairs then instructed me to pull from my mathematics foundation to reverse the brain degenerative process from the traumatic brain injury completely. While I continue my music career.

Then Big Boss Upstairs opened the door for my mathematics to kick up. To the point both careers merged as one.

Today, I am completely healthy and restored! No longer tormented!

I am grateful and thankful for how Big Boss Upstairs took care of me during what I considered to be the most trying period of my life.

Today, I continue to perform as a professional beatboxer.

I am grateful to have a thriving mathematics music merged monster of a career as a professional beatboxer!

My business model?

Inspired through my time going through road trips throughout the USA, the hustle bustle of South Shore O'ahu, Beijing, and the Big Apple.

All that? Sums up the making of my career today.

Today, I also math coach and math tutor many students throughout the state of Hawai'i, on O'ahu.

When I study math, I process it, dissect it, digest it, master my retention for math, to be able to teach it to students on "how to" master it.

With my math students, we don't use a calculator in plain sight.

I've observed as a math tutor in my earlier years, how a calculator exponentially stunts the growth of a student's math progress and learning.

I focus on the math knowledge, process and foundation.

I pull a lot from my math mentors, my father, and I also pull from my sports background in soccer and judo. I reflect upon how I learned from the sports, to eventually excel at them to then be able to break it down to basics to train others, and then I applied that to the world of academics and mathematics.

It works!

Thank You Allan Silva for having me rock the mic for the 26th Hawaiʻi Children And Youth Day on the Hawaiʻi State Capitol Rotunda main stage! Missed me? You and your family are invited to catch me live this Saturday, October 12th at the Hawaiʻi Children And Youth Day and Brown Bags to Stardom main stage of the Waikiki Block Party, 4:30pm to 9:30pm!

26th Hawaiʻi Children And Youth Day with Miss Asia Hawaiʻi Camille Yano,
Miss Hawaiʻi Nikki Kehaulani Holbrook, Hawaiʻi's Human Beatbox Jason Tom, and
Mrs. Hawaiʻi Jennifer Bugarin at Hawaiʻi State Capitol Rotunda!

Jason Tom "Appetizer" for 26th Annual Hawaiʻi Children And Youth Day at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol Rotunda main stage!

Video Chef: Nathan Izumi

Jason Tom "Appetizer" for 26th Annual Hawaiʻi Children And Youth Day at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol Rotunda main stage! (BloomingGale's)

Video Chef: BloomingGale's

Jason Tom "Full Course Meal" for 26th Annual Hawaiʻi Children And Youth Day at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol Rotunda main stage!

Video Chef: Nathan Izumi

Jason Tom "Full Course Meal" for 26th Annual Hawaiʻi Children And Youth Day at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol Rotunda main stage! (BloomingGale's)

Video Chef: BloomingGale's

Jason Tom and Ms. Yoshino at Hawaiʻi Children And Youth Day with the five of us at Hawaiʻi State Capitol Rotunda!

Jason Tom and Tomsolo's Breaks R4 Kidz at Hawaiʻi Children And Youth Day with the five of us at Hawaiʻi State Capitol Rotunda!

26th Hawaiʻi Children And Youth Day with the five of us at Hawaiʻi State Capitol Rotunda!

Kanikapila!!!
Ethan Capone, Jason Tom, Imua Garza, and Tiffa Garza
at the Summer Night Market at Kroc Center Hawaii!!!

Jason Tom Summer Night Market Opener at Kroc Center Hawaii!

Amazing!!!
It was great to meet Dora!
She recalls having seen me live all of her high school years on the American Lung Association's Music With A Message Tour!

Good times!

Hawaii's human beatbox Jason Tom sound check at Kroc Summer Night Market!

Da Kine Hawaiian Sauces And Rubs at Kroc Summer Night Market!!!

The Kid Raiden Ohana!

Summer Night Market at the Kroc Center!

Rie and Ty Ohana!

Kulia Ohana!

Took this photo with a couple of Hilo High Vikings alumni. I am rocking the Vikings school colors. Wow!!!

Jason Tom Kroc Summer Night Market Concert Announcement!!!

I send a big warm aloha to my blog readers, supporters, and friends as I just wrapped up my Summer School Tour, and I have an exciting announcement to make about my upcoming concert at Kroc Center Kapolei's Summer Night Market! Yay!!! My Summer Night Market concert falls on Friday, July 26th from 6pm to 8:30pm!!! Please circle and write that on your calendar and planner!

It'd be wonderful to see you! Feel free to spread the word, and bring company of your friends and family! What a great way it is to spend our summer! The best part? It is F-R-E-E, family friendly, and open to the public! Wow!!!

I will provide live entertainment and there will be local vendors that we can support! Live entertainment will also be provided by Imua and Tiffa Garza, and Kroc's Ha'a Hula halau! My personal invite video above made just for you and my blog readers! Thank You for visiting me and hitting me up here on my blogography! I appreciate you and I would like to see you at my live in concert for the Kroc Summer Night Market!

Thank you Mililani Baptist Preschool and Hawaii Baptist Academy for having me share about beatboxing with your students on my Summer School Tour! I'd like to invite you to come and see me live in concert with your friends and family for the Kroc Summer Night Market on Friday, July 26th from 6:00PM to 8:30PM!!! Give a watch at my Kroc Summer Night Market Concert Announcement!!!

It's F-R-E-E and open to the public! It's family friendly! Bring the keiki! Bring your friends! Bring you! Bring your family! It'll be a joy!

Jason Tom Summer School Human Beatbox Tour Stop at Mililani Baptist Preschool!

Jason Tom at Hawaii Baptist Academy with sensational ukulele duo Heart And Soul's Jody Kamisato and Micah Ganiron!

Thank you for dropping in to see my June showcase with Prisma Dance at Ala Moana Centerstage! I invite you to catch Prisma Dance and I at our next Ala Moana Centerstage Showcase, Friday, August 2nd, 7pm!

I am happy to let blog readers like you know that since 2016, on June 10th, "National Beatbox Day" is celebrated in honor of Darren 'Buffy" Robinson the Human Beatbox of the Fat Boys, the pioneers, creators, and game changers!

Jason Tom + Prisma Dance June Showcase at Ala Moana Centerstage

The legendary Rahzel, formerly a member of The Roots, and Jason Tom at Webster Hall New York!!!

I wore my Fat Boys t-shirt in my extended observance of "National Beatbox Day" at this June 21st showcase!

Fat Boys: Kool Rock-Ski, Buff Love, Prince Markie Dee

Jason Tom Prisma Dance June Showcase at Ala Moana Centerstage! | Photo credit: Jayson David

Jason Tom Prisma Dance June Showcase at Ala Moana Centerstage! | Video credit: Gale West

Jason Tom Prisma Dance June Showcase at Ala Moana Centerstage! | Photo credit: Jayson David

Jason Tom Prisma Dance June Showcase at Ala Moana Centerstage! | Video credit: Nate Izumi

Jason Tom Prisma Dance June Showcase at Ala Moana Centerstage! | Photo credit: Jayson David

Jason Tom Prisma Dance June Showcase at Ala Moana Centerstage! | Photo credit: Jayson David

Jason Tom "Rhythm And Moves" Prisma Dance May Showcase (Beatbox Battle Survival Jacket)! | Photo credit: Albert Moreno

Jason Tom "Rhythm And Moves" Prisma Dance May Showcase (Beatbox Battle Survival Jacket)! | Photo credit: Albert Moreno

Jason Tom "Genghis Blues" Prisma Dance May Showcase (Beatbox Battle Vintage Jacket)! | Photo credit: Albert Moreno

Jason Tom "Boom Bap" Prisma Dance May Showcase (Beatbox Battle College Jacket)! | Photo credit: Albert Moreno

I want to thank Prisma Dance for having me be a part of their May Showcase at Ala Moana Centerstage! I was the third, eighth, and eleventh act. In Hebrew numerals, the words that stand out to me for numbers 3, 8, and 11 are "resurrection," "new beginning" and "chaos." I always look forward to working with Prisma Dance! To think, rewind somewhere between 2005 and 2007, I met Joanna Lam of Prisma Dance at Kapiʻolani Community College's Holomua Center where I math tutored at. She took Calculus and was on point with it. Then I met Nicole Lam of Prisma Dance.

We all reunited in 2015 at church. Nicole and I met up when she shared with me her vision about the bi-annual Creation Production. She asked if I wanted to be on board as the specialty beatbox artist. I said, "yes!" 2016 came and I missed meetings with the Creation Production choreographers. At that time, I dealt with "complex trauma." Nicole was genuinely concerned and she interceded in prayer on my behalf. Prior to that, behind the scenes, I worked diligently to prepare for the Creation Production premiere eight shows. The daily chronic stressors that triggered the "complex trauma," not related to the Creation Production preparation, near cost my life when I got triggered to relive my 2004 car accident and other traumatic life events.

I am a living testimony that the Lord resurrected, redeemed, restored me to complete full health, and the Lord gave me the strength to out wrestle the chaos, torment and destructive seed of "complex trauma" to the end. Then the Lord declared to me that I am now completely set free from the chaos. Since then, I've completed an altogether total of sixteen shows for the Creation Production in 2016 and 2018. I love my savior and redeemer Jesus! My life now that I live is a new beginning! I work on my health daily by meditating on bible verses, prayer, cardiovascular exercise like walking, devotionals, rest, journaling offline, beatboxing, music, and mathematics. I want to thank all my pastors, mentors, families, and friends who continue to pray for and with me. I love you all dearly!

Jason Tom's Prisma Dance May Showcase at Ala Moana Centerstage - Third Act (1 of 3)

"High fives" at my Prisma Dance May Showcase at Ala Moana Centerstage!

Jason Tom's Prisma Dance May Showcase at Ala Moana Centerstage - Eighth Act (2 of 3)

It's a robot!! It's a didgeridoo!! Wait a minute, it's me at my Prisma Dance May Showcase at Ala Moana Centerstage!!

Jason Tom's Prisma Dance May Showcase at Ala Moana Centerstage - Eleventh Act (3 of 3)

Love Hawai'i, the 1980s and Ala Moana Center? Ala Moana Center celebrates 60 years! I remember the time when Ala Moana Center was mainly two stories high and Ala Moana Centerstage faced the other side in the 1980s. Beatboxing, popping and the moonwalk grew popular in the 1980s. Here I take us and Ala Moana Center shoppers through a "Time Machine" in my Prisma Dance May Showcase at Ala Moana Centerstage! How that mathematically possible?

I, Jason Tom, love you! What? Yes! In the world of showbiz, I've met a few superstars and divas that will show a lack of appreciation to you and your support. No matter how small or big of a beatbox star I am or am not, I want you to know I will always appreciate you! I will also continue to spend quality time to not forget to write you when I can with an update no matter how small or big of a beatbox star I was, am, and will become. Talent can take anybody far in life. It is character that can keep anybody there and take them even further in life. Come and join Prisma Dance and I (Jason Tom), Ala Moana Centerstage Showcase, Friday, May 3rd @ 7:00PM — 7:45PM.

Jason Tom judge showcase at Brown Bags to Stardom Grand Final, Hawaii Convention Center Liliu Theater!

I want to thank Hawaiʻi's human beatbox pioneers Radical Rob, Gizmo, Re-Run, and Joevon "J.B" Brown for paving the way for a Hawaiʻi beatboxer like me. And I will continue to pave the way for a local beatboxer, a beatboxer you know and people like you. I am not a stranger to the world of competition and it was an honor when Johnny Kai invited me to judge this year's Brown Bags to Stardom Grand Final. Congratulations to all Brown Bags to Stardom Grand Finalists, contestants, families, and friends! What remarkable talent! WOW!!!

As a beatboxer, I accomplished some of these accolades...

• HawaiiSlam's First Thursdays Top 12 Grand Slam Finalist (2019)
• University of Hawaiʻi Foundation - Freeman Foundation Scholarship Feature (2019)
• Specialty beatbox artist for the Creation production by Prisma Dance (2018)
• Featured in Uplift And Renew at Ala Moana Centerstage (2018)
• University of Hawaiʻi News Feature (2018)
• Headlined the 25th Hawai‘i Children And Youth Day at the Hawai‘i State Capitol Rotunda Main Stage (2018)
• Opened for 10th KS EdTech DisRupt Conference (2018)
• Opened for Uplift at Ala Moana Centerstage (2017)
• Specialty beatbox artist for the Creation production by Prisma Dance (2016)
• McDonald's of Hawaiʻi NextNext Top 3 Musician (2016)
• HawaiiSlam's First Thursdays Top 12 Grand Slam Finalist (2016)
• Nominated as a Top 150 Vocal Percussion Artist for the men's solo contest at the Beatbox Battle World Championship (2015)
• HawaiiSlam's First Thursdays Top 12 Grand Slam Finalist (2015)
• Headlined Art After Dark at Honolulu Museum of Art (2014)
• Beatbox Battle TV Feature (2014)
• KITV News Feature Oahu Beatboxer Jason Tom performs Interview with Jill Kuramoto (2013)
• KITV News Feature Local beatboxer shares his sounds Interview with Jill Kuramoto (2013)
• Headlined the 20th Hawai‘i Children And Youth Day at the Hawai‘i State Capitol Rotunda Main Stage (2013)
• Honolulu Night Market: Artrageous + Interview with Olena Heu (2013)
• RAW artists Feature (2012)
• HawaiiSlam's First Thursdays Top 9 Grand Slam Finalist (2012)
• Recipient of the TEDx Honolulu "It's About Time" Presenter Award (2011)
• Recipient of the Hawaiʻi Scene Choice "Best Performer" Award (2011)
• Opened for Apex (2011)
• Opened for Apex (2010)
• Opened for Mighty4 Honolulu (2010)
• Featured musician on Faioso's 2010 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award nominated album (2010)
• Interview with Angela Keen at TEDx Honolulu "Shift" Conference (2009)
• Featured entertainer at TEDx Honolulu "Shift" Conference (2009)
• Pipeline's Got Talent (dubbed Hawaiʻi's Got Talent) Top 4 Grand Finalist (2009)
• Pipeline's Got Talent (dubbed Hawaiʻi's Got Talent) 1st Place Winner (2009)
• Voted as the Best of Honolulu Weekly's Local Musician Deserving of a Wider Audience (2009)
• Word of Life Emerge Talent Show 1st Place Runner Up Grand Finalist (2009)
• Word of Life Emerge Talent Show 1st Place Winner (2008)
• Kapiʻolani Community College Talent Show Top 4 Finalist (Fall 2007)
• Kapiʻolani Community College Talent Show Top 4 Finalist (Spring 2007)
• Kapiʻolani Community College Talent Show Top 5 Finalist (Fall 2006)
• Kapiʻolani Community College Talent Show Top 3 Finalist (Spring 2006)

Photo Credit: Germaine Barsatan

Jason Tom Brown Bags to Stardom Judge Biography narrated by Johnny Kai!