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Reflections from Rahzel 

I love this feature of Rahzel… love how he broke down the origins of the human beatbox. I also noticed his MLB New York Yankees 26 Time World Series Champions Varsity Jacket by G-iii. I love sports apparel by G-iii and Carl Banks. Much respect Rahzel!

Reflections from Rahzel (above video feature)
Hold on to your seat as groundbreaking beatboxer Rahzel, “The Godfather of Noyze,” takes us on a whirlwind five-minute tour of his career, hip hop’s early years, and his incredible vocal percussion skills that have redefined the limits of the human voice.
- National Council for the Traditional Arts

Jason Tom's Father's Day Dedication 

National Beatbox Day and Father's Day this month is special... 

Jason Tom the Human Beatbox in Creation Production Season Three. Photo credit: Albert Moreno

As a man of faith, I am so grateful to have reprised my Human Beatbox artist role in the third installment of the God-centered Creation production that features ballet, dance, acrobatics, contemporary, jazz, human beatbox, and music presented by Prisma Dance and directed by Nicole Lam. Creation was inspired by Genesis chapter 1; and Romans chapter 1 verse number 20.

Jason Tom the Human Beatbox in Creation Production Season Three. Photo credit: Albert Moreno

I uploaded this beatbox video last night in celebration of a successful Creation third season. I dedicate this one in memory of my father and in honor of fathers on this Father's Day month. I love you and I miss you Dad!
 

This third season, I beatboxed with an amazing Creation cast and crew this past Pentecost weekend three weekends ago and this past Memorial Day and Trinity Sunday weekend two weekends ago. I already miss Creation as I type. It's a joy to have been a part of this season's wonderful Creation production cast and crew. I love Prisma Dance's choreography and Nicole Lam's direction in Creation. It's a splendor to be a part of Creation. I appreciate Nicole Lam and the Prisma Dance family.

Creation Production Season Two cast and crew.

In the past two Creations, I rocked varsity jackets with a snapback as headwear, but this season, I rocked a varsity jacket and headwear that featured the "Honolulu Blue Lion" of the Detroit Lions as my human beatbox artistic way to symbolize "Jesus the Lion of Judah." My nickname for this Creation season three was "Mr. Blueberry Man." Love it!

Jason Tom the Human Beatbox in Creation Production Season One. Photo Credit: Albert Moreno


Last year, I was proposed to be in Israel and then back in the United States for a lead human beatbox artist role for another production. I honored my word on reprising my human beatbox artist role for Creation production's third season. No further word on the other production that would've begun in Israel as they were recently impacted by circumstances, but my intercessory prayers go out to Israel.

Right at this moment, I pray for the restoration of peace for the Israeli, Jewish and Arab people as there are ongoing challenges.

I pray for God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit's hedge of protection for Israeli, Jewish and Arab people.


I stand with Israel,

 

 

Detroit Lions Pop Culture 

I stumbled upon gems in popular culture when I Googled "Detroit Lions"..... the LIONS, established in 1934, are NFL world champions of 1935, 1952, 1953, and 1957. What can I say? Our 2018, 2019, and 2020 National Football League seasons were rough. It's about time we turn things around with our new owner Sheila Ford Hamp, new general manager Brad Holmes, new head coach Dan Campbell, new assistant head coach Duce Staley, our new coaching staff, and our new QB1 Jared Goff. Let's bite kneecaps LIONS!!!

Congratulations to Detroit Lions photographer Jeff Nguyen on winning first place in the "action category" and "Photo of the Year" in the Dave Boss Award of Excellence with his entry "Pocket Full of Dreams" in the 53rd Annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Photo Contest for the 2020 NFL season.
"The image depicts Lions running back Adrian Peterson jumping through a perfectly formed hole in the line of scrimmage against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 at Ford Field in Detroit." -Pro Football Hall of Fame

Eddie Murphy as "Axel Foley" in the NFL Detroit Lions Letterman Jacket that inspired the G-iii "Beverly Hills Edition" jacket.

 

Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders in NFL Detroit Lions "Beverly Hills Edition" Letterman Jacket by G-iii.

 

Me beatboxing in my Starter NFL Detroit Lions "Enforcer" Satin Full-Snap Varsity Jacket.
 

 

Big Sean rocking his Starter x Ty Mopkins Detroit Lions Satin Full-Snap Varsity Jacket for the Detroit Lions vs Philadelphia Eagles NFL Thanksgiving Game Halftime Show at Ford Field.

 

Eminem rocking a Chalk Line Detroit Lions Varsity Jacket when his "Marshal Mathers LP 2" record went platinum.
 

Eminem rocking his Chalk Line Detroit Lions Varsity Jacket for his Berserk live performance on the "Le Grand Journal" French Talk Show.
 

 

EPSN Magazine's Music Issue: Pro Football Hall of Fame Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin "Megatron" Johnson and multi-platinum rap artist Eminem in a Chalk Line Detroit Lions royal blue and white Varsity Jacket at St Andrews Theater in Detroit, Michigan. Photo credit: Matthias Clamer

G-Unit's 50 Cent in a Detroit Lions Satin Full-Snap Jacket.
 

Rocking my Starter Detroit Lions "Enforcer" Satin Full-Snap Varsity Jacket during my KALO TV "Talk Story Unscripted" Podcast Talk Show interview.

Detroit Lions QB1 Jared Goff in the  NFL Detroit Lions 25th Anniversary "Beverly Hills Edition" Letterman Jacket by G-iii made famous by Eddie Murphy as "Axel Foley" in Beverly Hills Cop II and III. Photo credit: Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions.

 

My beatbox shout out to Motor City and Detroit Lions in the NFL Detroit Lions 25th Anniversary "Beverly Hills Edition" Letterman Jacket by G-iii.
 

 

Future Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Adrian Peterson in the NFL Detroit Lions "Beverly Hills Edition" Letterman Jacket by G-iii. Photo credit: Detroit Lions.

Good Morning Football host and former Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson rocking the Starter Detroit Lions 30th Anniversary "Beverly Hills Edition" Satin Full-Snap Varsity Jacket at the NFL Draft.

Tom Hardy as "Eddie Brock" rocking the NFL Detroit Lions "Beverly Hills Edition" Letterman Jacket. Marvel's "Venom 2: Let There Be Carnage" is set to release on September 24th.

Photography 
- Matthias Clamer
- ESPN Magazine
- Jeff Nguyen
- Pro Football Hall of Fame

Film 
- Disney
- Tom Hardy as "Eddie Brock" 
- Brandon T. Jackson as "Aaron Foley" 
- Marvel
- Eddie Murphy as "Axel Foley" 

Sports 
- WR Nate Burleson 
- QB Jared Goff 
- WR Calvin "Megatron" Johnson 
- RB Adrian Peterson 
- RB Barry Sanders 

Hip Hop Music 
- Rapper 50 Cent
- Rapper Eminem 
- Rapper Big Sean 
- Beatboxer Jason Tom 

Fashion 
- Air Jordan 
- Casio G-Shock 
- Chalk Line 
- Action Sportswear's FanaticU
- Gameday Detroit
- G-iii Sports Apparel by Carl Banks 
- Ty Mopkins
- NFL Shop
- Nike 
- Starter

Da Best Hawaii Jason Tom 

I want to thank Olena Heu for featuring me in the latest installment of Da Best Hawaii. I am grateful, honored and humbled on the opportunity to be able to share with Da Best Hawaii, Olena Heu, and my blog cast readers about my beginnings, what my parents thought about my beatboxing. I also shared following my SUV collision that rendered me unconscious with memory loss and head trauma, how I asked myself the thought provoking questions, "how am I leaving my mark in this world," and "how am I impacting the communities?"

Talk Story Unscripted Jason Tom 

I want to thank hosts Pete and Doug of the Talk Story Podcast Talk Show and the KALO TV team for featuring me in their latest installment. I am honored, humbled and so grateful of this opportunity to be able to share with you, my blog cast readers, Talk Story Unscripted, KALO TV viewers, and podcast listeners about what it was like growing up in the 1980s, my beginnings (of beatboxing and vocally emulating the Chinese lion dance drums and cymbals), God, perseverance, what's coming up, and so much more.

I want to thank you in advance for watching Talk Story Unscripted Episode 55. Don't forget to also leave a comment, hit that like and subscribe button, and share this exclusive human beatbox episode with everyone. I appreciate you. Check in to jasontom.com regularly for the latest on the boots and cats. And let's also show our appreciation and support for KALO TV.

Beat the Box Challenge 

We can beat the box like the human beatbox.

Take on the beat the box challenge.

We can judo flip the movie script of our lives.

And drop our "boots and cats"... at the jump.


We can judo flip the movie script of our lives. When we think we can't. We actually can. Our losses, failures, and mistakes in life are what can build our character. We can grow, learn, and mature more in our valleys. Yes, we can in our peaks, but not as much in our peaks. It is through our valleys our character can be refined. 

 

We can reflect, revisit something, even our failures. Mistakes. Losses. And have the courage to return to it. Reframe it. Work at it. And then turn the tables of our failures into success stories. 


The industry standard of "overnight success" is not "overnight." Overnight success is 15 to 20 years of dedication, commitment, work ethic, discipline, passion, purpose, and follow through.

 

Here's some of my turn arounds and success stories from some of my life's hurdles that helped me in my career in the long run. I do hope this can be an inspiration for you. 

 

This picture here is a throwback to when I had finished performing a live beatboxing concert at the Chinese New Year Festival in Honolulu's Chinatown. Oh, and I am holding a take out box of Chinese food. So yummy! 

 

During the Chinese New Year performances or whenever I have performances with native Chinese speakers in the mixed crowd is when I do bring out my Cantonese and Mandarin.

 
If you asked me even I didn't think that would be possible. 


I am a fourth-generation American of Chinese descent. Learning Chinese as well as American English was challenging growing up. American English is not my first language. It is my third language. 


I attended a Chinese school daily after regular school for years. Yes, I missed my favorite afternoon cartoons, because of that. I had no school breaks. We studied traditional Chinese characters and formal Cantonese. I failed the first grade in Chinese school, annually. I lost count. Three, four or five years in a row, perhaps.

 

How come? End of semester we had to speak on the microphone through a sound system in front of the whole school to recite an entire formal Cantonese Chinese prose, word for word, by memory. 

 

As an introvert, I struggled with this each year, because of "stage fright." I dreaded it. It was my earliest experiences of "stage fright." I was of elementary school age then. 

 

Formal Cantonese was challenging for me as it is not colloquial Cantonese. In other words, written Cantonese is not the same as spoken Cantonese. As a southpaw, I earned low marks in my penmanship for my traditional Chinese characters. Chinese character strokes are intended for a "right-handed" person, not a lefty. 

 

I got reprimanded and disciplined by my father when he caught me playing hooky from Chinese school. I had no breaks... regular school then Chinese school. I struggled in both. 

 


I dropped out of Chinese school to concentrate on not failing regular school and focus on my "comic book" drawing endeavors. I also wanted to catch my afternoon cartoons. Behind closed doors, I continued to record my beatboxing on analog music cassette tapes. I began beatboxing at the tender age of four, and by age six, I began recording my beatboxing.

 


I continued my comic book career path and got into graphic arts as well as web design. Then when I graduated high school was when I considered attending an art school to major in comic book illustration. I gradually shifted away from that path and focused more on my athletic career as a judo champion. 

 

Upon my return to college, I simultaneously pursued my beatboxing career and caught an opportunity to study abroad as a scholar in mainland China. I applied. Got rejected. I knew I was not going to get accepted due to my cumulative grade point average, but I applied to go through the process. I knew by when they'd offered the program again, I'd ought to have bumped up my cumulative gpa. 

 

I didn't give up. Determined, I worked my way from the bottom to the top.

 

Remember how I wrote that we can judo flip the movie script of our lives? No joke, I judo flipped my college transcript from a 1.0 to 4.0 gpa. My math professor referred me to get hired on campus as a math supplemental instructor. Even with math, I judo flipped that from a D to an A. 

 

From what I picked up from my former years as an award-winning soccer athlete and judo champion, I applied those tools into the classroom setting. 

 

 

My athletic career gave me the necessary and practical tools I needed to succeed in life, music business and entertainment, and my academic career. I've also been impacted when Charlie and Lucy Wedemeyer signed my copy of "Charlie's Victory." And my jaw dropped when I caught Chinese American beatboxer Elaine Chao's show stopping performance for the Showtime at the Apollo. 

 

I bumped up my cumulative college gpa. When time came for scholarship application season... I applied a second time with my letters of recommendations, and my scholarship proposal essay. Spaces were limited. Many applied. Applicants screened and interviewed. 

 

I got selected. 

 

I enjoyed learning Mandarin. It was challenging learning it in the United States. But learning it in Beijing was incredible as I could apply it daily. Written Mandarin is consistent with spoken Mandarin. Cantonese overall has more tones than Mandarin.. thus I worked on it to not have a Cantonese accent in my Mandarin. I worked at my Mandarin fluency and proficiency. 

 

As a scholar by this time in Beijing.. I applied my Mandarin daily. I worked on simplified Chinese characters, traditional Chinese characters, and pinyin with proper tone marks. 

 

I earned high marks on my fluency and proficiency in my written penmanship, verbal, listening comprehension, pronunciation, understanding, context, reading, spoken, etc. 

 

How did I improve in my penmanship? I recognized that I had to write everything in reverse of how I would intuitively would want to write the Chinese strokes and order. I literally treated writing Chinese characters like illustrating actual pictures, like drawing. I also worked on, honed and mastered the foundation for each of the Chinese character stroke direction and stroke order. 

 

As with what I did with drawing, soccer, judo, math, beatboxing.... I went above and beyond to learn Mandarin. Which became my fourth language. Well fifth.. because math is the language of science. Okay... sixth, because of the "boots and cats." 

 

Still though, when I became an entertainer and public speaker as a professional beatboxer, I had to confront and overcome "stage fright." To this day, "stage fright" may creep up, but I've worked on it. Practice does make perfect. 

 

Nowadays? I can perform and speak in front of a live audience... and one of my favorites are to Chinese native speakers, because I get to speak and perform in Cantonese and Mandarin. 

 

Crowds of Mandarin speakers. 

 

Crowds mixed with Cantonese and Mandarins speakers. 

 

And crowds mixed with English, Cantonese, and Mandarin speakers. 

 

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I have so many to thank in my life like that of my paternal grandmother, maternal grandfather, father, mother, uncles, aunts, family, and relatives, who advocated and demonstrated for me as my models of the importance of Chinese literacy and fluency. 

 

It's fun!!! 

 

I want to encourage you reading this.. whatever it is you've failed at in life.. know that you can have the courage to go back, return to it, reflect, confront it, and judo flip the movie script. Turn the tables on your failures into success stories. I've failed many times in life. Reflected. Revisited my failures to judo flip the movie script into a success stories.


And remember, successful people fail more. Not that we fail on purpose, but we learn and grow from it. 

 

And you can beat the box like the human beatbox and take on the beat the box challenge. 

 

Now that's some boots and cats.

Overwhelmed By Stage Fright 

What are some hurdles in life you currently face, have faced? What are some of your fears or fears you've had? Drop them in the comments, I want to hear from you. For me, some of my biggest fears were writing, public speaking and stage fright. Can you relate?

As an entertainer and in so many ways, I am a late bloomer. My fear of public speaking and being on stage was one of the hardest fears for me to shake. Stage fright. Today, I am a Human Beatbox adventurer in the music, entertainment, and performing arts industry. And I love it. But what was it like for me to go through my hurdles and journey from being overwhelmed and frozen by fear of being on stage and public speaking to loving it today?

I know I did not love it in the beginning. I feared it. I hated being on stage. I feared speaking in front of an audience. I hated the spotlight. How did that all change? I was determined to break through my fears, anxieties, and to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. To grow in confidence in what was not comfortable for me.

I am a fourth- and third- generation Chinese American. Born, raised, and based in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, USA. My early years were also in East Bay California. My adult years in Beijing, New York, San Francisco, and Honolulu.

My first experience of stage fright was during my academic journey. I failed the first grade at Liholiho Elementary. Who does that, right? Well, I did. That season, I did not know my ABC's, and I did not know how to spell, read or write. I also experienced stage fright and failed the first grade at Sun Yat-sen Chinese School, not once, not twice, but multiple times. I dropped out of Chinese School after multiple failures. My years at Chinese School were my earliest of stage frights speaking Cantonese into a microphone, on a podium, on stage, and in front of the whole school in a gymnasium. Stage fright, anxiety and fear of public speaking took me a long time to shake.

From the 1980s through 1990s, I taped myself doing podcasts of me talking, reading books, and beatboxing on an audio cassette for fun. 

I thought I'd be Stan Lee. During the late 1980s to the early 2000s, my years at Kauluwela Elementary, Kawananakoa Middle, and McKinley High School, I self-published home made comic books. That was the start of my publishing and story telling through illustration and words. I also wrote scripts for my comic books at Kauluwela Elementary for fun. I did this so I could practice my drawing, writing, spelling, and story telling.
At Kawananakoa Middle School, I froze in cold sweat when I read from paper or did a speech presentation in front of class.

1999 was the year I got my first computer. It was also my first year experience with the Internet. I got into web publishing and I built my first website. 

Prior to 1999, I typed out my school paper reports with a typewriter. I had met Charlie and Lucy Wedemeyer, and they signed my copy of "Charlie's Victory" with reference to Philippians chapter 4 verse 19. It was that encounter with them that I knew I wanted to be a public speaker and author.
I then shattered an Asian American stereotype of not being on an honor roll. In high school, I hustled by doing summer school, correspondence, and sports to keep my grades up.
My athletic journey, I was a two-year letterman in soccer and judo at McKinley High School. I was nominated as "Mr. Aloha" at my senior prom, and I was recipient of McKinley Tigers' Soccer "Mr. Hustle" Award. 

Post high school, I won gold medals at judo tournaments hosted by San Jose State University, and City College of San Francisco.

My final judo win was a Third Place Trophy at the Salt Lake District Park Judo Tournament. The end of that same month, I collided with an SUV as a pedestrian at a crosswalk near Shobukan Judo Club, Pizza Hut, and Liliha Bakery. Walgreens wasn’t around there then. I was knocked unconscious. Driver rendered help. She called first responders and prayed over me.

By God's grace, no broken bones, but a serious concussion and trauma. God's hand of protection over my life, that driver who rendered help, and my judo kicked in that night. The next morning, a family member took me to see the Passion of the Christ. Following the movie, I noticed I got startled by parked and incoming cars at the movie theatre parking lot. That was the turning point of my life.

I took care of unfinished business. 

I shattered doubt and failure. I went back to college, pursued my beatboxing career, and I judo flipped my college transcript from a 1.0 to a 4.0 grade point average. My first live performance? I experienced stage fright. It was that one fear I could not break.

I overcame my academic hurdles when I completed my Freeman Foundation scholarship program at Beijing Foreign Studies University. At the University of Hawaiʻi at Kapiʻolani Community College, I got inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, was on the student Dean's List, and earned my general degree. Then I took some music business and audio engineering courses through the partnership of Belmont University's Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, and Honolulu Community College.
Within those years, I confronted my stage fright by hitting up open mics throughout the state of Hawaiʻi, took voice and music classes taught by professor Lina Doo. I took private voice lessons from Cat Wong of Cat Wong Studios.

I pursued my beatboxing career, overcame stage fright, worked as a Supplemental Math Instructor, college peer-mentor in mathematics, math tutor, and math note taker. In recent years, I got back into helping math students while beatboxing throughout the state of Hawaiʻi prior to Covid-19. 

Beatboxing wise, I've done performances in cities of the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, and Hilo of Hawaiʻi Island, China, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Australia. I've also been proposed for appearances in Lānaʻi Island, Kona of Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Israel, India, Philippines, Costa Rica, Peru, Columbia, Canada, Nevada, Texas, Boston, Taiwan, Japan, Germany, and China.

Today, I am fluent in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese. For Mandarin, I converse in Pǔtōnghuà, and for fun Běijīnghuà of Guóyǔ. For Cantonese, I converse in Hēunggóng wá and Jūngsāan wá of Gwóngdūng wá. I was fluent in my reading and writing in Chinese characters at one point, but still strong in my writing. Reading is rusty. 

Currently, I am working on the rough draft of my book. I also have goals to get more involved in music, entertainment, performing arts, public speaking, voice over work, productions, commercial work, film, and publishing. 

For my references of influence and inspiration... 
Song and dance in film: Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Michael Jackson 

Voice over work: Fred Newman, Bobby McFerrin, Michael Winslow, Rahzel, Jim & Pat Banks, Cindy Trimm, John Eckhart 

Music: MC Jin, Bobby McFerrin, Michael Jackson, Rahzel, John Tussey, Cheryl Salem, Two Steps From Hell, Jake Shimabukuro 

Books from: Stan Lee, Charlie & Lucy Wedemeyer, Jim & Pat Banks, Harry & Cheryl Salem, Art Sepulveda, Wally Matanza, Casey Treat, Tim Storey, Nick Vujicic, Laura Numeroff, Felicia Bond, Dale Keown, Peter David

Public speakers: Charlie & Lucy Wedemeyer, Art & Kuna Sepulveda, Wally & Patti Matanza, Branson & Nicole Silva, Chauncey & Donalee Pang, Terry & Vicky Wong, Malcolm & Deneen Quartero, Shawn & Desaree Kurihara, Devin & Cindy Lau, Marques & Nicole Farmer, Allan Silva, John Bevere, Jentezen Franklin, Tim Storey, Nick Vujicic, Marc Mero 

More sources of inspiration: you, my blog readers, my family and friends, my Word of Life ohana, my former teachers, Asian Hustle Network, Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Nicole Lam, Kelly Cooper, Adolph Samuels, Clinton Sunada, Emilio Agustine, Dan Augustine, Gayle Oura, Leigh Dooley, Mark Alexander, Lina Doo, Cat Wong, Elaine Chao, BloomingGales, Joe Marquez, Akiane Kramarik, Paulskeee, Jimmy Pedro, Taylor Tanaka, Duke & Kiki King, Angela Keen, Traci Toguchi, Lyanne Brooks, Kavet the Catalyst, Devon Marlink, Olivia Thai, Fat Boys, Doug E. Fresh, Far East Movement, Kari Jobe, Kim Walker-Smith, Big Daddy Weave, Chris Tomlin, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, Kiana Tom, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Todd McFarlane, Tony Hawk, Kutmaster Spaz, East 3, Beak, Tom Thum, Afra, and this ever evolving list.

I want to close with this: what are some hurdles in life you currently face, have faced? What are some of your fears or fears you've had? Drop them in the comments, I want to hear from you.

Thrive With Conflict 

What kind of conflict are you experiencing today? How are you handling that conflict? The conflicts I go through and gone through as a person, beatboxer, voice actor, faith blogger, and mathematician are fascinating in its dynamic.

I discovered that conflict is appealing.

Conflict in relationships and conflict in communication are important to have. A conflict is healthy for relationships when all parties have a shared goal in mind toward a resolution. To squash the beef. curry. How does one handle a conflict? Is one to buckle under tremendous pressure. Shut down? Freeze? Run away? Avoid? Or does one thrive in conflict. Thrive with conflict. Conflict is important for growth and maturity. Responsibility.

Does one confront their conflict? Are you one who will be able to engage with your conflict and be at the forefront of a conflict?


The complexities of math problems and conflicts are dynamic. Math has taught me how to apply it to resolve conflicts and complex problems in life by applying math principles honed and developed. Math works for my life's conflicts.

Avoiding a math problem, does not resolve that problem on its own.

Walking away, running away, turning away from a math conflict does not resolve it on its own if there is a goal in mind to resolve a conflict.

When there's no goal of resolving a conflict, then there's no resolution.

Abandoning the problem, does not make that problem vanish when there's a goal in mind to resolve that problem. That conflict will eventually catch up.

In my faith walk, I enjoy most about how Jesus dealt with conflict in the Gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Jesus kept it "real."

When there's conflict... there might be those prone to react irrationally.

But I've learned that it's important to develop and hone tools of how to thrive in conflict. Thrive with conflict.

Be composed under even tremendous pressure. To not react irrationally. With a goal in mind to resolve whichever conflict. Character.

Professional conflict. Personal conflict. Family conflict. Health conflict.

Interpersonal conflict.

Intrapersonal conflict.

Financial conflict. Religious conflict. Political conflict.

Facing conflict requires that of courage. A must if there's any resolution to be sought for. There needs to be a boldness to fight for what needs to be fought for. And with "fight" it's not the physical nor domestic kind of fight. This "fight" is the kind of fight that is the effort put into resolving challenging circumstances.

When we don't fight for what is ought to be fought for, we could lose what's most important in our lives.

Conflict could be small, it could be big.

Conflict is a good thing in relationships. Conflict is important in communication.

Why?

How so?

Growth. Maturity.

It's better to have a friend who does not always necessarily agree, but is willing to let you know what you need to hear. Not what you want to hear. An honest and a loyal friend who keeps it real is a keeper. Integrity.

There is a way to deliver it to address the conflict. What kind of conflict are you experiencing today? How are you handling that conflict?

Jason Tom is Beatboxer of the Decade 

Wow! This month is the birth month of Jason Tom dot com! Jason Tom dot com turns 12! Let's wish Jason Tom dot com a Happy Birthday. Happy Birthday Jason Tom dot com!

Can you believe Jason Tom dot com, my official website and blog has been around for 12 years and counting? This is a testament of what commitment looks like. Longevity. I am grateful and elated to share with you that JasonTom.com is not stopping on documenting my beatboxing journey.

Jason Tom dot com works tirelessly around the clock to compile 31 of my beatboxing years and beyond.

Again, Happy Birthday JasonTom.com! And yes, some of my friends offline do actually refer me as, "Jason Tom dot com." What great friends they are. They've got a great sense of humor.

31 years? My first 15 were my amateur years of cultivating and honing the beatboxing craft. My next 16 years are my career years as a beatboxer.


How did my beatboxing journey begin??? Let's go back to 1989. My amateur years.....

In 1989, I was six-years-old, and I remember it as though it happened yesterday that I began beatboxing at my parents' master bedroom in the concrete jungle of Honolulu. It took place after I watched Moonwalker VHS in my first grade class as a Liholiho Warrior, and at family gatherings in Pearl City.


I loved how the King of Pop's Bad short film took place in the New York Subway. I loved the energy of the song, the assertiveness of the message, and the dance sequences. I loved Moonwalker's kid version "Badder," and Weird Al Yankovic's parody "Fat." Michael Jackson's song "Bad" got stuck in my head, and I had to record myself scat singing, beatboxing, and singing "I'm bad, I'm bad, you know it, you know" on music cassette to get it out.


I then got hit with an early setback when I failed the first grade. I transferred to Kauluwela and I became a Tiger Cub. During my Kauluwela years, I continued to cultivate and hone my music beatboxing skills. I practiced for hours imitating the music, vocals, instruments, and percussion sounds from Michael Jackson's Dangerous music cassette album. I continued to hone my beatboxing craft with that album as a Kawananakoa Ali’i Warrior. At that point I listened to my music on music cassettes on my boombox.


Then as a McKinley Tiger, I worked on practicing for hours imitating the instruments and songs of Michael Jackson's CD albums History: Past, Present and Future Book 1, and Blood on the Dance Floor: History in the Mix. I also studied his History on Film Volume 2 on VHS for hours. I studied a lot of Michael Jackson's interviews, music videos and concerts on VHS. Then I got that on History on Film Volume 2 on DVD and Dangerous: the Short Films DVD. I studied them for hours.


That's what I primarily did musically to cultivate my beatboxing during my amateur years.

I had no plans or goals of becoming an entertainer. It was the last profession I'd ever thought about pursuing. My first career choice was to be like a Stan Lee, and get into the comic book industry. Then it was to get into a sports career in soccer or judo. It was not until I collided with a SUV that my life was nearly taken from me that I realized I needed to pursue a career I am passionate about. I chose beatboxing, and I got into the music and entertainment industry. Here's to many more years of beatboxing to come.


Beatboxer of the Decade,

Welcome to My Drawing Board 

Come and dance with me this New Day in this New Year as I share my most recent "Billie Jean" Prisma Dance Showcase at Ala Moana Centerstage.

I coined my "Billie Jean" routine the "Rhythm and Moves" showmanship "Time Machine" that bridges beatboxing, singing, and dance, all, at the same time.

It was not, because people told me I can. People told me I could not.

Many people, DOUBTED me.

Told me to STOP.

DON'T DO IT. QUIT IT NOW.

I said to myself, I will commit to beatboxing no less than five years. Five years turned into sixteen years and still counting. I ain't about to stop now.

For my dance steps, I apply mathematics and geometry.

I often go to the drawing board to clean up and hone a dance part, a vocal part, and a beatbox part.

It requires timing, skill, cardiovascular health, breathe control, diaphragm support, and coordination.

As a child of the 1980s, "Rhythm and Moves" is my "Time Machine" showmanship homage to the greats before me, the 1980s, and "Billie Jean" in the world of music entertainment, hip hop culture, and beatboxing.

I use geometric angles for my boogaloo and popping funk dance movement.

I used mostly the backslide that became popularly known as the moonwalk in the earliest stages of this routine. From 2009 onward, I included the side glide. 2019, I included the circular moonwalk or circle glide, which is the real moonwalk. These dance steps are the ones that Michael Jackson learned from the Electric Boogaloos and Jeffrey Daniels.

Michael "Boogaloo Shrimp" Chambers is also seen performing these dance moves in the movie Breakin'.

JASON TOM RHYTHM AND MOVES
PHOTO CREDITS: JOE MARQUEZ (1, 2, 4), JEANNE MARIE (3)


 

"RHYTHM AND MOVES IS MY TIME MACHINE SHOWMANSHIP HOMAGE TO THE GREATS BEFORE ME..."

JASON TOM

Bobby McFerrin, voice music genius. I love his "Spontaneous Inventions" concert!

 

Michael Jackson, a human beatbox composer. He beatboxed "Who is It" during his 1993 live televised interview with Oprah.

 

Michael Winslow, Man of 10,000 Sound Effects.

 

Doug E. Fresh, brought in the clever rhymes with the click rolls, fills, and flavor.


Buffy of the rap group Fat Boys, brought in the power behind the kick and the snare.

 

Biz Markie, brought in the personality, humor, and witty production. Biz Markie was featured on Biz' Beat of the Day on Nick Jr's "Yo! Gabba, Gabba!"


 

Rahzel, Godfather of Noise, former member of the Roots, introduced singing and beatboxing, at the same time. Featured on MTV Hip Hop Week. My favorites of his? I have so many. To name some... I love his rendition of Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry, Be Happy," Ozzy Osbourne's "Iron Man," Aaliyah's "One in a Million," and "If Your Mother Only Knew" from Aaliyah's "If Your Girl Only Knew." And of course when he does the Wu Tang Medley. Rahzel is a huge influence for me musically and beatbox wise.

 

Scratch, former member of the Roots, vocally emulates turntables and records.

 

Kenny Muhammad the Human Orchestra



Leejay Abucayan won Beatbox Battle TV's Austria Beatbox Championship and was featured on Stir TV.

Beatboxer Elaine Chao rocked the mic on the Showtime at the Apollo.

They've raised the bar. Unique. What was the journey of Rhythm and Moves like? I went to the drawing board, many times.

I first introduced an early rough draft of Rhythm and Moves when I competed at the Fall 2004 Kapiolani Community College Student Talent Show. I attempted to perform a Michael Jackson medley of

"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"

"Rock With You"

"Billie Jean"

"Bad"

"The Way You Make Me Feel"


"Smooth Criminal"

"Black or White"

"Who is It."

It was my first ever live stage beatbox performance.

I froze colder than the movie called Frozen.

I experienced tremendous "stage fright."

I felt uncomfortable on stage.

I was way out of my comfort zone.

It was nerve wrecking.

I felt like I went through a train wreck.

I felt I humiliated myself. I felt shame, and vulnerable.

I did not place. Discouraged.

It was scary. But ultimately, I am so glad I did it. I challenged myself to commit to beatboxing for no less than five years to see how it goes. All the while, I juggled college.

I went to the drawing board.

To the drawing board I go. 

To the drawing board I went. 

To the drawing board I go.

I felt determined to flip the script.

In mathematical terms, I wanted to do the additive inverse, and the multiplicative inverse of my adversities.

To make and cause...

.. what was out of my comfort zone, my comfort.

.. what was uncomfortable, comfortable.

.. what was difficult, effortless.

From 2004 on I performed to test out my material at open mics on Oʻahu in Chinatown, Manoa, Diamond Head, and Haleiwa.

2005, I enrolled in voice 1 from professor Lina Doo at the University of Hawaiʻi at Kapiʻolani.

To the drawing board I go. 

To the drawing board I went. 

To the drawing board I go.

I felt determined to flip the script.

2008, I reintroduced and simplified my Rhythm and Moves routine to win first place at the semifinals of the Word of Life Emerge Talent Show.

To the drawing board I go. 

To the drawing board I went. 

To the drawing board I go.

I felt determined to flip the script.

2009, I took private voice lessons from vocal coach Cat Wong of Cat Wong Studios.

To the drawing board I go. 

To the drawing board I went. 

To the drawing board I go.

I felt determined to flip the script.

2009, I performed my Rhythm and Moves routine for a perfect score to win first place at the semifinals of Pipeline Hawaii's Got Talent.

To the drawing board I go. 

To the drawing board I went. 

To the drawing board I go.

2010, I presented my Rhythm and Moves routine at the 6th International Human Beatbox Convention, and 1st American Beatbox Championships among 100s of beatboxers all over the globe. They loved it. I then performed my Michael Jackson medley in Waikiki. They loved it.

To the drawing board I go. 

To the drawing board I went. 

To the drawing board I go.

I felt determined to flip the script.


I WAS MADE FUN NO MORE WHEN I SANG..

"She was more like a beauty queen
from a movie scene.
I said,
don't mind,
what do you mean?
I am the one.
Who will dance,
on the floor,
in the round."

To the drawing board I go. 

To the drawing board I went. 

To the drawing board I go.

I felt determined to flip the script.

I worked on it.

And then.

To the drawing board I go. 

To the drawing board I went. 

To the drawing board I go.

I felt determined to flip the script.

To the drawing board I go.

To the drawing board I went.

To the drawing board I go,

Into A New Decade 

As 2020 is near, that will end the most recent decade; We are about to embark into a new decade that will begin in 2021. I would like to encourage us all, including you and me, to reflect, within the last 10 years from 2009 through 2019, what were our life's experiences like?

Accomplishments?

Accolades?

Honors?

Goals?

Peaks?

Valleys?

For me 2009 through 2019, honestly, were my greatest and roughest of experiences, personally and professionally. It were my years post college graduation. I did not think I would live to be able to share that.

Before I reached 30, I went through what I call a "midlife crisis." I learned more about what my concussions, night terrors, nightmares, adverse childhood experiences, and the traumatic impact the SUV collision has destructively done to my overall personality, health, identity, and memory. The breakthrough? I've been set free from that torment.

The trauma triggered I experienced was one I wish for no one to go through. Sometimes, many times, it's inevitable. I am grateful to be alive and well, today. What helped me most? Getting planted at a church to grow in my devotional relationship with God. Prayer helped too. When I got grounded and sought for wisdom from the Word of God is when I began to overcome and grow in my character to win over trauma and torment.

Then I conscientiously surrounded myself with good people and families. I cut ties from the people that make unhealthy choices. That made the difference. My overall health benefitted. My family and friends took note of it.

I've experienced peaks and valleys in all aspects. I am grateful that within one decade, it has been a year of growth, maturity, character building, valleys, and peaks on a personal as well as on a professional level. Before my father passed on, that time and after allows me to reflect all he has instilled in me.

What I accomplished from 2009 through 2019? As a beatboxer, I was honored as Best Performer Hawaii Scene Choice Award, TEDx Presenter Award, Best Local Musician Deserving of a Wider Audience, 4x HawaiiSlam First Thursdays Top 12 Grand Slam Poet Finalist, and top 3 McDonald's of Hawaii's NextNext Music Competition and Charity Event.

My beatbox students became champions in statewide competitions and talent contests.

I probably left out some accolades. I've performed all over the island of Oahu, neighbor islands of Kauai, and Hilo of Hawaii Island. I've also gone on a business trip for Maui. I've also performed for events in New York, San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Los Angeles, and a corporate project overseas in Sydney, Australia. As a mom and pops beatboxer, I've been honored to perform for weddings, 1st birthday parties, graduation parties, company parties, and more.

I've presented at Creation production, Hawaii Children and Youth Day, Hawaii Music and Book Festival, TEDx Honolulu Conference, KS EdTech Conference, Windward Oahu's Early College Conference, Koko Head Elementary's Back to School Assembly, Kauluwela Elementary's Back to School Assembly, Aliiolani Elementary's Parent Night, Hawaii Baptist Academy Summer School Assembly, Music With A Message School Tour, Real And Powerful Anti Bullying School Tour, Hawaii Explorations Expo, Kapiolani Community College Scholarship Dinner, Leeward Community College, Iolani School, Kamehameha Schools, Art and Flea, Honolulu Night Market, Kroc Center Night Market, Art after Dark, Estria Graffiti Grand Final, International Human Beatbox Convention, American Beatbox Championship, and I was nominated to compete at the Beatbox Battle World Championship.

I opened for Michael Winslow, Quest Crew, JabbaWockeez, Blue Scholars, Reeps One.

I judged the Brown Bags to Stardom Statewide Grand Final.

No missing a beat. As a mathematics coach, I've worked with students to learn mathematics, pass math classes, graduate high school, enroll in college, and earn a degree from university.

As a blogger and writer, I've reached somewhere in the neighborhood of 2.7 million readers, and households. Thank You!

What's next for me for the new decade starting in 2020? My goal is to not forget where I came from. Not forget who helped me along the way. To better serve others, families, and our community. Know my roots. To not settle. Raise the bar. Set goals. Short term. Mid term. Long term.

Local Boy 

I send blessings and well wishes to my family, friends, blog readers. and website visitors. I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I hope that your 2019 finishes stronger than how it began for you, and that 2020 will be a great year for you, yours, and ours! Here's to a great 2020 and to many more years to come.

I am blessed to fellowship with Nate at Poi Bowl for his birthday. We both had the "Local Boy" plate. Ono. We cannot go wrong with that. Happy Birthday Nate!

As a professional beatboxer, mathematics coach, and busy bee buzzing around the clock, I am sharpening my planner and calendar edge this 2020 with the Christian Planner. Got mine in "Lady Lilac" in tribute to my Alma mater Kauluwela Elementary. The Christian Planner is an amazing gift and tool in accomplishing personal, professional, and ministry goals. I will close 2019 emceeing a 1st birthday party. My students are on winter break. I am super stoked to work with them and more in 2020.

Math photoshoots are fun.


Jason Tom Birthday Keynote 

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

Math Speaks 

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


26th Hawaii Children And Youth Day 

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!

10th Annual Rice Festival 

Hey! Great news! I will be opening for the 10th Annual Rice Festival at Victoria Ward Park at Ward Village at 3pm sharp! Opening with what you ask? Opening Rice Festival with a with a live beatbox music performance set! Yes! Exciting! Don't miss this one! And I want to see you there! Come and check me out, great vendors, and rice! Who does not love rice?

About Rice Fest 

WHO: You! 
WHAT: 10th Annual Hawaii Rice Festival at Victoria Ward Park 
WHEN: Saturday, September 28th, 2019 from 3pm to 9pm 
WHERE: Victoria Ward Park at Ward Village 
WHY: Culinary and Cultural events for the entire family 

Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 28th, 2019 and come celebrate Hawaii’s beloved grain at the Tenth Annual Hawaii Rice Fest at Victoria Ward Park. The event is being held at Ward Village’s iconic at Victoria Ward Park from 3pm to 9pm. A full day of activities is planned including cooking demonstrations, eating competitions, live entertainment, yummy food, and more! 

We’ll be taking brown rice donations for Lanakila Pacific’s “Meals on Wheels” program, which feeds needy seniors. 

Get out your chopsticks and bring your appetite for a one-day taste trip around the world at the Tenth Annual Rice Fest at Victoria Ward Park, from 3pm to 9pm, Saturday, September 28th, 2019! 

PARKING: Lots of Free & Valet parking available. Self-parking at Ward Village Shops & Ward Centre parking garages or Valet at Ward Entertainment Center, 2nd level.

Entertainment & Activities
2019 Tentative Schedule

(Activities and events being added regularly. Times may change.) 

3:00pm Rice Fest Begins! (Hosted by 94.7 KUMU’s “Bruddah” Bryan) 

3:05pm-3:25pm Beatboxing performance by Jason Tom 

3:30pm-4:00pm Lion Dance performance by Asian Lion Dance Team 

4:00pm-4:30pm Ukulele performance by Karlie Goya 

4:30pm-5:00pm Taiko Drumming performance by Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Hawaii 

5:00pm Eating contest registration (for all 3 events) begins at the Hospitality Tent next to the stage on a first come, first serve basis. 

5:00pm-6:00pm Ukulele performances by the Ukulele Hale 

6:00pm-6:10pm A word from our beneficiary: Lanakila Pacific 

6:10pm-6:30pm Cooking Demonstration with La Tour Cafe’s Chef Chris Gee 

6:30pm-6:55pm Fifth Annual Poke Bowl Eating Competition, presented by Jun’s Awesome Hot Sauce, featuring Poke Bowls from Chef Chai 

7:00pm-7:30pm Ukulele performance by Honoka 

7:30pm-7:55pm Third Annual Loco Moco Eating Competition, presented by Rainbow Drive-In 

8:00pm-8:30pm Musical performance by multi-Na Hoku Hanohano Award Winner Mark Yamanaka 

8:30pm-8:55pm Tenth Annual SPAM® Musubi Eating Competition, presented by L&L Hawaii 

9:00pm Rice Fest Concludes 
All Day (3pm-9pm) 

Onolicious grinds – Hawaii’s favorite food trucks and vendors will be serving up their most popular rice dishes all night long. 
Brown Rice Donation Centers – Brown Rice and monetary donations will be accepted for Lanakila Meals on Wheels at the Lanakila Pacific booth. Brown Rice donations will also be accepted at the VH07V booth. 
FREE WiFi – Mahalo to Spectrum for providing complimentary WiFi at the event! 

Other Activities 
» Numerous food trucks and vendors serving up their most popular rice dishes 
» Live Music 
» Cultural performances 
» and much, much more! 

Don’t miss it!


Here are the list of vendors and sponsors!

Recap Kroc Night Market 

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!!!

Kroc Summer Night Market 

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!


Jason Tom Prisma Dance June Showcase 

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

 

Jason Tom's Prisma Dance May Showcase at Ala Moana Centerstage 

 

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?

Jason Tom Loves You 

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...


Photo Credit: Germaine Barsatan

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

 

Jason Tom beatbox rocked Spring Street Jam Waikiki Block Party 

Jason Tom beatbox rocked it for 30,000 to 50,000 and shared the stage with remarkable talent at the Spring Street Jam on the Brown Bags Waikiki Block Party Stage! In 2017 and 2018, Jason Tom's beatbox students won the Brown Bags to Stardom Grand Finals in the variety act category. This 2019, Brown Bags has invited Jason Tom to be one of the guest judges for Saturday, April 27th's Brown Bags to Stardom Statewide Final at the Hawaii Convention Center Liliu Theater! Please forward to anybody who may be interested...

Saturday, April 27 @ 9:00AM — 12:30PM
Brown Bags to Stardom Elementary School Division Statewide Final
at Hawaii Convention Center Liliu Theater

Saturday, April 27 @ 2:00PM — 5:00PM
Brown Bags to Stardom Middle School Division Statewide Final
at Hawaii Convention Center Liliu Theater

Saturday, April 27 @ 6:30PM — 9:30PM
Brown Bags to Stardom High School Division Statewide Final
at Hawaii Convention Center Liliu Theater