Let's hear it for the Maui boy! 🏆 CONGRATULATIONS to our sweet friend and Maui's own, Pono Akiona, as he's been crowned the 2022 American Beatbox Champion!!!!!! 👑 What a rad way to cap off an exciting summer for Pono and the Hawai'i Beatbox community! 🥰 "Very honored to be crowned this year’s champion," shared Pono. "I put a lot of work into preparing my rounds and I feel very proud that’s it all paid off." A tag team champ before, Pono has now earned top spot in the solo competition. This is no surprise to big fans. 🎶 🐦 Chino and I were introduced to Pono years ago by our good friends at Epic Lighting at their Front of House venue when he just started sharing his mad skills in public on Maui and went by moniker Ping Pong Po. It was so fun to book him on a variety of events, just to get this amazing talent out there. From comedy shows at the former Front of the House and VIBE venues, to main stages at ProArts Playhouse and da Playground Maui supporting music events and curating his own local beatbox competitions, Pono has been such a treat to experience and work with. Mahalo nui to everyone who believed in him! "I am also super grateful to my friends at the event that cheered me on and for my family who supported me throughout the entirety of my beatbox journey." Chino and I are bursting with pride and joy. Anyone who knows Pono is stoked right now. What an extraordinary young man! He is always professional, patient and a pleasure to work with. We need more young talents like him. Much ALOHA always to Pono and the Akiona fam! "I promise this isn’t the end, I plan to keep pushing my limits as far as they’ll go! MAHALO KE AKUA. 🙌" "Hawai'i's Ambassador of Reggae" Marty Dread was stoked to meet Pono at my 🎶MANA'O@HOME🎶 show @backlitbuddhastudios. I hear they're collaborating on some live shows and studio sessions. Life is so cool! 💖 Follow Pono & Hawaii Beatbox on IG @ponobeatbox and @hawaii_beatbox