Interesting Islanders

Introducing Nephi Pomaika'i Brown

By Karen Welsh
It's possible for this old gal to count my most memorable "firsts" on two hands. Right up there is a recent meeting with 44-year-old Nephi Pomaika'i "Pomai" Brown, who received first billing as the character Nick, a tattooed short order cook, in Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore's 2004 hit movie "50 First Dates."
It was the oddest chain of events that led to Pomai and me sitting on a picnic table at a local park in Hilo, watching five of his six keiki, ranging in ages from one to 12, happily play on the swings and slides.
"Growing up in Hilo was very free and easy," Pomai reminisced while watching his children. "I used to go swim in the rivers, pick guava and waiwe and spending countless hours at Coconut Island."
Sitting there, I realized it took more than three decades for our lives to finally link together. In order to understand, it is important to rewind back to the early 1970s, when Pomai's mom decided to move from Kalihi to Hilo.
Now, I lived on Oahu during that time and Pomai and I were exactly the same age, but as fate would have it we never met.
After settling on the Big Island, Pomai attended sixth grade at Waiakea Elementary School before moving up the next year to Waiakea Intermediate. While there, Pomai said he was blessed to be a part of George Camarillo Sr.'s Ukulele Band.
"That was my introduction to music," Pomai said. "I was very fortunate to have gotten in the band since I was only in seventh grade at the time. Hilo was the start of my music career."
During that time, Pomai also became one of Wayne Naeole's infamous paperboys.
Here's where it gets really interesting. Fast forward to 2005: Pomai, a regular online reader of this newspaper, read one of my stories about his old mentor.
Pomai was so moved by the article that he sent the most intriguing e-mail from his home in Waikoloa.
"I read your article about Wayne Naeole today and a smile and tear crossed my face," he wrote. "... It was because of Wayne's honesty, trust and kindness, I was able to face each day as a paperboy. My biggest fear was not completing my job well! His inspiration and encouragement helped me throughout my life. I gained the confidence to deal with people face-to-face, and his positive attitude helped me through Kamehameha Schools, Hawaii Pacific College (Degree in Entrepreneurial Studies) and my career in the music industry."
The letter didn't end there, however, as Pomai related how a seed was planted by Wayne several decades ago that gave him confidence to meet new people and relate to different situations.
The experience as a delivery boy created a strong link, known as work ethic, in Pomai's life, giving him the strength and endurance needed to start his own entertainment business, providing musical services for various hotels and other clients.
Another link was added when Pomai received a phone call from the producers of the popular television show "Celebrity Mole Hawaii." Pomai was asked to play and sing "Tiny Bubbles" for 30 minutes straight while the celebrities performed certain tasks.
His national television debut was followed by another phone call the very next day. This time, Pomai thought it was a prank.
"I got a call for Adam Sandler's movie," he recalled. "I thought it was a joke. I thought, 'no way.' I said 'yeah, okay, whatever.'"
The conversation was followed up with a fax with some lines from the script and a directive to shoot a video. Pomai and his wife, Toni, complied, making the short film in their kitchen, and immediately sent it back to the phantom director.
Three weeks passed and Pomai still thought it was a joke, but fantasy quickly turned to reality when the casting director finally called and Pomai suddenly found himself sitting in a first class seat on the way to Los Angeles. He couldn't believe it when a limousine was there to pick him up.
"They were treating me like a star," Pomai said. "And I'm trying to tell them I'm a nobody."
The most fortunate chain of events occurred for Pomai and soon he was reading with Sandler himself and was given two thumbs up for the role.
"I was hired on the spot," he said. "I couldn't believe it. It was a whirlwind, a chance of a lifetime opportunity. I thought, 'the music thing has always been there, it's always supported me and now it's allowed me to do this."
The next thing Pomai knew, he was in Hollywood making a movie. Everyone, from Sandler to Barrymore and the rest of the cast and production company were top-notch, he said.
"I didn't expect it," Pomai said. "I really, really didn't expect it. Everyone was so helpful and kind. I was really humbled. There were at least 20 extras on the set every day and each and every one of them was 10 times more experienced than I was. I was very fortunate."
There were other differences Pomai had to deal with during his two weeks in California. For one, he had never owned a watch in his life. When Pomai showed up on set, Sandler found out and bought him a brand-new watch.
"Adam was an unbelievable guy," Pomai said. "He was unbelievably nice."
The movie was a big hit and Pomai is now recognized wherever he goes. It's been a difficult transition, but he's learning how to deal with it.
"I'm not used to it when people recognize me," Pomai said. "At first I was uncomfortable. I used to deny it was me in the movie when people asked, but my improv teacher told me I had to own up to it and deal with it.
"I'm hoping all the attention won't change me for the negative. But look, I'm still the father of six kids. I have to go to the store and change diapers. I'm so busy trying to make a living to let it go to my head."
Pomai also leans upon the life lessons that Wayne Naeole and George Camarillo Sr. taught him. He said they are intrinsically linked to his very soul.
That's probably why Pomai always enjoys coming back home to his roots and home in East Hawaii. And, that’s how we finally ended up meeting.
"I love coming back to Hilo," he admitted. "I think what I always remember is the green, lush landscape. It's days like these, with the blue sky and snow-capped mountain that just can't be beaten. I think Hilo is such a nice, quaint, friendly town. It's just nice to come back and visit. It's been home. It's always been home for me."