A Leap into the Unknown | With Zavier Cummings

Imagine a custodian from Wilcox Elementary School rising to fame as one of Hawaiʻi’s most well-known comedians. 

Zavier Cummings, known online as @howsdisguy, turned a single courageous decision into a thriving career, gaining nearly 200,000 Instagram followers.

Curious about the bold move that changed his life?

Dive in to learn about the key moment that launched his journey into comedy.

From Custodian to Comedian 

Even with his bright, charismatic personality, there was once a time where Zavier Cummings was shrouded in self-doubt.

Following the “traditional” life path of finishing high school, going to college, and then finding a job within the state or county, Cummings secured himself a position as a custodian for a nearby elementary school.

His humorous character made him somewhat of a local celebrity, earning him a spot as the emcee of the school’s welcome-back assembly. One teacher enjoyed Cummings’ performance so much that she asked him to emcee her upcoming wedding.

The Turning Point 

Nervous by the idea of entertaining an entire crowd professionally and doubting his own skills, Cummings declined the teacher’s request over and over.

But, she was persistent.

Just a week before the wedding, Cummings caved and agreed to emcee, though he remained weary of the task ahead. To his surprise, the wedding was a huge success!

Cummings as the emcee at his friend’s wedding.

Not only did Cummings realize how much fun he had up on that stage, but other people realized how much they enjoyed his entertainment too. He was shocked when wedding guests asked for a business card or inquired about booking him for future events. Facebook posts from the wedding and excited talk around town boosted Cummings’ reputation even further.

Cummings attributes his continued successes to this particular moment.

Working as the emcee at this wedding was a turning point in his life, where he discovered that his passion for creating fun, engaging experiences for other people could be turned into a career.

The persistence of the teacher and her confidence in him as an entertainer helped to dismantle Cummings’ hesitations and urged him to take a leap into the unknown.

Because of this opportunity, Cummings developed a vision for the kind of work he wanted to do and who he wanted to be.

Today, Cummings continues to entertain the masses, creating video content for his nearly 200,000 Instagram followers and and 24,000 YouTube subscribers while collaborating with local businesses like Toyota Hawaii, 7-Eleven, and First Hawaiian Bank.

Leap into the Unknown

While entering into a new, unfamiliar space may be scary, Cummings reminds us that,

“You’ve never been there. And you don’t know what the outcomes could be. Why not make it the best experience ever?”

Cummings’ journey from custodian to comedian is a prime example of how embracing uncertainty can lead to remarkable personal and professional growth. 

Sometimes, taking a leap in the dark is a necessary step in lighting up the next part of your path. Just like Cummings did, taking risks can aid in releasing doubts that tether you to your comfort zone.  

Zavier Cummings’ story is featured in RiseHI’s Make IT Happen curriculum, under the Visualize Your Future module. To learn more about Make IT Happen and how you can implement it in your school or organization today, visit our Programs page here.

To see other kamaʻāina stories and more of RiseHI, visit our Instagram page @risehawaii or subscribe to our weekly email newsletter below.