Courage Over Comfort | with Ikaika Antone
From a shipyard mechanic to one of Hawai‘i’s biggest musicians. How did Ikaika Antone make it happen?
Some choices define our future, not because they are easy, but because they require immense courage. For Ikaika Antone, leaving behind the stability of a government job to pursue music was one of those choices. His story is one of resilience, self-belief, and the bravery to walk a path that wasn’t guaranteed.
The Weight of Expectations
Growing up in Kailua, Ikaika was surrounded by music, whether it was the Hawaiian music station on the radio, at his church, or at his sisters’ hula performances. But, he never saw it as a career. At least not at first.
After high school, he followed a conventional path, attending community college and securing a job at Pearl Harbor as a marine machine mechanic. It was the kind of career that made sense: benefits, longevity, and a steady paycheck.
While at Pearl Harbor, he still found time to make music with his friends. It was a constant cycle of waking up at 5 am, getting to work at 6:30, working all day, heading to the rehearsal studio at night, and waking up at 5 am to do it all over again. It was an exhausting routine.
“[I was] not very happy at work. Music always on my mind. I was always constantly writing lyrics…and drawing album cover ideas.”
Still, when he found himself in a secure job, stepping away from it seemed impossible.
“I remember being scared that my dad would be super upset about me leaving. He knew that that was a great job for me and that I’d have a secure job and a future there.”
At just 19 years old, he was confronted with a pivotal choice: remain in a stable but unfulfilling job or take a calculated risk to pursue his true passion of music, despite the uncertainty ahead.
Choosing Passion Over Fear
For many, the fear of disappointing family can be paralyzing. The desire to make them proud often outweighs personal happiness. Ikaika felt that fear deeply, but he also understood that a life spent in regret wasn’t an option.
“I knew that I might let some of my family down, but ultimately, I think I look back on it and I wouldn’t have done it any other way. I’m glad that I stood up for myself and made the decision to do something else…to find what I think I would be happy doing.”
So, he left his stable job which led him down the winding road of the music industry, starting from backyard jam sessions to forming The Green, one of Hawai’i's most successful reggae bands. But, it wasn’t an overnight success. He went from earning a steady paycheck to making next to nothing as a musician. The transition was rough, but he never let doubt win.
Courage is a Long-Term Investment
Taking risks doesn’t mean immediate reward. In the early days of The Green, the band struggled financially. There were moments of sacrifice, where Ikaika and his bandmates made little to no money in order to reinvest in their music career. But they believed in the bigger picture.
“We paid ourselves nothing for probably close to a year until we finally decided that we got to pay ourselves something. And we ended up paying ourselves $750 a month for about two years.”
For nearly two years, the band lived on faith and sacrifice. While their friends back home pursued stable careers, they were pooling funds just to afford equipment repairs and flights for out-of-state gigs. It would have been easy to walk away, but their love for music and the belief in their purpose kept them going.
Then, the turning point came. Their hard work started paying off as their music gained traction, and their fan base grew. More venues wanted to book them, and their songs started getting airplay. They went from playing in small bars to selling out shows and touring nationally.
And, with the amount of passion he had for music, his parents eventually came around, too.
“My parents saw not just my happiness, but how we made everyone else feel here in Hawaiʻi. And I think that is what really brought them to the idea of being a hundred percent full time supporters of me…Your family will always love you, and as long as you’re happy, you’re going to make them happy.”
Standing at Crossroads
Ikaika’s story is a reminder that courage isn’t about being fearless, it’s about choosing to move forward despite the fear. To anyone facing a similar choice between stability and passion, his advice is clear:
“Follow your dreams, your goals, and your passions…You can’t go wrong if you’re trying to find something that you love and you’re happy doing it. Life is short. Do what you love to do.”
At some point, we all face a moment where we have to choose between comfort and courage. Ikaika Antone chose courage, and in doing so, he found a life filled with purpose, passion, and music that continues to inspire others.
Enjoy Ikaika’s story? Check out our Instagram, @RISEHI for more inspiration from creatives who carved their own way, or sign up for our newsletter to stay updated!