Industry Spotlight: Kapu Gaison

Race Director and Event & Operations Manager

Published March 18, 2025

Written by: Carolina Nascimento

Portland’s race and event scene is thriving, thanks partly to passionate leaders like Kapu Gaison. A race director, event coordinator & manager, and operations expert, Gaison has built a career around bringing people together through endurance events. He is the force behind some of the city’s most iconic races, including Portland’s Shamrock Run, Bridge to Brews, Portland Marathon, Starlight Run, and numerous races across the country.

A lifetime athlete and former American Ninja Warrior, Gaison has always embraced physical challenges. His passion for racing and event production stems from his deep love of sports, competition, and creativity. “I really enjoyed that I could work in the space that I used to enjoy outside of work,” he says.

Originally from Hawaii, Gaison’s path to Portland began with visiting a college friend and attending a race conference. He loved the city’s small-town feel, outdoor access, and tight-knit community. “I had a blast and enjoyed the uniqueness of the city. That was enough to move here!” he recalls.

One of the things that makes Portland special, according to Gaison, is that the city doesn’t have an overwhelming number of major races. “Each event is a big deal. Portland has that hometown feel, and it comes through with events,” he explains. Unlike larger cities where races compete for attention, Portland’s events foster a sense of connection and community that makes them stand out.

Beyond the excitement of race day, Gaison sees these large-scale events as an essential part of the city’s social and economic fabric. “It’s the single best event that promotes a healthy lifestyle,” he says. Whether encouraging fitness, fostering community engagement, or boosting the local economy, races play a vital role in Portland’s culture.

For those looking to break into event production, Gaison offers one key piece of advice: be creative. “Do something different and don’t copy others. The little intricacies that make events unique are what reflect the producer’s creative side,” he shares. “These small but intentional details can transform an event into an unforgettable experience.”

Through his work, Kapu Gaison continues to elevate Portland’s racing community with innovation, passion, and dedication to crafting memorable events. Every race he produces goes beyond the finish line—it’s a celebration of movement, connection, and the city itself.

The next race, Bridge to Brews, is happening on Sunday, April 13—there’s still time to sign up and be part of the fun!

Industry Spotlight: Mischa Webley

Filmmaker, Director, Screenwriter, and Creator of Hasaan Hates Portland

Published February 18, 2025

Written by: Carolina Nascimento

In Portland-born and raised, Mischa Webley has been making films since high school, shooting stories he’d written since childhood. Entirely self-taught, he learned by reading screenplays and watching every movie he could! His passion eventually took him to New York, where he worked as a freelance production assistant and grip while continuing to write, produce, and direct. Mischa is an award-winning filmmaker with a debut feature, “The Kill Hole,” filmed in Portland and stars Chadwick Boseman in an early breakout role alongside Billy Zane and Tory Kittles.

Mischa is also the creator of Hasaan Hates Portland, a web series that satirically depicts the everyday experiences of living while Black in America’s whitest big city. The series resonates deeply with many people of color, highlighting how they often feel like abstractions in broader racial justice discourse.

“A lot of it came from my own experiences in Portland, as well as those of my friends. I wanted to capture and satirize those experiences from a perspective that’s not seen,” Mischa explains. “Portland presents a certain image of itself, but I don’t see myself or the people I know or grew up with in Portland’s self-image. Everything really clicked when I met Hasaan Thomas—we connected over common experiences, perspectives, and humor.”

With the help of a Post-Production Grant from our office, Hasaan Hates Portland was finally completed after a year and a half of production. “It’s been a fun experience; I’ve never had more fun making anything. We had such a blast shooting it. I had such great talent, cast and otherwise. To see it go wide and get exposure has been amazing. You make anything, especially for the web, and it could be huge, or it could be nothing. You have to take that risk. It really went out there and picked up fast, and so many people responded, confirming that we are speaking to something that people were waiting to be said.”

On Filmmaking in Portland

Mischa loves working in Portland, emphasizing the city’s immense creative talent and strong community support. “People here want to see cool things get made,” he says. Unlike major industry hubs like LA or NYC, Portland fosters an independent, local, and artistic spirit while still welcoming larger productions that can create jobs for local filmmakers, PAs, grips, and other industry professionals. As the city grows and evolves, he hopes it maintains this artistic sensibility while also expanding opportunities for local talent.

His advice to aspiring filmmakers? Keep creating. “Don’t wait for resources, permission, money, or the ‘perfect’ time—stay hands-on, keep momentum, and surround yourself with the right collaborators.”

Mischa is getting ready to release his next project called “Nine Lives”, a collection of moving short films shot in Portland during the pandemic that star local actors Xzavier Beacham and William Earl Ray and have played in festivals and venues around the country.

Thank you, Mischa, for all your incredible work, and we can’t wait to see what you do next. Maybe a second season of Hasaan Hates Portland…?! “Stay tuned,” says Mischa.