2 Hawaiian men competing for the third season of the CBS reality show “Tough as Nails”

Jerome Kupuka’a and Takeru “Tak” Tanabe both live in Hawaii, but they have many other things in common. They are both proud graduates of public high school – Kupuka’a from Campbell, Tanabe from Kealakehe. They are both devoted fathers. They are both under construction – Kupuka’a, 48, is a heavy equipment operator in Oahu; Tanabe, 35, is a construction foreman on the Big Island.

They are also two of 12 contestants for the third season of the CBS reality show “Tough as Nails,” which premiered on Wednesday. During the season, competitors test their strength, endurance and mental toughness as individuals and as members of six-person teams.

Fans of the show know that contestants who are eliminated as individuals in individual “Overtime” challenges continue to compete – and may win additional prizes – in team competitions.

Each team victory is worth a badge of honor to the team and $ 2,000 to each member. The team with the most badges at the end of the season receives an additional $ 60,000 ($ 10,000 per member). The individual winner becomes the Tough as Nails champion and receives $ 200,000 and a Ford Super Duty truck.

We spoke with Kupuka’a and Tanabe on separate phone calls this week.

How does being on the show compare to what you expected when you first tried it?

Tanabe: It’s hard. I knew the challenges weren’t going to be the same as the auditions, and I knew I was going to face tough people. To pass the grueling tests they put us through, before we even got on the show, you have to be tough enough. I knew there would be tough competitors and tough challenges to overcome.

Kupuka’a: I knew it was going to be tough, so I thought about it. It was a long process, but the audition was not close to what it turned out to be. It’s a little crazy, but it’s fun. I’m glad I was on this show to earn some money because it’s expensive to live in Hawaii, but doing the show is a memory forever.

How does what you do for your job match up with what you are called to do on the show?

Kupuka’a: I grew up in a hardworking family. My general education has always been to work hard. It was instilled in me. I made my way up to heavy equipment operator. But growing up, working for my father and brother, I did everything from welding and ironworking to cement working and using a jackhammer.

Tanabe: I have been working in construction for over a decade and work in the scorching sun all the time so this is a big help. I’m used to the heat, and I’m used to different things all the time because I mostly work on commercial projects where every building is different. When entering the challenges of the series everyone is different and you have to find out on the fly how to complete this challenge.

Does having another person from Hawaii in the group make a difference in any way?

Tanabe: Yes it does. I didn’t think they would put two guys from Hawaii on the show but “surprise, surprise!” We’re a long way from home and our families, and it’s nice to have this person from Hawaii there. No one else will have the same vibe as someone from Hawaii.

Kupuka’a: Yes, because growing up in Hawaii we all know how we think. Braddah Tak was raised the same way we are. So the first time I saw it, it was a bit like my home because we can’t talk to our loved ones during the show.

How did you come to Tough as Nails?

Kupuka’a: My daughter told me about it. When I got the message to fly to the audition, I was honored to go. I knew nothing was guaranteed, but I knew how many people they had already eliminated to get to this point.

Tanabe: I was watching the second season with my fiance and she told me I should give it a try. An email came through and it was like a snowball effect, and I walked in.

What advice would you give to anyone looking to participate in Season 4?

Tanabe: Get in shape, do a lot of cardio – cardio is huge on the show – and always be ready to do anything because you never know what they’re going to throw at you.

Kupuka’a: The best thing they can do to prepare is to be super, super fit – your body and your mind. It’s not just brute force. You need to be true to yourself, true to your body, keep an open mind, and be pono. You can’t fool (showrunner) Phil (Keoghan) and his team. They know right from wrong, they know who is going to work hard, who is going to make the series beautiful and who is not.

What do you want people to know about you while they are looking at you?

Kupuka’a: I was born and raised in Ewa Beach. I had a hard life. I was brought up rich but poor. I would come home some days (and) the water was off or the electricity was off; it was normal in our family, but we were never hungry. We had a roof over our heads. My parents took good care of us. My mom was everything to me. Some days my father would take me and my brother to work with him. Since graduating from high school, I have never been out of work. And I had my Hawaiian family home in 2001, so I’ve come a long way.

Tanabe: Most importantly, my son is my inspiration. And I really want to inspire the people of Hawaii to go up there because I’m just a local boy. I’m not a big star, I’m not a professional athlete or anything, I’m just another local boy that’s been in the business for a long time. I want to inspire other local people to go there and try it.

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Contact John Berger at [email protected]