The combination of punk music and keeping a family intact seems contradictory, but longtime, underground promoter Jason Miller says the two have kept him happy and grounded.

As the owner of Hawaiian Express Records, Miller's behind-the-scenes work has kept the local scene and his small side business alive for 15 years, an anniversary that will be celebrated tomorrow during a special show featuring his favorite Southern California band, old-school vets the Vandals.

“;Once I heard bands like that while growing up,”; said Miller from his office space in the family's Pearlridge home, “;I said goodbye to my mom's country music and dad's Beatles.”;

Along for the night's ride will be San Francisco's Whiskey Avengers and longtime local faves the 86 List, Pimpbot and False Crack.

“;The scene here has never had a shortage of active bands,”; Miller said, “;and bands that haven't been playing for some time are reforming. Exit 24 has been back since November, and the Pettyfords are practicing again, so it seems some bands don't go away for long.”;

Miller is surrounded by memorabilia of carefully filed photos, posters and fliers documenting his life's work, along with some of the 120 or so recordings—some still in their original cassette format—that he's released, all to help the many bands he's worked with over the years.

“;Hawaii's scene is unique to a lot of the others I've seen on the mainland. It's a lot more open and friendly here. When someone falls in a mosh pit, there's always someone to pick him or her up. Sure, there's some competition in some situations, that's just human nature, but the bands here are supportive of their own.”;

Punk music has always been a calling, not a career, for Miller. Originally from Campbell, Calif., he was a nationally recognized competitive swimmer when he came to the islands due to a swimming scholarship from the University of Hawaii. He furthered the local punk cause when he was promotions director at college station KTUH-FM for a number of years. During his stint he helped set up two summer mainland tours for Grapefruit and some supporting Hawaii bands, traveling by van through 26 states.

He returned to California in 1996 to play water polo for West Valley College in Saratoga, then moved back to Oahu to work for concert promoter Goldenvoice. It was then that he decided to make Hawaii his home and took it upon himself to help local punk bands find venues and merchandise their cassettes, CDs and T-shirts.

“;I have a hard time being idle,”; Miller admitted. “;Even though I don't play an instrument, I love to hang out and have fun with the punkers. I figured that since I'm already behind the scenes, I can help in some other creative way. It's a win-win situation, and I want to help make their music available to anyone who wants it.”;

The only thing missing right now is the option of downloading the Hawaiian Express catalog online, so Miller is on the lookout for either a computer “;whiz kid”; to help him out or purchase a relatively inexpensive program he could use to digitize the large collection.

IT WAS through punk music that Miller started his family. His wife, Marina, once attended the concerts he promoted, and has even worked as a cashier while pregnant. Their growing boys—Erik, Tristan and Luke—have regularly attended the all-ages shows over the years, and dad says they've enjoyed “;banging away on the drums and hearing themselves on the mikes between acts.”;

With 2-month old Riley possibly following his big brothers' lead, Miller said his boys “;like knowing the guys in the bands I've been involved with, and what's going on in the scene. Visiting bands have stayed with us, and it makes for a pretty interesting and unique education for them.”;

Miller, who turns 40 in November, has been a responsible family man. At his day job he's been promoted from being a bag handler for Hawaiian Airlines to a desk job in special projects related to customer service. One of the perks of working for Hawaiian has been being able to fly himself and the family free to the Vans Warped Tour stops in SoCal for the past three years.

“;I've been less active on the scene with the successive birth of each child, but it doesn't feel like 15 years have gone by since I started this,”; Miller said. “;Since the very beginning I've always said that if I can at least break even on any show I've put together, that's a success.”;