In this episode of Above the Sides, Cherilyn Inouye, who serves as Compassionate Koolau’s District Education Specialist, shares her winding journey through education, community work, and aloha centered leadership in Hawaii. Grounded in place, story, and ike kupuna, Cherilyn reflects on how listening deeply and honoring aina have shaped her path from classroom teacher to community connector. She speaks candidly about trauma informed education, the power of Foundations of Aloha, and the mentors and communities that continue to inspire her hana. Through stories from schools and fishponds to loi kalo and chance meetings, Cherilyn illustrates what aloha looks like in daily practice. Mahalo for listening!

Learn more about Compassionate Koolau.

Episode Highlights

01:09 Cherilyn’s background and roots

02:45 Her path into education

03:47 Teaching and early career

06:09 Advanced studies and pivotal experiences

18:50 Foundations of Aloha

23:55 Reflecting on the gift of lessons

24:59 Grounding in Aloha values

26:02 Integrating Aloha in education

28:45 Challenges and personal growth

32:18 Aloha in the community

40:32 Compassionate Koolau

45:20 Final thoughts

Welcome to the Above the Sides podcast! Join us on our journey to uncover what it means to think, act, and live aloha. The inspiration for this podcast is the late Pono Shim, former President and CEO of the Oʻahu Economic Development Board. His stories capture the essence of what it means to live aloha. He made it known that aloha is a lifestyle. It is not a solution to problems, a marketing brand or to be used as an advantage over anyone else. Aloha is to be honored and practiced.

The name of this podcast is in reverence of Hawaiʻi's Queen Liliʻuokalani, who wrote: "To gain the kingdom of heaven is to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen, and to know the unknowable – that is Aloha. All things in this world are two; in heaven there is but One.” Through these episodes, we seek to find that singular perspective, the one that is "above the sides" as we strive for universal peace.

We welcome you to pause with us as we share the stories and voices of Hawai’i business leaders, educators and community members who have chosen to be lifelong students of aloha. Mahalo nui loa for listening.

In this episode of Above the Sides, we sit down with Brent Kakesako, Executive Director of the Hawaiʻi Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development (HACBED). Brent shares stories from his upbringing in Honolulu, Hawai'i and reflects on the experiences that shaped his path into community-based economic development. We explore HACBED’s approach to development rooted in active listening, facilitation, and uplifting community voice. The conversation also touches on aloha in action and Brent’s connection to Pono Shim and the integration of the aloha values into his day-to-day life. We hope you find this conversation to be a thoughtful look at how values, relationships, and place-based work can shape a more caring and connected future for Hawaii. Learn more about HACBED at: https://hacbed.org/

Episode Highlights

00:52 Brent's Background

01:57 HACBED's Mission and Approach

02:40 Programs and Community Impact

07:36 The Power of Active Listening

10:29 Brent's Journey into Economic Development

17:57 Influence of Mentors and Community Connections

20:07 Aloha in Action and Personal Reflections

25:40 Navigating Parenting

25:51 Understanding Oluolu

26:40 Incorporating Aloha in Daily Life

27:09 Honoring Mentors and Community Values

27:39 Economic Development Grounded in Values

27:59 Hopes for Hawaii's Economy

28:45 Challenges and Opportunities in Community Work

32:34 Institutional Commitment to Community

37:44 What is Enough? Workplace Culture and Wellbeing - 4 Day, 32 Hour Work Weeks

45:33 Reflections on Aloha and Community Engagement

Welcome to the Above the Sides podcast! Join us on our journey to uncover what it means to think, act, and live aloha. The inspiration for this podcast is the late Pono Shim, former President and CEO of the Oʻahu Economic Development Board. His stories capture the essence of what it means to live aloha. He made it known that aloha is a lifestyle. It is not a solution to problems, a marketing brand or to be used as an advantage over anyone else. Aloha is to be honored and practiced.

The name of this podcast is in reverence of Hawaiʻi's Queen Liliʻuokalani, who wrote: "To gain the kingdom of heaven is to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen, and to know the unknowable – that is Aloha. All things in this world are two; in heaven there is but One.” Through these episodes, we seek to find that singular perspective, the one that is "above the sides" as we strive for universal peace.

We welcome you to pause with us as we share the stories and voices of Hawai’i business leaders, educators and community members who have chosen to be lifelong students of aloha. Mahalo nui loa for listening.

In this episode, Celeste Connors, the new President of the East‑West Center in Honolulu, shares how Hawaiʻi’s core value of aloha can guide global diplomacy. Raised in Hawaiʻi with over 25 years of experience as a U.S. diplomat and policy advisor, she brings a distinctive island‑rooted perspective to international relations. Listeners will hear stories of how aloha values such as care, respect, and relationality shape complex global conversations and foster meaningful cross‑cultural connections. Influenced by her dear friend and colleague, the late Pono Shim, she reflects on how Hawaiʻi can serve as a bridge within the Asia-Pacific region, cultivating mutual understanding and shared values through the work of the East‑West Center - and beyond. This conversation offers a fresh, values-driven vision of diplomacy that centers humanity and hope.

Episode Highlights

01:56 Celeste Connors' Career Journey

03:41 First Foreign Service Assignment

04:30 International Assignments and Graduate School

06:36 Return to the White House

07:58 Sustainability and the SDGs

10:08 Returning to Hawaii

12:09 Hawaii Green Growth and Community Impact

19:16 Meeting Pono Shim and Coming Home

27:11 The Essence of Aloha in Achieving SDGs

27:58 Hawaii's Leadership and the Aloha+ Challenge

29:53 Hawaii's Next Generation of Leaders

33:56 Reflections on Global Movements and Peace Seekers

35:42 Hopes for Hawaii's Economic Future

39:09 Honoring Pono Shim

48:21 The Role of the East West Center

54:06 Final Reflections

Resources

East‑West Center – Promoting Asia‑Pacific dialogue and research

Hawaiʻi Green Growth – Advancing sustainable growth and environmental stewardship

Aloha+ Challenge – Hawaiʻi’s statewide sustainability and SDG initiative

Aloha+ Challenge Program Details – Learn more about Hawaiʻi’s action plan for the SDGs

Aina Aloha Economic Futures – Supporting Hawaiʻi’s sustainability and community initiatives

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – Global framework for sustainable development

Welcome to the Above the Sides podcast! Join us on our journey to uncover what it means to think, act, and live aloha. The inspiration for this podcast is the late Pono Shim, former President and CEO of the Oʻahu Economic Development Board. His stories capture the essence of what it means to live aloha. He made it known that aloha is a lifestyle. It is not a solution to problems, a marketing brand or to be used as an advantage over anyone else. Aloha is to be honored and practiced.

The name of this podcast is in reverence of Hawaiʻi's Queen Liliʻuokalani, who wrote: "To gain the kingdom of heaven is to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen, and to know the unknowable – that is Aloha. All things in this world are two; in heaven there is but One.” Through these episodes, we seek to find that singular perspective, the one that is "above the sides" as we strive for universal peace.

We welcome you to pause with us as we share the stories and voices of Hawai’i business leaders, educators and community members who have chosen to be lifelong students of aloha. Mahalo nui loa for listening.

Mahalo for tuning in to our 50th episode! For the first time, the Oahu Economic Development Board team - Cat Awakuni Colón (President & CEO), Dori Baba (Operations Manager), Tyler Mejia (Community Outreach & Compliance Specialist), and Molly Mamaril (Community Innovation Connector) - comes together to talk OEDB’s effort to bring aloha and care into business practices. They share about the origins of the “Above the Sides” podcast and how Pono Shim’s commitment to storytelling continues to drive their approach to community-based economic development and their vision for Hawaii’s future. The team discusses various community-facing programs, offers personal stories, and reflects on striving to live in reverence of aloha in everyday life. The conversation closes with advice for the next generation and what’s ahead for the nonprofit. Mahalo for listening.

Episode Highlights

01:51 Meet the OEDB Team: Cat, Dori, Tyler, Molly

05:11 The Origin Story of 'Above the Sides' Podcast

11:23 Continuing Uncle Pono's Storytelling Legacy

20:58 Vision for Hawaii's Future

24:39 OEDB's Approach to Economic Development

36:28 Personal Stories of Aloha

40:45 Aloha in Pop Culture (Movie Recommendations)

42:22 Reflecting on the Aloha Connects Innovation (ACI) Program

46:14 Honoring Uncle Pono Shim

53:23 Personal Stories and Lessons Learned

58:03 Advice for the Next Generation

01:02:30 Planting Seeds for Hawaii's Future

01:09:05 Favorite Memories and Team Dynamics

01:14:59 On the Horizon

Learn more about the Oahu Economic Development Board: https://www.oedb.biz

Welcome to the Above the Sides podcast! Join us on our journey to uncover what it means to think, act, and live aloha. The inspiration for this podcast is the late Pono Shim, former President and CEO of the Oʻahu Economic Development Board. His stories capture the essence of what it means to live aloha. He made it known that aloha is a lifestyle. It is not a solution to problems, a marketing brand or to be used as an advantage over anyone else. Aloha is to be honored and practiced.

The name of this podcast is in reverence of Hawaiʻi's Queen Liliʻuokalani, who wrote: "To gain the kingdom of heaven is to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen, and to know the unknowable – that is Aloha. All things in this world are two; in heaven there is but One.” Through these episodes, we seek to find that singular perspective, the one that is "above the sides" as we strive for universal peace.

We welcome you to pause with us as we share the stories and voices of Hawai’i business leaders, educators and community members who have chosen to be lifelong students of aloha. Mahalo nui loa for listening.

IIn this special short episode, we explore the deeper meaning of "hana" in the Hawaiian language and why it extends far beyond the Western concept of “work.” In this clip from a 2022 Zoom presentation, Uncle Pono Shim reflects on how hana is connected to breath, grace, purpose and ʻohana. Building on themes from last month’s Two Voyages episode, this moment stood out as such a meaningful reflection that we created a dedicated episode to share it. As a complement, we invite you to watch the E Ohana Hou 2020 video here for a fuller understanding of these teachings.

Welcome to the Above the Sides podcast! Join us on our journey to uncover what it means to think, act, and live aloha. The inspiration for this podcast is the late Pono Shim, former President and CEO of the Oʻahu Economic Development Board. His stories capture the essence of what it means to live aloha. He made it known that aloha is a lifestyle. It is not a solution to problems, a marketing brand or to be used as an advantage over anyone else. Aloha is to be honored and practiced.

The name of this podcast is in reverence of Hawaiʻi's Queen Liliʻuokalani, who wrote: "To gain the kingdom of heaven is to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen, and to know the unknowable – that is Aloha. All things in this world are two; in heaven there is but One.” Through these episodes, we seek to find that singular perspective, the one that is "above the sides" as we strive for universal peace.

We welcome you to pause with us as we share the stories and voices of Hawai’i business leaders, educators and community members who have chosen to be lifelong students of aloha. Mahalo nui loa for listening.

In this episode, we revisit one of Uncle Pono Shim’s Zoom presentations, recorded on February 24, 2022. Shared with a group of Hawaiʻi filmmakers, the session centers on the teachings of Aunty Pilahi Paki and the stories that shaped his life. He reflects on being 13 years old in 1976, going on a walk with Aunty Pilahi and learning the values that would guide his way of thinking. He explore the meaning behind ALOHA: Akahai (meaning kindness to be expressed with tenderness), Lokahi (unity, to be expressed with harmony), Oluolu (agreeable, to be expressed with pleasantness), Haahaa (humility, to be expressed with modesty), and Ahonui (patience, to be expressed with perseverance).

Uncle Pono also shares the story of the two canoes - the physical voyage of Hokulea and a second, spiritual canoe with no map; he describes ALOHA itself as the vessel for this journey. Aunty Pilahi once said to him, “I’m not going to teach you how to speak Hawaiian, Iʻm going to teach you how to think Hawaiian.” This episode offers a glimpse into what that means, grounded in her prophecy: "“The world will turn to Hawaii as they search for world peace because Hawaii has the key… and that key is aloha." Mahalo nui loa for listening.

Episode Highlights

02:39 The Star Compass

11:39 1961 - Aunty Pilahi Pakiʻs story, the "librarian" of Hawaii's secrets

17:53 1976 - Pono Shim's story with Aunty Pilahi at age 13

30:00 Aunty Pilahi Paki's ALOHA - Ahonui, Lokahi, Oluolu, Haahaa, Akahai

40:40 Stories as laau lapaau (medicine)

41:24 2018 - Navigators and Peace Seekers

45:19 1976 - The Two Voyages: synchronicity with Hokulea and Nainoa Thompson

• First canoe: Physical waa - the manifestation of awakening and recovery
• Second canoe: Spiritual waa - the walk, the talk, ha, and no instruction manual. "ALOHA is the largest voyaging canoe in the world"

49:40 Two objectives in every story

50:30 "Weʻre not a project, we're the resource"

More ALOHA Resources:

• Pono Shim Videos and Presentations
• Foundation of Aloha with Education Incubator
  

Welcome to the Above the Sides podcast! Join us on our journey to uncover what it means to think, act, and live aloha. The inspiration for this podcast is the late Pono Shim, former President and CEO of the Oʻahu Economic Development Board. His stories capture the essence of what it means to live aloha. He made it known that aloha is a lifestyle. It is not a solution to problems, a marketing brand or to be used as an advantage over anyone else. Aloha is to be honored and practiced.

The name of this podcast is in reverence of Hawaiʻi's Queen Liliʻuokalani, who wrote: "To gain the kingdom of heaven is to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen, and to know the unknowable – that is Aloha. All things in this world are two; in heaven there is but One.” Through these episodes, we seek to find that singular perspective, the one that is "above the sides" as we strive for universal peace.

We welcome you to pause with us as we share the stories and voices of Hawai’i business leaders, educators and community members who have chosen to be lifelong students of aloha. Mahalo nui loa for listening.

In this heartfelt episode, Brooke Conway reflects on the themes of identity and belonging as she traces her path from San Francisco to Samoa, Hawaiʻi, and Sicily. She shares how the spirit of aloha (and some incredible meals along the way) have helped her build connections and navigate healing. A chance meeting with Pono Shim became a turning point in her growth and offered her wisdom that continues to guide her through grief, motherhood, and her Social Work career. Brooke speaks to the power of values like akahai (grace) and oluolu (gentle strength), especially in moments of personal and collective challenge. This episode invites you to reflect on you own stories and to respond to the world with compassion. Mahalo for listening!

Episode Highlights

00:33 Introduction to Brooke Conway

02:31 San Francisco to Samoa to Hawaii: Where might we land?

05:37 Three homes

08:26 Sicily: reconnecting with ancestral roots

13:45 Food as aloha, connection, identity

16:21 Meeting Uncle Pono Shim: right place, right time

17:54 Unlocking the healing medicine

22:43 Sitting with the aloha practice during difficult times

26:03 Leaning in to akahai (grace) during her grandmother's passing

31:15 Stories as medicine

33:26 Mental health and wellness - aiming for unity from "above the sides"

34:48 Oluolu (gentle strength)

37:39 Weaving the aloha values into Social Work

39:39 Nelson Mandela interview with Oprah: Action and Unity vs. Humility

41:15 Nelson Mandela as centered in self, not self-centered

42:45 Watching current events with a critical eye: Is there an aloha response present? Am I seeing this situation through heavenʻs perspective? Am I seeing the world through the lens of my trauma?

46:21 Is my hana my trauma response - or is it divinely inspired?

48:26 Aloha and motherhood: kids are our greatest teachers

Welcome to the Above the Sides podcast! Join us on our journey to uncover what it means to think, act, and live aloha. The inspiration for this podcast is the late Pono Shim, former President and CEO of the Oʻahu Economic Development Board. His stories capture the essence of what it means to live aloha. He made it known that aloha is a lifestyle. It is not a solution to problems, a marketing brand or to be used as an advantage over anyone else. Aloha is to be honored and practiced.

The name of this podcast is in reverence of Hawaiʻi's Queen Liliʻuokalani, who wrote: "To gain the kingdom of heaven is to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen, and to know the unknowable – that is Aloha. All things in this world are two; in heaven there is but One.” Through these episodes, we seek to find that singular perspective, the one that is "above the sides" as we strive for universal peace.

We welcome you to pause with us as we share the stories and voices of Hawai’i business leaders, educators and community members who have chosen to be lifelong students of aloha. Mahalo nui loa for listening.

In this episode, we sit down with longtime Hawaiʻi attorney, Kevin Wakayama, to explore how a heart-led approach has shaped his decades of legal practice. From his roots on Kauaʻi to studying law during the Vietnam War, Kevin shares pivotal moments of his life and what led him to choose tax law over criminal law. Rooted in the Aloha Spirit Law and influenced by the late Alvin and Pono Shim, Kevin offers thoughtful reflections on his experiences interlacing aloha into legal work and leadership. He also reminisces about the late 1960s, when as a high school student, he was part of a movement where local visionaries imagined the year 2000 and ways to reach a diversified economy centered on peace through education and value-aligned industries. Whether you're curious about law, committed to social justice, or drawn to Hawaii's history of community leadership, we invite you to pause with Kevin's stories.

Episode Highlights

00:00 Introduction to Kevin Wakayama

00:50 Becoming an attorney: Kauaʻi to college during the Vietnam War

03:57 Choosing tax law over criminal law

04:51 The Aloha Spirit Law in practice

08:54 Reflections on the Aloha Spirit and community

21:21 Aiming for Prosperity in 1969: economic development and education in Hawaii

36:23 Aloha in action

39:53 Advice for aspiring legal professionals

42:48 Closing thoughts

Welcome to the Above the Sides podcast! Join us on our journey to uncover what it means to think, act, and live aloha. The inspiration for this podcast is the late Pono Shim, former President and CEO of the Oʻahu Economic Development Board. His stories capture the essence of what it means to live aloha. He made it known that aloha is a lifestyle. It is not a solution to problems, a marketing brand or to be used as an advantage over anyone else. Aloha is to be honored and practiced.

The name of this podcast is in reverence of Hawaiʻi's Queen Liliʻuokalani, who wrote: "To gain the kingdom of heaven is to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen, and to know the unknowable – that is Aloha. All things in this world are two; in heaven there is but One.” Through these episodes, we seek to find that singular perspective, the one that is "above the sides" as we strive for universal peace.

We welcome you to pause with us as we share the stories and voices of Hawai’i business leaders, educators and community members who have chosen to be lifelong students of aloha. Mahalo nui loa for listening.