above the sides

Live Aloha. Living in Hawaii, many of us recognize the white bumper stickers with the ohia flower and have undoubtedly heard the "live aloha" phrase over the years. What is the backstory of this initiative and what does live aloha really mean? In this episode, we talk story with Rachel Alm to learn about the interesting behind-the-scenes details of the Live Aloha initiative which was established in 1993. As a child, Rachel was positively influenced by her parents, Robert and Cynthia Alm, as well as her father's friend, our dear Pono Shim. She recounts many Zippy's meals as a middle schooler, where she spent memorable time with him learning about aloha through his mentorship, years before he launched his first Aloha Response cohort. Rachel's awareness and personal aloha practice are a powerful embodiment of how to bring aloha into our everyday interactions with others and the greater community. Now as a young professional, she continues to contribute to the wellbeing of Hawaii - and beyond - from her home in Bend, Oregon. Learn more about the Live Aloha program and the 12 commitments: https://www.livealohakakou.org/ https://www.livealohakakou.org/12-commitments Email address: livealohahui@gmail.com Mailing address: 165 Waokanaka Place, Honolulu, HI 96817 @livealohakakou

This episode is a short addendum to the previous episode. Enjoy!

What does it mean to pass the mic? In this episode, Pono Shim and Molly Mamaril discuss the importance of being present and giving attention to all voices, but especially youth voices. Pono shares a story of how one happenstance encounter to honor a young man's poetry lead to friendships and eventually a large-scale business opportunity for Hawaii.

In this episode, we explore the idea of letting go of our expectations for certain outcomes; resting in the uncertainty of a situation can be a space of growth and understanding instead of anxiety. Pono Shim shares two stories about the "bully pidgeons" and "waking the sleeping bear" which provide listeners with lessons that can be applied to scenarios we find ourselves in in everyday life.

Pono Shim shares about the powerful influence that stories have - that they themselves can serve as medicine. The right story for the right person can be very healing and could allow an individual to recognize how to overcome their own trauma.