Above the Sides

Filming the Stories of Hawaii with Roy Kimura

Roy Kimura leads a meaningful career as a visual storyteller here in Hawaii. In this episode, he talks about his experience working as a director, writer and videographer, highlighting some of the pivotol moments that have influenced his professional path. Roy's stories are rooted in appreciation for the mentors who have contributed to his growth and learning. Most recently, Pono Shim played a key role in shaping his perspective as he experienced first-hand what it was like to be on the rece...

Part of this World with Scott Nishimoto

Throughout his career, Scott Nishimoto has served as an advocate for equity and peace-building in Honolulu. He shares an array of stories about how his parents, partner and children have influenced his perception of aloha and valuing every person's experience when it comes to embracing the human condition. In his early days as a nonprofit executive, he met Pono Shim and that initial encounter led to years of friendship and growing to understand the power of storytelling. This podcast title, "...

Receiving the Baton with Luella Costales and Rachel Alm

In this episode, Luella Costales, Rachel Alm and Molly Mamaril discuss what it was like to work closely with Uncle Pono, both personally and professionally, to capture the nuances of what his leadership looked like in a daily setting. The trio also discuss individual hana and the struggle that many students of the aloha response are feeling - how do we move forward confidently after receiving the baton from our mentor? Mahalo for tuning in as we kick off 2024!

Make the Connection and the Story Will Follow with Jason Mejia

In this episode, we are fortunate to spend time talking story with Jason Mejia who serves as a Fire Captain with the Honolulu Fire Department. As he approaches his retirement this month, he reflects on his 27 years as a civil servant and his efforts to strive to be a conduit of aloha. Most recently, he was able to fulfill a goal of helping the Honolulu Fire Department establish "E Ohana Hou" as the foundation of the department's most recent strategic plan. As many listeners know, "E Ohana Hou...

Live Aloha with Rachel Alm

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 w...

Hawaii Will Always Be Home with Cindi Heffner

We welcome Cindi Heffner to this episode of "Above the Sides" in our first recording outside of Hawaiʻi. Cindi is the Kumu Hula of Haʻaheo O Hawaiʻi, a hula hālau based in Albuquerque, New Mexico where she has lived for many years. Cindi shares how she has maintained her spirit of aloha in all the places she has traveled to throughout her life and how her ʻohana, and many of our kama'āina (children of the land), have found home in new places as part of the Hawaiian diaspora. 2020 Census data ...

Island Resilience and Garbage Galore with Henry Gabriel

Have you ever wondered where our trash goes after the dump trucks make their rounds? In this episode, we are thrilled to have Henry Gabriel, a veteran solid waste manager, give us a Trash 101 lesson on everything that happens to the waste in our grey, blue and green bins. It is clear from his stories that he loves his job and is sharing his gift with Hawaiʻi - helping us better manage our garbage. Henry shares about the four R's: reduce, reuse, recycle and repair and how leaning in to the res...

Finding Lōkahi with Shawn Uehira

Shawn Uehira joins us in this episode of "Above the Sides" to share about her experience integrating Hawaiian values into her relationships, life, work and education. Shawn was a former employee at Oʻahu Economic Development Board after graduating from college and in our discussion she highlights some of her experiences with Uncle Pono Shim and how she continues to weave his teachings into everyday decisions through finding lōkahi (harmony, unity, unbrokenness). As a graduate student at Cham...

Connection, Not Correction: Talking Story with Ryden Iwamoto

We are fortunate to welcome Ryden Iwamoto to this episode of "Above the Sides." As a rising second-year college student and an OEDB board member, Ryden shares with us his hopes for Hawaiʻiʻs future, his path to studying Economics and Data Science at the University of Chicago and his intention to live out Pono Shim's teachings, especially the notion of "connection, not correction." He discusses what a thriving Hawaiʻi economy could look like and how he aspires to return home to Hawaiʻi after h...

Stewarding our Gifts with Ashley Ono

In this episode, Ashley Ono shares about her path to the aloha response and how it has influenced her personal and professional approach to people and healing. As a medical doctor, she has explored her own mindfulness practice with bravery and continues to explore how her hana, her gifts, can best serve the community in a fulfilling and life giving manner.

The Aloha Spirit Law

Rehearsing for Life with George Kon

Japan, Hawaiʻi and the Universal Language of Aloha

In this episode, we welcome three news guests, Eric Takahata, Randy Baldemor and OEDB team member, Luella Costales to reflect on the power of connection and how the language of aloha is universal. Several years ago through their work in the local hospitality industry, Randy and Eric traveled to one of Hawaiʻi's sister countries, Japan, with the late Pono Shim. We discuss their experiences abroad and how by leaning on the connections that bind our two nations, Hawaiʻi can serve as an example ...

Remembering Pono Shim with Robbie Alm

Finding Your Place with Sarah Guay

Sarah Guay serves as a Board Member with the Oahu Economic Development Board and we are thrilled to share her interview with you. Upon meeting Sarah, it is clear that she lives with kindness and intention, both personally and professionally. Listeners will feel her refreshing honesty and humor shine through her stories. The catalyst for this episode was OEDB intern, Jonah Tiwanak, and his recent college graduation which prompted his curiosity about how to kickstart his career in a meaningful...

Passing the Mic to Tomorrow's Leaders

Josh Parker, Logan Yogi, and Lauren and Allison Saunders join the conversation in this episode, "Passing the Mic to Tomorrow's Leaders". Each of them has participated in the Center of Tomorrow's Leaders youth leadership program and have met Pono Shim through their experience. They share their observations of leadership rooted in aloha, insights from their time in the program and their hopes for the future of Hawaii in this talk story session. Enjoy!

Reference vs. Reverence

"Reference vs. Reverence" is all about grounding in authenticity and truly living the values that we say we do.

Mental Health

To be human is to experience all the elements of the human condition, including physical health and mental health issues. In this episode, Pono Shim aims to de-stigmatize talking about mental health issues openly. He reiterates that is possible to improve the economics of our lives by being resources for one another through respect and support.

Ozoni, Hanafuda and Being Barefoot

In this episode, we welcome Sage Goto, the Family Strengthening & Violence Prevention Unit Supervisor with the Hawaii Department of Health. He is a student of aloha and an observant father, son and Oahu community member. After much self-reflection and humorous recollection, Sage shares several personal stories about his journey to help perpetuate meaningful family traditions rooted in aloha.

Really, You Named People Millenials?

In Hawaiʻi, when you name someone, you name them with a hope, a vision, an aspiration, or to honor a relationship. In this episode, Pono Shim shares an encounter he had that prompted him to think about renaming the Millenial generation to give value to the resource that they are as they tackle the responsibilities handed to them by their parents' generation.

Low Hanging Fruit

Phrasing can be incredibly important. In this episode, Pono Shim and Molly Mamaril talk about the phrase, "low hanging fruit" and its implications on our potential. Pono also discusses how adopting Queen Kapiolani's motto of "kulia i ka nuu" (to strive for the summit) can foster personal growth.

Fearlessness

In this episode, Pono Shim discusses the the perception of fearlessness. In his own life, he shares how it is really fierceness that helps him take action to make change through aloha. By letting go of societal conventions such as agendas, time constraints and expectations we may see the true potential of an opportunity when it presents itself.

Entry Level

This episode is dedicated to all the students graduating in Spring 2021. Congratulations! We honor you and your efforts to better Hawaii and the world. This story is a favorite of many of Pono Shim's students so at the request of others, we made it into a podcast episode. The original script is from Pono's Chaminade University commencement speech in 2018.

Learning the Ropes

Allison Saunders and Tyler Mejia share their insights from their experience serving as interns for the Oahu Economic Development Board.

Entering a Community with Aloha

With endless requests from individuals and companies asking for advice about how to begin doing business in Hawaii, Pono Shim shares stories that emphasize the importance of intention, knowing your community and earning confidence.

Passing the Mic #2

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

Passing the Mic

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.

Resting in Uncertainty

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.

Stories as Medicine

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.

Welcome to the "Above the Sides" Podcast

The Oahu Economic Development Board offers a unique approach to regenerative economic development in Hawaii and emphasizes the importance of  relationships, not transactions, in business.   Learn more about the Oahu Economic Development Board at: https://www.oedb.biz/