"Aloha is Love" with Brooke Conway

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.