Remembering Pono Shim with Robbie Alm

Special guest Robbie Alm joins this episode to share stories in remembrance of his good friend and colleague, Pono Shim. Robbie and Pono share a long history of friendship beginning with Ponoʻs father, Alvin Shim, and continuing on into Pono's enterprising days at the concierge at Ward Theater. In their own respective careers, they worked together during Pono's early years at the Oʻahu Economic Development Board (then Enterprise Honolulu) and continued to grow close through their approach to values-based leadership, family connections and their shared sense of humor. We hope you enjoy listening.

Episode Highlights and time stamps:

• 1:11 Oʻahu Economic Development Board Statement about the late Pono Shim
• 4:15 Robbie Alm and Pono Shim - the beginning of a friendship
• 6:11 Memories of the concierge at Ward Theater, being in service of others
• 9:50 Pono's journey at Enterprise Honolulu begins
• 18:39 Influences: Parents Alvin Shim and Marian Heen Shim, and Aunty Pilahi Paki
• 22:03 Orson's restaurant story: finding the root of power
• 27:30 "What is your favorite intersection?": finding joy in the moment
• 34:38 Eggplant Curry story: getting to the core of the issue
• 38:21 "Storytellers are successful as leaders": collecting stories together, backpack story
• 47:04 Connecting, authenticity and being present
• 49:55 Reference vs. reverence: "How can I help people live out their goodness?"
• 56:38 Leaders in Hawaiʻi
• 1:02:50 Family
• 1:07:06 Let the magic live out: tell your stories

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.