Aloha Alive: The Dawn O'Brien Podcast

Dawn O'Brien

Why Aloha? the whole world knows what aloha is--love in Hawai'i--but better to ask WHY ALOHA? the answer is as essential as breath & as fun as whistling, so LET'S GO!  

  1. 4d ago

    Who’s Really Running Hawaii? | Tara Malia Gregory

    Honolulu City Council controls a massive amount of tax money with only nine seats, so District 4 is not a small race. We sit down with Tara Malia Gregory for a fast, candid talk story that starts with her surprising past dancing professionally in Hollywood while preparing for law school, then turns sharply into what she is fighting for back home in East Oahu. We dig into election integrity in Hawaii through the term limits dispute that reached the courts and ultimately the Hawaii Supreme Court. Tara Malia explains why she believes the Honolulu City Charter is clear on two terms, how she built a chain of documentation, and what it was like to argue pro se with only minutes on the clock. Along the way, we talk about voter trust, transparency, and why keeping a clean paper trail can protect regular people when the system gets slippery. From there, we zoom out to bigger policy pressure points: emergency proclamations and concentrated power under Chapter 127A, concerns about land grabs, and a very real neighborhood fight at Cocoa Crater Stables. Tara Malia lays out her platform priorities in plain language: audit everything, keep kamaaina here by fixing broken permitting and enforcement, and rebuild food sovereignty with lessons from the ahupuaa system. We also get practical about preparedness, water management, and why we still believe showing up in person to vote matters. If this conversation challenges you, share it with a friend, subscribe for more local Hawaii politics that stays grounded in real life, and leave a review so more voters can find it. IG @DawnOBrienHI FB Dawn O'Brien HI www.ChooseAloha.org IG @alohaalivepodcast youtube.com/@AlohaAlivePodcast

  2. Oct 9

    Hawaii’s Young Leaders Are Sounding the Alarm | Hunter Harris

    Hawaii doesn’t feel like “paradise” when you can’t afford to live here and you’re watching friends and family move away. We’re talking with Hunter Harris, a 23-year-old Native Hawaiian who went from student government to the State Capitol, about what Gen Z is facing right now: crushing Hawaii cost of living, housing prices that make independence feel impossible, and the quiet mental health fallout from the 2020 to 2021 shutdown years. Hunter shares what it was like representing roughly 180,000 students as a governor-appointed student member on the Hawaii State Board of Education during the chaos of COVID policy shifts. We get into the realities behind Hawaii public education, why teachers deserve more support, and how big systems can lose accountability, including questions about Department of Education spending and what happens when funding rolls over while campuses still need work. Then we move from problems to action. Hunter challenges low voter turnout, calls our generation to vote with principles rather than party labels, and gives practical ways to research candidates using real-world signals, not just slogans. We also break down a political story that shocked a lot of people: a tied race, a decision made “by lot,” and a Hawaii Supreme Court-ordered runoff that lands on the general election ballot for District 43. We close with a grounded definition of aloha, shaped by family, community, and service. If you care about Hawaii politics, Hawaii housing affordability, youth mental health, and the future of local families, listen through and share this with one person who’s on the fence. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what “aloha values” means to you. IG @DawnOBrienHI FB Dawn O'Brien HI www.ChooseAloha.org IG @alohaalivepodcast youtube.com/@AlohaAlivePodcast

  3. Oct 2

    Why My Vote Counts...Double! | Sheila Medeiros Republican Candidate, HD 43

    A tied election is rare. A tied election decided by drawing lots in a lauhala box is even rarer. But the real twist comes after that: District 43’s result gets overturned in court, and now voters in Makakilo and Kapolei are heading into a court-ordered revote that could reshape how Hawaii handles razor-thin races going forward. We sit down with Sheila Medeiros, candidate for Hawaii House District 43, to unpack what happened, why two voters receiving the wrong ballots triggered a zero-margin crisis, and why the remedy matters just as much as the mistake. We get specific about the difference between a primary election and a general election ballot, the risk of crossover voting deciding a party nominee, and what it means when election officials say a rule can’t truly be enforced. If you care about election integrity, transparent governance, and how legal precedents can ripple across every political party in Hawaii, this conversation lays it out in plain language. Then we switch gears to who Sheila is beyond the headlines: a retired Army lieutenant colonel with deep local ties, a focus on service over titles, and a platform centered on cost of living, crime, judicial reform, government accountability, and practical resilience through energy security, water security, and food security. We close with a grounded take on aloha as agape love, and what it looks like to hold that line when politics gets ugly. Subscribe for more Hawaii-focused conversations, share this with a neighbor in West Oahu, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show. What do you think is the fairest remedy when an election is tied and ballots are wrong? IG @DawnOBrienHI FB Dawn O'Brien HI www.ChooseAloha.org IG @alohaalivepodcast youtube.com/@AlohaAlivePodcast

  4. Sep 25

    Choose Who You Ride With & Watch the Miracles: Tricia Ma’ae Liupaono

    A small cross on a restaurant wall shouldn’t feel like a turning point, but sometimes the smallest moment lands with the most weight. We sit down with Tricia Ma’ae Liupaono, CEO and founder of My Sister’s Keeper Ministries and Reckless Love, and talk about what it means to be seen by God when life feels like a full-on spiritual storm. The conversation is candid, funny, and direct, and it keeps coming back to one core truth: we don’t get through spiritual warfare with vibes, we get through it with a sharpened sword and steady obedience. Tricia shares what happened during Hawaii’s Kona storm when most people were trying to get out, and her team drove in with food, water, and whatever they could carry. We unpack real disaster relief and community outreach lessons: how needs spread fast when power and water are compromised, how mutual aid can move quicker than official response, and how provision can multiply through everyday people who decide to show up. If you care about faith in action, nonprofit leadership, and serving vulnerable neighbors, this story is a masterclass in courage under pressure. We also go deep on discernment in the last days: how deception can look like truth, why Bible reading and prayer can’t be outsourced, and how “good opportunities” can still be compromise. Tricia explains why forming a 501(c)(3) board and building accountability isn’t just paperwork, it’s protection for the mission. If you’re tired, tempted to quit, or wondering who you can really trust in ministry, this conversation will help you reset your footing. Subscribe for more honest faith conversations, share this with someone who needs strength today, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. What part hit you the hardest? IG @DawnOBrienHI FB Dawn O'Brien HI www.ChooseAloha.org IG @alohaalivepodcast youtube.com/@AlohaAlivePodcast

  5. Sep 18

    Breaking Hawai'i Pipeline To Child Sex Trafficking

    A child trafficked for a cheeseburger?! Once you hear it, you can’t unhear it & you start seeing why prevention has to be specific, honest & urgent. We’re joined by Tammy Bitanga, Director of Community Engagement at Ho’ola Na Pua, a Hawaii nonprofit working to prevent child sex trafficking and care for youth who’ve been exploited. Tammy breaks down the real legal definition: when anything of value is exchanged for a commercial sex act with anyone under 18, that child is a victim of sex trafficking. No loopholes, no “they chose it,” no confusion about consent. Tammy also shares her personal story with courage and clarity: early childhood sexual abuse, foster care, grooming, and being “turned out” as a teen, followed by the long road of sobriety, faith, and rebuilding a life. We talk about why trauma changes the brain, how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) shape survival behaviors, and what actually helps kids stay safer: one trusted adult, meaningful activities, and a community that refuses to shame them into silence. You’ll also hear what Ho’ola Na Pua does across Oahu and the neighbor islands, including prevention education in schools and the healing environment of Pearl Haven. If you’re a parent, educator, coach, auntie, uncle, or simply someone who wants to protect kids, this conversation gives you language, insight, and next steps. Subscribe for more, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find these stories and this work. IG @DawnOBrienHI FB Dawn O'Brien HI www.ChooseAloha.org IG @alohaalivepodcast youtube.com/@AlohaAlivePodcast

  6. Sep 11

    Champ Church & Dawn Show!

    A simple family favor turns into a wild twist: Champ Kaneshiro gets ordained so he can officiate a wedding in Hawaii, and the paperwork starts showing up with a new title, “Pastor.” That’s where the real conversation begins. We talk about what it means to treat marriage like a covenant, why taking responsibility seriously matters, and how a “wedding performer” can still carry a message of faith without pretending to be perfect. If you’ve ever searched for how to become a wedding officiant in Hawaii or wondered what a meaningful ceremony looks like, you’ll pick up practical ideas you can actually use. Then the tone drops deeper. We share the story of “Suicide Sunday,” childhood pain, and the moment faith stepped in when life felt finished. We wrestle with grief, the Christian view of suicide, and why quick judgments can crush families who are already carrying loss. The through line is grace and the uncomfortable truth that none of us knows what happens in the final seconds of a person’s life, but we can choose compassion now. We also keep it local and real: comedy as a way to connect, Polynesian culture, what to do with haters, and relationship advice that cuts straight to the point. Champ breaks down why affection matters, how a simple “please forgive me” can reset a home, and why imagination is not childish but powerful. If you like Hawaii podcasts with heart, humor, and faith that doesn’t hide from hard topics, this one is for you. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review with the takeaway that hit you most. IG @DawnOBrienHI FB Dawn O'Brien HI www.ChooseAloha.org IG @alohaalivepodcast youtube.com/@AlohaAlivePodcast

  7. Sep 4

    He Makes Everyone Laugh. But His Story Goes Much Deeper

    He can make a TSA line laugh in ten seconds, then turn around and say something that hits your heart. We’re joined by longtime Hawaii MC, TV host, and fitness trainer Champ Kaneshiro, and we talk story about the real source of his energy: gratitude, faith, and an intentional choice to bring aloha into every room he walks into. Along the way, Champ shares how his dad shaped his outlook, why joy is not fake positivity, and what it means to stay grounded when the world feels heavy.  We go deep on relationships and the difference one sentence can make. “Sorry” is easy. “Will you forgive me?” restores power, respect, and peace. Champ opens up about marriage, temptation in the entertainment world, and the pain of divorce, including the kind of thoughts people rarely admit out loud. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, discouraged, or stuck, this conversation offers hope without pretending life is simple.  Then we get practical. Champ breaks down why daily movement matters as you age, why resistance training builds muscle that burns body fat, and why cutting sugar can be a game-changer for heart health and long-term energy. We also talk about wake-up calls that force you to take your health seriously, plus a definition of aloha that goes beyond being “nice” and becomes kindness on purpose.  If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a lift, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. What does aloha look like in your life right now? IG @DawnOBrienHI FB Dawn O'Brien HI www.ChooseAloha.org IG @alohaalivepodcast youtube.com/@AlohaAlivePodcast

  8. Aug 28

    He Lost Everything. Then God Gave Him His Life Back

    He was a football standout. Then he lost his way, lost his identity, and ended up homeless, addicted, and ready to give up on life. Kuhio Thomas now leads Adult and Teen Challenge as a director, and he joins us with his wife Rachel for a raw, hope-forward conversation about what actually breaks addiction for good. We talk about why addiction is often the visible “fruit,” while the real work is getting to the root: trauma, rejection, shame, and generational patterns that repeat until someone decides to become a cycle breaker. Kuhio shares the turning point that brought him to surrender, how accountability and service keep him grounded, and why identity and purpose are not motivational slogans but recovery essentials. Rachel shares her own path through insecurity, unhealthy coping, and a painful first marriage, and how faith reshaped her future. We also get practical. We explain what Adult and Teen Challenge offers as a Christian discipleship program with a one-year structure, counseling support, a curriculum that addresses anger and life-controlling issues, and vocational skills that help people rebuild stability. If you’re a family member trying to love someone without enabling them, we talk about boundaries, prayer, and keeping hope within reach. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find real recovery stories. IG @DawnOBrienHI FB Dawn O'Brien HI www.ChooseAloha.org IG @alohaalivepodcast youtube.com/@AlohaAlivePodcast

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Why Aloha? the whole world knows what aloha is--love in Hawai'i--but better to ask WHY ALOHA? the answer is as essential as breath & as fun as whistling, so LET'S GO!  

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