In this episode of "Above the Sides," we welcome Camille Rockett who serves as the Director of Community Health and Equity at Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA). As a student of the Aloha Response, Camille shares about her growth in bringing aloha and trust to the forefront of decision-making when it comes to providing health resources to Hawaii residents. Working towards a prosperous Hawaii through the concept of "healthy people, healthy economy"  is clearly reflected in her pursuit of restoring abundance, in all forms, to our communities. Camille shares about her "aha!" moments of learning with her teacher, Pono Shim, as well as her realizations about the ahupuaa model and how applying that framework assists her team in its efforts to connect residents to  resources which can boost their overall well-being through improved social determinants of health. We hope you enjoy this dive into health equity and exploring how practicing aloha uplifts not only ourselves, but those around us. Mahalo for listening in!

Episode Highlights

0:00 Intro

1:10 Bridge-building as the Director of Community Health and Equity Healthcare at HMSA

4:20 How have you developed the skills to navigate difficult conversations?

7:11 How did you end up in your current role at HMSA?

11:35 Blue Zones Project and growing healthy communities

14:06 Health outcomes are related to our surroundings

14:43 Meeting Uncle Pono and exploring Relevance vs. Reverence

18:13 How did your relationship with Uncle Pono grow after you met?

21:15 Have you had any "aha!" moments in your work and with HMSA?

21:49 Leave the bad, keep the good

23:04 The Old Ahupuaa

24:28 Exploring health inequities and increasing access to resources

33:40 Haahaa - building community relationships grounded in trust and care

39:28 How do your "aha!" moments apply to your work within HMSA?

43:29 How do we care for our caregivers?

48:13 What does thriving look like?

49:42 Aloha is self care

55:52 Growing up on Maui, family values

1:01:35 Moving to Oahu to study Social Work

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.