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" is one of Pono Shim's lessons of bringing your gifts to the world, unleashing them in perpetuity to contribute to the collective well-being of all. One of Jason's favorite lessons from Pono is: "Make the connection and the story will follow." We hope you find this to be a reflective and meaningful conversation. Mahalo!

The "E Ohana Hou" video can be viewed here: https://www.oedb.biz/videos

To view Honolulu Fire Department Community Resources for fire safety and preparedness, please visit: https://fire.honolulu.gov/ and https://www.youtube.com/@HonoluluFireDepartment.

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.