Todayʻs guest, Taylor "Maeʻole" Quanan, has been on a path of self-discovery through different seasons of her life: from moving to Japan for college to serving as a guardian for her younger sister, embracing motherhood and healing from grief and trauma.  She consistently finds meaning through aloha in practice. Taylor is part of the team at Liliʻuokalani Trust, serving as a Housing Navigator to help Hawaiʻi residents find safe and dignified housing. She met Pono Shim through her time as a Hawaiʻi State Youth Commissioner and from that connection, she now serves on the Oʻahu Economic Development Board. Taylor's wisdom, openness and and innovative spirit shines forward in her words as she works to uplift the Hawaiian lāhui. 

Episode Highlights

0:31 Introduction

1:20 Visiting from Honolulu 

2:57 How did you meet Uncle Pono Shim?

4:19 Addressing Houselessness, Kuleana Academy, Graduating from University of Tsukuba, Caretaking for family 

6:27 Hawaii State Youth Commission

8:54 Meeting Pono Shim

10:38 New approach to storytelling and what it means to be Hawaiian

12:30 "Change We Must" book 

14:23 Growing through grief and loss

22:25 Opportunities to serve, supported by the women of her life

25:27 How did you come to the idea that "growth can come through healing?"

• Questions to self: Could this be seen differently? Could this be endured differently? Who do i have to lean on in there times? Do I have wahi pana or places to go where I can feel something again? How do you rebuild with intention? 

 30:07 Serving the Queenʻs mission through Liliʻuokalani Trust, seeing kanaka in more places of decision-making and healing

35:28 Houselessness: creating a place of belonging, people are our greatest asset

37:27 Envisioning Hawaii at its best

40:59 Reverence in all interactions 

45:33 Going to Japan for university and finding independence

52:43 Favorite TED Talks

55:45 Radical optimism

57:56 Holding 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.