What up Leeward! Let's Dive Deep Podcast

Welcome to Career Connect—the podcast where real stories spark inspiration. In this episode, Azriel Burcham sits down with Steven Bednar, Hoʻāla Lifestyle Coach with WorkHawaiʻi, to explore a career journey shaped by education, military and public service, mentorship, and a commitment to giving back.From getting his start at Leeward Community College to serving 22 years in the military and working across multiple federal agencies, Steven shares how each experience helped him develop the discipline, responsibility, and perspective he now brings to helping others find employment, build confidence, and create a path toward a brighter future.🎧 Hosted by Leeward Community College’s ASUH🎙️ Rotating student host: Azriel “Zero” Burcham💼 Topics include:– Getting started at Leeward Community College while still exploring a career path– Lessons in responsibility, discipline, and teamwork through military service– Building a career across military, federal, and local government service– Returning home to Hawaiʻi and finding new purpose through giving back– Mentoring others toward employment and self-sufficiency– Setting short- and long-term goals when the path forward feels uncertain– Why students shouldn’t be afraid to fail, ask for help, or take on challenges– Continuing to dream, set goals, and move forward despite obstacles 💡 Whether you’re uncertain about your next step, changing direction, or working toward a new career, Steven’s journey shows that you don’t need to have everything figured out at once. With support, determination, and a willingness to keep moving forward, each experience can help prepare you for what comes next.#CareerConnect #CareerDevelopment #CareerAdvice #WorkHawaii #MilitaryCareers #PublicService #Mentorship #StudentSuccess #LeewardCC #CampusToCareer #WorkforceDevelopment #ASUH #GoalSetting #HawaiiCareers

🍱💬 Welcome to Mukbang Monday with Love Pono at Leeward Community College!

✨ Today we dive into talks in relationships and how double standards come into the conversation!  Stay tuned for much more this semester as we discuss sex education, contraceptives, and more. 

🍴Food featured in this video: 

Liliha Bakery

1000 Kamehameha Hwy Apt 210, Pearl City, HI 96782

Want to be a part of our Mukbang series where we sit and chat? Join here for free bites and fun! https://forms.gle/QVgkkkQtGxHqmaPp8

Natalie Croul - Community Outreach Educator for Planned Parenthood

Email: [email protected]

Visit www.plannedparenthood.org/learn for more information about their services and a location near you!

Need help? Download the Brightsky app to see resources in your area!

https://us.bright-sky.org/en/home @westernregionCOS

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🌐 Learn more about Love Pono: www.leeward.hawaii.edu/lovepono

📧 Have any questions, concerns, or want to reach out to us? Contact us by email at [email protected] or on Instagram @lovepono 

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📲 Stay connected:

Follow us on Instagram @lovepono for updates and more conversations.

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to support more content like this!

Turn on 🔔 notifications so you never miss a Monday.

💡 Remember: support and resources are always here.

#LovePono #leewardcc  #studentlife  #sexeducation #mentalhealthmatters #leewardcommunitycollege  #leeward  #universityofhawaii  #pauviolence #selflove  #selfhelp #MukbangMonday #mukbang  #miscommunication  #campuslife 

Happy National Coming Out Day! In this special episode of the 'Live Pono, Love Pono' podcast, hosts Summer and Alex reconnect with Leinani Yahiku, CEO and Founder of Empowering Through Expression (ETE).

Leinani shares her beautiful, firsthand perspective on navigating her child’s coming out journey with unconditional love and support. Together, they discuss gentle advice for student-parents wanting to support their LGBTQ+ children, offer comforting words for students preparing to come out, and explore how local cultural values shape family acceptance in Hawaiʻi. Leinani also highlights how fostering acceptance at home directly ties into broader community healing and violence prevention.

Remember to Live Pono, Love Pono!

🔗 Resources: If you or a loved one are seeking support, please check out the Linktree in our bio for campus and community resources.

Happy Talk Tuesday and welcome back to the Live Pono Love Pono Podcast. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and this month we want to amplify survivors' voices.

Today Alex and Summer have a talk story session with Kimiko, an educator, a mother, and a survivor of domestic violence.

Kimiko describes her experience in a marriage with an abuser that was narcissistic and used manipulation tactics to isolate her and question her worth. She explains how he maintained a mask for the public and what it was like to see the mask slip in the privacy of their new home.

Tune in to hear the full story.

If you or a loved one are experiencing domestic violence, there are resources for you.

Domestic Violence Action Center:

• Oahu Helpline: (808) 531-3771 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
• Text Line: (605) 956-5680
• Email: [email protected]

PACT 24-Hour Crisis Hotline: (808) 526-2200

National Domestic Violence Hotline
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)TTY: 1-800-787-3224
Video calls for deaf callers: 1-855-812-1001 (M-F 9 a.m.-5 p.m. PST)
Live online chat is available 7 a.m.-2 a.m. CST dailyChild & Family Services Domestic Abuse Hotlines
Oʻahu: (808) 841-0822
West Hawaiʻi: (808) 322-7233
East Hawaiʻi: (808) 959-8864

In observance of the closing of Suicide Prevention Month, we sit down with David Nisthal, an instructor at the UH Mānoa Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health, for an urgent conversation on men's mental health. This episode explores how the heavy societal pressure to be "man enough" turns inward, driving emotional isolation and contributing to a devastating gap in male suicide rates. Listen in to learn how storywork can help reframe vulnerability and how we can take the concept of collective healing into our communities to build supportive, judgment-free communities.

🍱💬 Welcome to Mukbang Monday with Love Pono at Leeward Community College!✨ In this episode we talk about balancing gaming and relationships and how gaming can get in the way of quality time or be quality time. 🎮 Hear more about how our team encountered this in their relationships and other ways to stay connected. Stay tuned for much more this semester as we discuss how gaming ties in with mental health, relationships, and more. 🍴Food featured in this video: Pancakes And Waffles BLDWaimalu Plaza - 8-1277 Kaahumanu St #103, Aiea, HI 96701Want to be a part of our Mukbang series where we sit and chat? Join here for free bites and fun! https://forms.gle/8MUuabqtuamLrFbN8 IMLeeGamingEmail: [email protected] Instagram: @imleegamingNeed help? Download the Brightsky app to see resources in your area! https://us.bright-sky.org/en/resources ──────────────🌐 Learn more about Love Pono: www.leeward.hawaii.edu/lovepono📧 Have any questions, concerns, or want to reach out to us? Contact us by email at [email protected] or on Instagram @lovepono ──────────────📲 Stay connected:Follow us on Instagram @lovepono for updates and more conversations.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to support more content like this!Turn on 🔔 notifications so you never miss a Monday.💡 Remember: support and resources are always here.#LovePono #leewardcc #studentlife #mentalhealthmatters #leewardcommunitycollege #leeward #universityofhawaii #selfhelp #MukbangMonday #mukbang #campuslife

In this episode, we explore how societal expectations and the intense pressure to force emotional suppression and isolation among young men. To help us unpack this, we are joined by former Leeward CC Student Life rockstar and current UH Mānoa Presidential Scholar, Kainoa Kaeha!

Kainoa is the absolute perfect example of what can happen when you give it your all at Leeward CC and bridge successfully into Mānoa. He breaks down exactly what goes into receiving the Presidential Scholarship and navigating the honors program. We also dive deep into the making of his honors senior project, the short film Falling. Kainoa shares his incredible journey—from writing the initial script in his screenwriting class to reading it in his independent producing class, to creating it!

He gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the practical side of filmmaking, from learning the ropes of producing to officially going into production in January 2026, all with the amazing support of his advisors.

We hope you leave this episode feeling as inspired by Kainoa’s story as we are.

Catch Falling on the big screen!Kainoa's film is screening at the Pacific Island Film Festival on September 17th, and heading to California for the Catalina Island Film Fest the following week!

Support the Film:

• Donate to the GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/2845d74e

• Follow on Instagram: @falling_short_film

Welcome to Career Connect—the podcast where real stories spark inspiration. In this episode, host Zadon Padello sits down with Kamuela Enos, founding director of the University of Hawaiʻi System’s Office of Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation, to explore his journey from Leeward Community College student to community leader and advocate for Indigenous innovation. Kamuela shares how education helped him discover his strengths, how his roots in Waiʻanae shaped his career, and why communities should be recognized not simply for their needs, but for the knowledge, creativity, and innovation they already possess.
🎧 Hosted by Leeward Community College’s ASUH🎙️ Rotating student host: Zadon Padello

'Ōlelo O Ka Mahina is ASUH’s short series started by the Student Services Counselors that identify as Native Hawaiian.  The purpose of ʻŌlelo O Ka Mahina is to provide an audio library that we can reference that allows us to continue to practice ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.  

Stay safe, stay connected, and continue to gain knowledge!

Connect with us!

IG: asuh_leeward 

🍱💬 Welcome to Mukbang Monday with Love Pono at Leeward Community College!✨ Today we start our collaboration with Natalie Croul! Stay tuned for much more this semester as we discuss sex education, contraceptives, and more. 🍴Food featured in this video: Variety from Foodland Farms Want to be a part of our Mukbang series where we sit and chat? Join here for free bites and fun! https://forms.gle/QVgkkkQtGxHqmaPp8Natalie Croul - Community Outreach Educator for Planned ParenthoodEmail: [email protected] www.plannedparenthood.org/learn for more information about their services and a location near you!Need help? Download the Brightsky app to see resources in your area!https://us.bright-sky.org/en/home ──────────────🌐 Learn more about Love Pono: www.leeward.hawaii.edu/lovepono📧 Have any questions, concerns, or want to reach out to us? Contact us by email at [email protected] or on Instagram @lovepono ──────────────📲 Stay connected:Follow us on Instagram @lovepono for updates and more conversations.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to support more content like this!Turn on 🔔 notifications so you never miss a Monday.💡 Remember: support and resources are always here.#LovePono #leewardcc #studentlife #sexeducation #mentalhealthmatters #leewardcommunitycollege #leeward #universityofhawaii #pauviolence #selflove #selfhelp #MukbangMonday #mukbang #miscommunication #campuslife