E31: What's S*x Got To Do With It?

Breaking the Silence on Childhood S*xual Abuse

The most dangerous place for a child can be the place everyone assumes is safest: home, family, and trusted circles. We sit down as two sister friends to talk plainly about childhood sexual abuse, incest, and the generational silence that lets harm repeat. Charlotte shares the reality of being abused at multiple ages, the freeze response that can make a child feel voiceless, and the gutting 2024 revelation that forced her to re-see her father and her family history. It’s raw, it’s faith-forward, and it’s meant to bring freedom instead of shame.  We also zoom out to the bigger picture of child sexual assault prevention. We talk about why abuse is not limited to any one culture, while still naming how tight-knit communities can unintentionally protect offenders through “don’t air dirty laundry,” pressure to honor elders, and fear of conflict. We connect the dots to trauma, poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence, and incarceration as risk amplifiers, and we talk about why survivors often get re-victimized when they disclose.  Then we get practical: safe and sacred touch, body safety education, and Charlotte’s memorable ABCDEF framework for defining sexual abuse, including exposure and online exploitation. The line we keep coming back to is simple and urgent: sexual abuse stops when the silence stops. We also address grooming through gaming and DMs, safe adults and safe spaces, and how childhood trauma can echo into CPTSD and vulnerability to trafficking.  If you care about protecting kids and supporting survivors with compassion and clarity, listen through and share it with someone you trust. Subscribe, leave a review, and send us your thoughts: what helps a person feel safe enough to speak? IG @DawnOBrienHI FB Dawn O'Brien HI www.ChooseAloha.org IG @alohaalivepodcast youtube.com/@AlohaAlivePodcast

Hawaii's Secret to Natural Disasters & More...

Charmaine Hauanio-Kuewa is a Miss Aloha Hawaii & Salvation Army Hawaii leader, talking on local disaster relief, ohana trials, & what real help looks like Hawaiian-style. • Why Salvation Army responds to both disasters and “daily disasters”  • What happened after Lahaina & North Shore storms  • How meals, shelter support & financial assistance work  • Why emotional & spiritual support matter too • Identity, purpose & guarding marriage & family under pressure  • A word to women re: comparison, Imposter Syndrome, & being BELOVED! You can get more of Charmaine, of course, at Salvation Army Hawaii. Please partner with them for "Doing the Most Good" with your dollars, volunteer time, sharing this message or simply dropping a THANK YOU here in the comments. Every action brings exponential change, MAHALO!   IG @DawnOBrienHI FB Dawn O'Brien HI www.ChooseAloha.org IG @alohaalivepodcast youtube.com/@AlohaAlivePodcast

Why Hawai’i is Important for World’s Last Days

What's Hawai'i got to do with it? Where does Aloha fit into the Last Days? It's getting real with Pastor Jonathan Steeper--a pastor who refused to shutdown the church during global lockdown, who stood for religious freedom in a national war & looks spiritual war in the eye. After 15 years at Kalihi Union Church, Pastor John reflects on the “gentle” miracles of persistent faith. This is what has lead to the rare sight of many cultures choosing unity under one roof for Christ's sake. If you care about God's true Church, unity, spiritual warfare, religious freedom, & faithful leaders, this conversation will challenge & encourage you. Subscribe, share with a friend; & please comment your greatest takeaway or question... It helps keep ALOHA ALIVE! IG @DawnOBrienHI FB Dawn O'Brien HI www.ChooseAloha.org IG @alohaalivepodcast youtube.com/@AlohaAlivePodcast

How God Turned Ordinary Faith Into Extraordinary Impact

A pastor walking into prison at 14 should not be normal, and yet Pastor Jay Puahi’s story makes one thing clear: God uses the willing, not the polished. We sit down with Pastor Jay and his wife, Sister Shar Puahi of Straight Up Ministry, to talk about what it looks like to live the aloha spirit as action, especially while serving at Wai'anae Boat Harbor among a large community of houseless neighbors on Oahu’s West Side. This is a Hawaii podcast conversation grounded in local culture, faith, and the kind of love that shows up without a script. We also go personal. Jay and Shar share how they first met as kids, reconnected later through church, and learned to build a life that holds both honesty and hope. We talk about recovery, serving when you feel unqualified, and how God can redeem seasons that feel like loss. Jay opens up about the pull of music, travel, and divided priorities, and why time with family is not optional. If you’ve ever felt torn between calling and distraction, this part will hit home. Then we get practical and powerful: prison ministry, speaking life to incarcerated men, and the difference between preaching at people and reaching for them. We even share a jaw dropping testimony about a “free car” that turns into a lesson on faith, expectancy, and God’s timing. We close with a grounded definition of aloha through the ALOHA acronym and a simple statement that frames the whole episode: aloha is not just a word, it’s Jesus. Subscribe for more stories from the heartbeat of Hawai'i, share this with someone who needs hope, and leave a review telling us what aloha looks like in your life. IG @DawnOBrienHI FB Dawn O'Brien HI www.ChooseAloha.org IG @alohaalivepodcast youtube.com/@AlohaAlivePodcast

Aloha Crushes Anger: Mr. Angry vs. Mr. Aloha - Hana HOU!

He’s a beloved Hawaii musician with a reputation for warmth, humor, and that unmistakable “aloha” energy. But what happens when the person everyone loves in public becomes someone his family fears at home? We sit down with Kelly Boy and Leolani Delima for a candid, faith-forward conversation about anger, trauma, marriage, and the long work of healing what you almost lose.  We talk about the hidden cost of masking pain, how childhood trauma can shape adult triggers, and what it feels like to stare at a big empty house after your choices push people away. Kelly Boy shares the night everything broke, the moment he tried to walk out, and the spiritual confrontation that made him turn around and start bowing his life low enough to change. We also get real about the process after the breakthrough: anger may still knock, old habits may still call, but awareness, humility, prayer, and faster forgiveness can keep you moving forward.  Along the way, we dig into family reconciliation, grief, and rebuilding trust, including how unity returns through honest words, restraint, and consistent love. We end with a simple challenge that hits hard: “Aloha comes from you.” Not from the world, not from social media, not from other people acting right. From you.  If you care about anger management, trauma healing, Christian testimony, marriage restoration, and building a healthier family legacy, this conversation will stay with you. Subscribe to Aloha Alive, share it with someone who needs hope, and leave a review with the line that challenged you most. IG @DawnOBrienHI FB Dawn O'Brien HI www.ChooseAloha.org IG @alohaalivepodcast youtube.com/@AlohaAlivePodcast