Overcoming Addiction, Prison & Houselessness—My Sister’s Keeper

Overcoming Addiction, Prison & Houselessness—My Sister’s Keeper

A woman comes out of prison with no titles, no money, and no polished plan and still ends up building one of the most practical, faith-forward outreach efforts in Honolulu. We’re talking with Trisha Maʻani from My Sister’s Keeper, now under the nonprofit umbrella Reckless Love, about prison reentry, addiction recovery, and what it means to serve people who have been written off by everyone else. If you care about homelessness outreach in Hawaii, women’s reentry programs, or community ministry that actually shows up, this conversation goes straight to the heart of it. We walk through what outreach looks like in Kalihi public housing and on the streets: hot meals, ice-cold water, clothing, prayer, and even wound care through Feed the Streets. Trisha shares the kind of “miracles” that don’t fit in a neat slogan, like watching women break free from heroin and fentanyl and choose sobriety in the middle of real pressure. We also tell a powerful story from the women’s prison that connects a child’s desperate love with a mother who had no way to know what was happening outside. Then it gets wild in the best way: a DMV driving test with no car, a prompt to ask a stranger for help, and a brand new vehicle offered on the spot. Add Uber rides that turn into unexpected provision, including Target leaders supplying equipment and food so youth cooking classes can keep going, even without a kitchen. We also talk about dry seasons, the “secret place,” relapse honesty, and why speaking life to youth identity can change a whole trajectory. If this hits you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so more people can find these stories of restoration and real aloha. What part of Trisha’s journey do you want to hear more about? IG @DawnOBrienHI FB Dawn O'Brien HI www.ChooseAloha.org IG @alohaalivepodcast youtube.com/@AlohaAlivePodcast

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 & the generational silence that lets horrific harm repeat. Charlotte shares the reality of being abused at multiple ages, the freeze response that can make a child feel voiceless & the gutting 2024 revelation that forced her to re-see her father & their family history. It’s raw, faith-forward, & 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, & fear of conflict. Join us as we connect the dots of trauma, poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence & incarceration as risk amplifiers. We also talk about why survivors often get re-victimized when they tell others. Then we get practical: Safe & Sacred Touch, body safety education, & a memorable ABCDEF acronym. 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 & supporting survivors with compassion & clarity, listen and share with someone in need. Subscribe, leave a review, and send us your thoughts: what helps a person feel safe enough to speak? If you're in Hawai'i, a great resource organization to contact is www.HoolaNaPua.org.  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