Meet Ke Kai Kealoha

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ke Kai Kealoha. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ke Kai below.

Hi Ke Kai, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

In an ah ha moment I realized my life purpose is to share Hawaiian cultural practices by leading with aloha, one Kealoha way at a time.

I started Aloha Chicks, a home, professional and elder personal assistance service, seven years ago. Starting a business? I knew nothing so I figured I’d write a business plan and it would take me 360 in and out of what a business owner should know or at least be aware of before taking the plunge. One of the early exercises was to be clear about the mission and vision. This little bit is what ultimately lead me to my ah ha.

Aloha Chicks top to bottom, inside and out is built from Hawaiian Cultural Traditions and Kealoha Practices. A quick scan of my website (www.AlohaChicks) or social media (@alohachicks), you can feel the Hawaiian Culture ooze from the page in a way that is shared one Kealoha experience at a time. Three years into operating Aloha Chicks, the light came on: I was serving my clients by sharing aloha, one Kealoha way at a time.

My steps since, overwhelmingly affirms ‘I’m on the right track’.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Ok. Let’s start with my name. I was given my grandmother’s name, Hoku o Ke Kai Kealoha, however I grew up answering to Ke Kai Kealoha. I’m 5th generation, born and raised on the island of O’ahu, Hawaii. My family and heritage deeply shaped my life as I lived, worked, and studied in Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, Micronesia, and across the continental U.S. In 2015, the Central Coast and San Luis Obispo County called to me, and now I make my home in San Luis Obispo.

With 35+ years of sales, marketing, operations and administration experience across several industries as an office, operations, account and project manager, I launched Aloha Chicks, a for-profit business based in San Luis Obispo, California in 2018. I support overwhelmed families in the home, exhausted business owners in the office, and elders who need caring help. I bring to the table all of my background, knowledge, and experiences to serve my clients with gentle-yet-competent personal assistance. I love when I help families and professionals declutter, organize and assist by removing the burden of physical and mental clutter. This shows up either as a space declutter and organizing project or as a personal assistant to people’s daily life.

My cultural and familial upbringing honors the Hawaiian traditions and Kealoha practices in a way that allows me to lead with aloha, one Kealoha way at a time. One may ask, how does that make a difference? When your clients say, “When Ke Kai visits, I feel like I’m the only one in the world.” or “You will not find a stronger work ethic, more proficiency, or kinder soul.” you know it takes more than one person to make people feel this way. It takes a tribe and I’m proud to say my tribe is with me, always.

When starting a business, it’s like creating a human being with heart and soul. For Aloha Chicks, it’s soul is Hawaiian and its spirit is Aloha. It wasn’t surprising my instinct was to go within. I examined what was important to me and reflected on my upbringing. From there it was ‘Ohana, Kuleana, Kākou, Pono and Ho’oponopono. These are Hawaiian practices of family, responsibility, togetherness, balance/just and forgiveness/reconciliation, respectively. All of these practices make up how Aloha Chicks came to be, how it presents itself, how it connects and engages, how it solves problems, how it communicates and how it serves the community.

Through messaging I’m able to share more of the Aloha Chicks’ intelligence and practices. Some people find helpful information through ‘What you can do in 5 minutes’ and ‘Decluttering Question’ in my @alohachicks social media platforms. Others learn a little bit of what Aloha Chicks offers through the ‘Alphabet’ Post. And finally, Hawaiian Culture is shared through the ‘Hawaiian Word’ and ‘Talk Story’ series in the Coconut Wireless.

Knowing that when I step into a space, a home, an office, a discussion, a life, I am there with Aloha; generations of cultural intelligence and familial wisdom; one Kealoha way at a time, is the true hidden gem of Aloha Chicks.

One may ask is there a next? Yes there is. Look for Leading with Aloha, Making the Human Potential Better, in the days to come.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

For me I looked to my upbringing including cultural and familial practices. The practice of ‘Ohana, Kuleana, Kākou, Pono and Ho’oponopono are as relevant and valuable in our space, workplace, and our community, as it is in our person.

I believe we all have the capacity and power to be who we want to be. Time and practice paves the way to “do better and be better”.

The hidden gem is taking steps forward. Whether it’s with cultural practices, or your own sense of values. I believe, each step is a step to leading with aloha and making the human potential better in you and those who you impact.

Let’s IMUA together!

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

This question begs me to start at the age of 4. Without a doubt it was my Junior Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Peterson and my parents. With them at that time, I learned how to believe in myself and honor my differences regardless of the external cruelty.

Since then, there have been numerous people who have affected me in all sorts of ways and the lessons aren’t always revealed at the time they are experienced but when they are necessary. However in recent years, three women, Liz Christoffersen, Karen Wilson and Kate Martin have been instrumental in my journey to embrace leading with aloha.

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