Ep. 15 Overcoming Sudden Death with A-L-O-H-A!

How do you find strength to breathe when tragedy hits SUDDENLY? Lisa Pakele, widow of beloved Hawaiian musician Kaulana Pakele of the Mana'o Company, shares her "suddenly": a sudden heart attack in 2020 during CV19 lockdown. "I just kept breathing," Lisa reveals, describing how she navigated overwhelming grief while raising four children in the public eye. With remarkable courage, she shares the practical wisdom that sustained her: carefully selecting a "Sacred Circle" of a few friends, stepping away from social media, & finding strength in her faith. Her story isn't just about survival—it's about transformation, as she helped her son Dillon complete the "Faith EP" album they had begun with Kaulana before his passing.Drawing from her earlier experiences as a teen Mom who refused to become "a statistic," Lisa demonstrates how past challenges prepared her for facing seemingly insurmountable grief. Now, she's channeling that resilience into building Kaulana's legacy via music collaborations with artists like High Risk, Pacific Blue, Fiji & Sudden Rush. All while supporting Native Hawaiian businesses thru InPeace's Center for Entrepreneurship.At the heart of Lisa's story lies the Hawaiian concept of "lāhui"—community coming together. "We're not made to do this life alone," she reminds us, defining aloha as grace: extending kindness without knowing what others are going through. Her journey shows how protecting your peace, finding your tribe, and taking one faithful step at a time can transform tragedy into purpose.Have you experienced a life-altering loss or challenge? Lisa's story may give you added courage to take that next breath—and the next step forward. E ola ka lāhui! (Long live our ohana!)IG @DawnOBrienHIFB Dawn O'Brien HIwww.ChooseAloha.orgIG @alohaalivepodcastyoutube.com/@AlohaAlivePodcast