In this episode, Celeste Connors, the new President of the East‑West Center in Honolulu, shares how Hawaiʻi’s core value of aloha can guide global diplomacy. Raised in Hawaiʻi with over 25 years of experience as a U.S. diplomat and policy advisor, she brings a distinctive island‑rooted perspective to international relations. Listeners will hear stories of how aloha values such as care, respect, and relationality shape complex global conversations and foster meaningful cross‑cultural connections. Influenced by her dear friend and colleague, the late Pono Shim, she reflects on how Hawaiʻi can serve as a bridge within the Asia-Pacific region, cultivating mutual understanding and shared values through the work of the East‑West Center - and beyond. This conversation offers a fresh, values-driven vision of diplomacy that centers humanity and hope. Episode Highlights 01:56 Celeste Connors' Career Journey 03:41 First Foreign Service Assignment 04:30 International Assignments and Graduate School 06:36 Return to the White House 07:58 Sustainability and the SDGs 10:08 Returning to Hawaii 12:09 Hawaii Green Growth and Community Impact 19:16 Meeting Pono Shim and Coming Home 27:11 The Essence of Aloha in Achieving SDGs 27:58 Hawaii's Leadership and the Aloha+ Challenge 29:53 Hawaii's Next Generation of Leaders 33:56 Reflections on Global Movements and Peace Seekers 35:42 Hopes for Hawaii's Economic Future 39:09 Honoring Pono Shim 48:21 The Role of the East West Center 54:06 Final Reflections Resources East–West Center — https://www.eastwestcenter.org/ Hawaii Green Growth — https://www.hawaiigreengrowth.org/ Aloha+ Challenge — https://dashboard.hawaii.gov/aloha-challenge/ (Aloha+ Challenge Dashboard) Aina Aloha Economic Futures — https://www.ainaalohafutures.com/ United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — https://sdgs.un.org/goals
In this episode, Celeste Connors, the new President of the East‑West Center in Honolulu, shares how Hawaiʻi’s core value of aloha can guide global diplomacy. Raised in Hawaiʻi with over 25 years of experience as a U.S. diplomat and policy advisor, she brings a distinctive island‑rooted perspective to international relations. Listeners will hear stories of how aloha values such as care, respect, and relationality shape complex global conversations and foster meaningful cross‑cultural connections. Influenced by her dear friend and colleague, the late Pono Shim, she reflects on how Hawaiʻi can serve as a bridge within the Asia-Pacific region, cultivating mutual understanding and shared values through the work of the East‑West Center - and beyond. This conversation offers a fresh, values-driven vision of diplomacy that centers humanity and hope.
Episode Highlights
01:56 Celeste Connors' Career Journey
03:41 First Foreign Service Assignment
04:30 International Assignments and Graduate School
06:36 Return to the White House
07:58 Sustainability and the SDGs
10:08 Returning to Hawaii
12:09 Hawaii Green Growth and Community Impact
19:16 Meeting Pono Shim and Coming Home
27:11 The Essence of Aloha in Achieving SDGs
27:58 Hawaii's Leadership and the Aloha+ Challenge
29:53 Hawaii's Next Generation of Leaders
33:56 Reflections on Global Movements and Peace Seekers
35:42 Hopes for Hawaii's Economic Future
39:09 Honoring Pono Shim
48:21 The Role of the East West Center
54:06 Final Reflections
Resources
East‑West Center – Promoting Asia‑Pacific dialogue and research
Hawaiʻi Green Growth – Advancing sustainable growth and environmental stewardship
Aloha+ Challenge – Hawaiʻi’s statewide sustainability and SDG initiative
Aloha+ Challenge Program Details – Learn more about Hawaiʻi’s action plan for the SDGs
Aina Aloha Economic Futures – Supporting Hawaiʻi’s sustainability and community initiatives
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – Global framework for sustainable development