In April last year (2023), I decided to learn another new skill: podcasting. Sometimes you start a new adventure because you want to do something new, or learn more about a place, or topic. And sometimes, when we are lucky, and have the intention to do so, we also learn more about ourselves. This was the case with the first episode of Ola Ka Moku (Our Island Thrives). I met Eric Paul through my membership in the BNI networking group, Waimea Professionals. Eric is the Executive Director at West Hawaii Mediation Center, a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency that works to restore peace in our community by helping people resolve conflict. Eric coined the phrase, by the way, creating soft spaces for hard conversations.
As a part of the BNI networking group, each week we would schedule time to meet with other BNI-ers to find out more about their business, their business needs and who they want to connect to. I have a strong, working sense of curiosity – lots of people think that finding solutions is about knowing the answers. But that skips over the largest piece of the solution process, and thatʻs asking the right questions. Your sense of curiosity can lead you to places you never thought youʻd be (like running for office!) if you donʻt ask questions to know the answer, but to just learn more. I asked Eric what one of his favorite programs is thatʻs less well known by regular folks like me on Hawaii Island and he replied, “Our restorative justice program.” After further inquiry, I had learned enough to know that I didnʻt know enough about this incredible program that
- was already funded to some degree and happening on Hawaii Island
- is a reconciliation process that has indigenous roots and creates a safe space for emotional healing
- keeps people out of the criminal justice system through mediation
- is a connective rather than transactional process, and
- has healing and restoration as a primary outcome
After following up with Eric, he introduced me to Tim Hansen, former restorative justice program manager for the Hawaii County Prosecutor’s Office, and Jo Anne Balberde-Kamalii, a former conflict resolution practitioner with East Hawaii Mediation. She’s also one of the original conflict resolution practitioners with East Hawaii Mediation and is now with Liliʻuokalani Trust.
We held this interview more than once before we released it; the first time, my interviewer had technical difficulties and we rescheduled the interview. It was meant to be that I hosted this discussion with Eric, JoB and Tim. Their knowledge and heart-centeredness sets the stage for leaning in to how more funding for the continuance and expansion of this program pivots our island community toward a horizon in which we learn and grow together in the soft spaces we can create to hold the hard conversations… and heal together.
I open the interview saying, “Transformative conversations necessarily move to the edge and edges are dangerous. You know, we always tell our kids, “Hey, kids don’t go near the edge” the edges are dangerous, edges are where complexity and conflict lie. But also where the greatest possibilities, and unknown outcomes lie. ” Join me and these visionary, action-oriented community healers for a great conversation about the Restorative Justice program. Youʻll not only learn about this program, but about the people involved, and about me and how I navigate through the depths of this conversation. I think I even say at one point that my brain was literally getting smarter just talking with them. I hope you enjoy it!