Jonathan Kono
Episode 205

Narrator:

Welcome friends to another episode of The Story & Experience Podcast. Join your host, Japhet De Oliveira, with his guest today, and discover the moments that shape us, our families, and communities.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Hey, welcome friends to another episode of The Story & Experience Podcast. I'm here at Adventist Health Castle in Hawaii, and delighted to be able to introduce you to our guest. If you're brand new to the podcast, we have 100 questions, and they progressively become more difficult, and more vulnerable closer to 100. Our guest gets to choose between one, and 100 where they want to go, and I'll ask the first 10, and then we'll hear about stories, and experiences that shape them into the leader that they are today. So, let me begin with the first one. Could you tell us your name, and does anybody ever mispronounce it?

Jonathan Kono:

My name is Jonathan Kono. I go by Jon, and most people don't have a problem mispronouncing it unless English is not their first language.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's fair enough. That's fair enough. That's good. So, you go by Jon, and you're good with that.

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Brilliant.

Jonathan Kono:

And I would say Japhet is an interesting name.

Japhet De Oliveira:

It is. It is.

Jonathan Kono:

If people mispronounce your name sometimes.

Japhet De Oliveira:

A lot. A lot.

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah. Okay.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. Mine a lot more than Jon. So, Jon, what do you do for work?

Jonathan Kono:

I'm a real estate... I'm in the real estate profession. I've been in the real estate profession for 45 years now.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's fantastic.

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. And when you say real estate, you mean housing, or commercial, or private like... Unpack that [inaudible 00:01:35]

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah. I'm a real estate broker. And in my early years, I started with the real estate developer learning the development field, and had an opportunity to join First Hawaiian Bank in their trust, and investments division, and handled all the real estate for the bank, and actually became their vice president, and manager of the real estate department-

Japhet De Oliveira:

Really?

Jonathan Kono:

...in the Trusted investments division. So, different aspects of real estate. I left the bank in 2000, knowing that I'd go back on my own again, hooked up with a large real estate firm. And in 2015, opened my own company. So, I just had my own company, and do my own thing.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Look at that. Well done. Well done. That sounds fantastic. It was good. So, now Jon, where were you born?

Jonathan Kono:

I was born in Sacramento, California.

Japhet De Oliveira:

I live nearby that.

Jonathan Kono:

No kidding?

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

Well, the reason why I was is my parents originally from the Big Island of Hawaii.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay.

Jonathan Kono:

My father went to our college up there in Northern California, Pacific Union College.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yes, I know it well.

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah. And he decided that he wanted to become a minister.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Really?

Jonathan Kono:

And he had a burden to minister to people of Japanese ancestries living in Northern California.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Wow.

Jonathan Kono:

So, after he graduated from college, he went to Sacramento, started knocking on doors. Four families turned into 250 membership, and they actually bought a property, and built a church. So, that's why I was born up there in Sacramento. But they did move back in 1964 at the age of nine.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. A.

Jonathan Kono:

Nd I see you counting your fingers there. I'm 45 years old, so.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, very young. That's really good. We don't know how to count. But you could do real estate. I like this. Hey, that's fantastic. So, now as a child growing up in Sacramento, what did you imagine you want to grow up to be?

Jonathan Kono:

I really didn't have something that I wanted to be. I know a lot of friends, or kids wanted to be like their dad, doctor, or whatever it might be. I was just a kid that wanted to have fun, and really wanted to...

Japhet De Oliveira:

Good for you, man.

Jonathan Kono:

...figure that out. And it kind of reminds me of my older son, when I asked him to question when he was a young boy, "What did you want to be?" And he would say, "Firemen. Policemen." And then he said, "No, I just want to stay home." So, I think he probably got that from his dad anyway.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Actually, a lot of kids wouldn't mind staying home. And it's hard for them. It's next generation.

Jonathan Kono:

It is.

Japhet De Oliveira:

It's very difficult [inaudible 00:04:22] to be honest about that. In many ways, I wonder whether it's harder for them than for us.

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's good. All right. So, you grew up there, and lots of options. So, I've got to ask how you ended up even beginning the path to get into real estate. What drew you into that space?

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah, maybe as a young boy, I always looked at the world, and what made it go around. And the basic thing for anything existing was on land. So, I got very intrigued in how it worked, and that type of thing.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Really?

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah. Started to figure out how you rent, or you own, or you lease, and you buy, and that type of thing. And then that's why the early years of the developer was really interesting to me, because they take a blank piece of property, and turn it into something really useful.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's pretty good. That's great. Jon, are you an early riser, or late night owl?

Jonathan Kono:

Definitely an early riser.

Japhet De Oliveira:

And what's that for you?

Jonathan Kono:

Have been. I'm up by five.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. All right.

Jonathan Kono:

And this is something that I've, I think, done all my life, especially when my kids were growing up, because that's the only time in the morning that I had to myself where I could actually think without being called for this, or that. So, definitely I'm up every morning by five.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. All right. First thought that went through your mind this morning when you woke up.

Jonathan Kono:

I have a routine that you kind of go through that's been quite a while except as soon as I open my eyes, say a little prayer, and thank God for the new day, and then I'm still kicking. Then my second thought would've been have to get to a meeting at the castle, and then a podcast, so.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Well, you're welcome. You're welcome. I'm glad I was in your first thought. It is good. That's good. All right. So, now if people described your personality, would they say you're an extrovert, or an introvert, and would you agree with them?

Jonathan Kono:

They would say extrovert, and I agree, because I know I am. And that's part of the, I think part of the bringing up, because I was a pastor's kid, and you always had to be the example. You always had to be upfront. You always had to be leading a group. But I really love meeting people, and finding out about them, their histories, no matter where I go, even traveling. I'll kick up a conversation, and kind of like to be the life of the parties if there is one anyway.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's great. Or you create the party if there's no party.

Jonathan Kono:

Definitely. I mean, to me, part of life is you got to laugh, and have fun. That's just my monster anyway.

Japhet De Oliveira:

I like that Jon. I like it. When you get up in the morning, do you have water? Oh, by the way, this is your water if you want, but do you have water, coffee, tea? What's your first drink of the day?

Jonathan Kono:

I've always done water on the rocks with lemon.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, nice.

Jonathan Kono:

A slice of lemon.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

Extra cold. Yeah. Everything I drink has to have ice in it. I see. I know some people say, "Hey, that's not good for your health."

Japhet De Oliveira:

You seem to be doing very well [inaudible 00:07:43]

Jonathan Kono:

It keeps me going. Coffee doesn't agree with me.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

I mean, I used to try in college, but it didn't agree with me.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's good.

Jonathan Kono:

I do like tea now, and then if there's an option, I'll drink hot tea after... If we go out to dinner, or something like that, it's got to have a slice of lemon in it.

Japhet De Oliveira:

There you go.

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah. I am Asian, so I like rice in my hot tea, but it's got to be the right type of Japanese tea.

Japhet De Oliveira:

I've never heard anyone ever say that.

Jonathan Kono:

Really?

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

You talk to a lot of, especially Japanese people.

Japhet De Oliveira:

And they'll say rice in their tea.

Jonathan Kono:

They'll eat their meal with rice, and their hot tea. Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's really cool. I've got to ask, do you have lemon trees in your home if you'd have lemons all the time?

Jonathan Kono:

I went to our local nursery here looking specifically for Myers Lemon Tree.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yes.

Jonathan Kono:

I bought it. I planted it. It took a few years. It started fruiting, but they're not Myers lemon. They're like the local brand where they're not the shape, or yellow. They're more like a local lemon. I still use it, but-

Japhet De Oliveira:

Disappointed by tricks.

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Well done for so long.

Jonathan Kono:

I think it was a bait, and switch type of thing. They said Myers lemon, and they sold me something [inaudible 00:08:57].

Japhet De Oliveira:

...That's the best story. That's the best story. Okay, that's great. Hey, this is a leadership question, and I'm going to hand it over to you, but are you a backseat driver?

Jonathan Kono:

At five feet eight, I don't think my feet can rest the paddles. I'm just joking. You know what I mean? I would say no. Well, if you're talking physically in a car, I would let whoever's driving drive. My wife is different because if I'm driving... I call it Hawaiian GPS. I also have so many things in my mind when I jump in a car. Sometimes I forget where I'm going. So, she's there to-

Japhet De Oliveira:

So, maybe it is reflective of you, Jon.

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah. So, if the question is towards a business model, I would say I would be more of a side seat driver where let the person that is driving drive, and if they need some kind of help, or assistance, I'm there for them.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's good. Good. Great. All right. The floor is open, sir. Where would you like to go? Which number? Anywhere between 11, and 100.

Jonathan Kono:

Maybe I'll just start dipping my feet in the water. And go with 11.

Japhet De Oliveira:

11. All right. Tell us about the most adventurous food, or meal you've ever eaten.

Jonathan Kono:

I would have to say I was invited to a client's house for dinner one time, and he said, "My parents from China are here, and they'll make you a meal." So, I went there, and the main dishes were pig's feet, and chicken feet.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Lucky you.

Jonathan Kono:

Well, people here, I mean, eat it, different cultures eat it.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

I never did.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

So, that was a little challenge to eat. Eat something you're not used to.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Did you eat it?

Jonathan Kono:

Oh, I had to. I mean, you had to be polite.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. All right.

Jonathan Kono:

It took me a few minutes to pick out the little hairs that were stuck in my teeth from the pig's feet. But anyway.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Very courageous of you. That's good. All right That was 11. So, where next?

Jonathan Kono:

A little deeper, 12 maybe.

Japhet De Oliveira:

12? Okay. What's your favorite movie, or book of all time?

Jonathan Kono:

Don't go to any movies at the theater. The last one that I went to that I can remember that actually was a good one was The Titanic.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. Back in the day. Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

And I thought that was good because it actually was based on a true story.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Sure. Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

Of course, it was Hollywood type, but it made it interesting. And I felt that what I got out of that is it was an unsinkable ship. No matter how unsinkable you are, there is always something there that could sink you.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, wow. That's not where I thought you were going. Okay, good.

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah. Anyway. I also like from an early age James Bond movies, just because of their international intrigue, their futuristic things that they do in there. In fact, some of the things that they did back then in space, and that type of thing are actually pretty much coming to true today.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah, that's true.

Jonathan Kono:

Anyway, that was a fantasy thing for me to get away, and get...

Japhet De Oliveira:

Do you have an opinion, sir? I have to ask, do you have an opinion of who should be the next James Bond?

Jonathan Kono:

No, not really. Okay. All I know is that Roger Moore, and the last one.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Daniel Craig.

Jonathan Kono:

Daniel Craig.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

Excellent. And I think they've come to the end of their rope where it'd be hard to really find someone who could really replace those chairs.

Japhet De Oliveira:

It's going to be interesting.

Jonathan Kono:

But anyway.

Japhet De Oliveira:

We will have to see.

Jonathan Kono:

How about Japhet?

Japhet De Oliveira:

No, yeah. Sure. I'd be a natural fit. All right. That's great. All right. Where next then? That was 12.

Jonathan Kono:

One more toe dip, 13.

Japhet De Oliveira:

All right. Walk us through the ideal end of your day.

Jonathan Kono:

Well, ideal is not always what happens at the end of the day.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's true. So, just give me a-

Jonathan Kono:

...we got grandkids, so screaming grandkids, and things like that. But I would say if it were an ideal pick, it'd be probably walking on the beach, watching the sunset with a fishing pole in my hand.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Really?

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah. But reality is for me, and relaxation. I love gardening. I always have. So, I got a nice vegetable box garden, growing vegetables. So, I come home, and I talk to my vegetables, and I water them, and they produce for me. So, that-

Japhet De Oliveira:

What's your favorite vegetable?

Jonathan Kono:

My best growing vegetable is a Japanese cucumber that are long, and slim, and crunchy. Yeah. And I have a variety of things that I grow in there, but that would be my eggplant. I got tons of eggplant growing.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's great, man.

Jonathan Kono:

Green beans, stuff like that.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Good for you. So, you have a green fingers for sure.

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah, always had. Versus my wife. Everything she tries to grow turns [inaudible 00:14:05] brown, and dies.

Japhet De Oliveira:

No, I'm not going to forget that. All right. So, where next after 13?

Jonathan Kono:

A little deeper, maybe 16.

Japhet De Oliveira:

16. Okay. Here we go. Tell us about one of the places you traveled to, and why you want to go back.

Jonathan Kono:

That's an interesting question because we just came back from a trip a couple of weeks ago, and actually visited two places that we wanted to revisit.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Well, there you go. So, where the places did you go?

Jonathan Kono:

Well, when my kids got out of college, my wife, and I said, "We're not going back to California because that's where our kids all went to school." So, we go to the farthest place for the cheapest price. I like it. So, we actually got to go to Venice a few years ago, and Istanbul.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Nice. Oh, two great places.

Jonathan Kono:

So, we were just there like three, four weeks ago.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

Love it because of their culture, their history, their food.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

So, anyway, it's amazing that you asked the question, because we were able to live there.

Japhet De Oliveira:

So, now obviously you don't drink coffee, so you never tried the Turkish coffee with the sugar cube behind, or anything?

Jonathan Kono:

No. It's apple tea over there.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Apple tea. Yeah, yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

Hot apple tea.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah, it's true. That's really good.

Jonathan Kono:

Right.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. I got to ask in Istanbul, did you buy a carpet?

Jonathan Kono:

The answer to that is yes. But it's maybe two feet by one foot. They had a lot of little souvenir carpets in there.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

It is amazing.

Jonathan Kono:

It's amazing.

Japhet De Oliveira:

And you try tea at every one of these places?

Jonathan Kono:

Their Apple tea.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

They give it for free if you go to the Bazaar over there.

Japhet De Oliveira:

The Bazaar is amazing. Yeah. Oh, that's great. Good. All right. Where next then? That was 16.

Jonathan Kono:

20. Move up 20.

Japhet De Oliveira:

20. All right. Oh, tell us something that you would say Jon gives this 10 out of 10.

Jonathan Kono:

I like to say when I look in the mirror, me. I'm joking here.

Japhet De Oliveira:

I know. I know.

Jonathan Kono:

My wife would strongly disagree with that one. But anyway, let me think. I would say on part of our travels, Michaelangelo's Pieta in the St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, that is-

Japhet De Oliveira:

Awe-inspiring.

Jonathan Kono:

Awe-inspiring. It's just the... I think he was 23 when he sculptured that.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Really? Wow.

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah. And just the emotion, the beauty of it, I would have to say a 10 out of 10.

Japhet De Oliveira:

It's nice when you see something that draws an emotion out of you.

Jonathan Kono:

Oh.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

That was like jaw dropping.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

Anyway.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, beautiful. Good. Good. Right. Where next then? That was 20. Move up the ladder to 25. 25. All right. Here we go. Ooh. I don't know how you pick this one, but share with us the most beautiful thing you've ever seen, other than what you just said.

Jonathan Kono:

Other than me.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Other than you. Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

I'd have to think 41 years back.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

When my daughter was born here at this hospital. My wife, and I were voted best prepared in the lamaze classes there.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Really? Okay.

Jonathan Kono:

They had lamaze. I don't know if they still did every year, but with a husband, and wife-

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

...prepared. When she started having her contractions, came in, found out that she was breach, and they had to do an emergency C-section, which was very concerning.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

But when she was delivered, and cleaned up, and I saw her face for the first time, I have to say that's still in my mind there. That had to be the most beautiful thing that I can remember. I mean, you got sunsets, and you got this, but this is...

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

You just say there is a God.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yes. Yes.

Jonathan Kono:

There is a God.

Japhet De Oliveira:

There is something beautiful about a child.

Jonathan Kono:

So, in my mind, I would say my daughter.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, hey, that's good.

Jonathan Kono:

And then there were my sons.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. Well, when they listened to us, they're like, "Come on, dad."

Jonathan Kono:

Well, my older boy actually was in stress because the fetal monitor went out. They lost the heartbeat. They had to shove my wife's stomach around to keep hearing the heartbeat.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Wow.

Jonathan Kono:

He came out with the cord wrapped around his neck, and blue. Yeah. But he survived. Yeah, you got to see him today.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Aww, hey. Well, I'm very pleased to hear that. Good for you, man.

Jonathan Kono:

God is good.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. God is good. Absolutely. All right. Where next?

Jonathan Kono:

Try 28 then.

Japhet De Oliveira:

28. If you had to give a 30 minute impromptu presentation, what would it be?

Jonathan Kono:

Probably how I sat through a hundred questions from Japhet, and made it through the day.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, very funny.

Jonathan Kono:

No.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. Well, yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

Impromptu. I think it would have to be how good God is, that type of thing. Because I was raised a pastor's kid, and God has blessed so many things that it'd have to be based on God's goodness probably.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Jon, I have to ask you, this is a bonus question. Why God?

Jonathan Kono:

Because he is. And has been, and will be forever. I mean, there is a God. That's all I can tell you. Based on my life.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Based on your life.

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. Do you find your faith just mingles with your life easily? Do you find it complex?

Jonathan Kono:

I find it very easily, because I've already made the decision that this is a life I'm going to live. And I try to walk the walk, and talk to talk with as many people that I come in contact with, and try to be a blessing to others versus not. That's easy to do.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. That's beautiful, Jon. Thank you. Thank you for sharing that bonus question. All right. Where next, sir?

Jonathan Kono:

Oh, I got to pick another number here.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

27.

Japhet De Oliveira:

27, yeah. Bring us into your kitchen, right? And you're cooking a special meal. What would you be making?

Jonathan Kono:

Probably instant ramen. I actually, I like to cook.

Japhet De Oliveira:

You like to cook. Okay.

Jonathan Kono:

I like to cook. Not the best in the world, but people eat my food.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's a good sign.

Jonathan Kono:

And one thing the family likes, I make a, they call it a chicken katsu here in Hawaii, and you can get it at any restaurant. And it's very simple to make, but for some reason they like mine. So, at least once a week I have to do this for the family.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Are your kids all close by you? They get to see you?

Jonathan Kono:

I have three. My daughter, two years ago, moved to Bend, Oregon with her family.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay.

Jonathan Kono:

Beautiful place. They live out there. Yeah. I have an older son, and he has three kids that they just moved in with us because they're building a home here in Kailua.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay.

Jonathan Kono:

So, we've got them, and that's why I need that garden space at the end of the day. And then I have a younger son that is an architect, and during COVID, he made the plans. We did the extensions, so he's there with his fiance, which he's actually going to get married here in July.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, hey, that's fantastic, man.

Jonathan Kono:

Might have more grandkids. I got five now.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, hey, that's great. Grandkids are the best. I'm looking forward to that myself one day. Yeah. Good, good. All right. Where next? That was 27.

Jonathan Kono:

35.

Japhet De Oliveira:

35. Share a special interest, or unique talent that you have.

Jonathan Kono:

I'm not that talented. I would say let's pick interest. It's not easy for me. My wife, and I are into shell collecting.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Really? Okay.

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah. No matter where we go, no matter what beach you're on, we're looking for shells. We have a pretty extensive collection.

Japhet De Oliveira:

How do you display them, or store them?

Jonathan Kono:

Oh, yeah. They're up on all of our shelves. They're in bottles. They're in jars. They're on the cabinets.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, nice.

Jonathan Kono:

All different sizes. My wife loves the micro shells. They're really tiny ones.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay.

Jonathan Kono:

She'll sit ours, and just pick. But she makes jewelry boxes.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, really?

Jonathan Kono:

Frames, mirrors. And it's beautiful because these are Hawaiian shells, and a lot of them are really unique to Hawaii.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, wow.

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah. So, even when we travel, if we're at someplace that has an ocean, and sand, and [inaudible 00:22:51] there, we're picking through them.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Hey, that's great. That's great. Good, good. All right. Where next?

Jonathan Kono:

45.

Japhet De Oliveira:

45.

Jonathan Kono:

I'm going deeper here.

Japhet De Oliveira:

All right, Jon. Tell us about when people come to you for help, what are they usually asking for?

Jonathan Kono:

Money.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. All right. Fair enough.

Jonathan Kono:

Which I don't have.

Japhet De Oliveira:

But they seem to come to you often. Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

I would have to say real estate advice because that's been my-

Japhet De Oliveira:

Entire life.

Jonathan Kono:

...entire occupation, and life here real estate for various reasons, and questions, and whether should this, or do that. And my wife, and I, one thing that we've done since the late 1990s is work on... We were some of the original fixer upper weekend warrior type people. We just do everything ourselves.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's great.

Jonathan Kono:

A lot of times people are coming asking how to do this, and how to do that.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. So, you like that as well, fixing a home up?

Jonathan Kono:

My wife, and I, [inaudible 00:23:51] we love it. It's like sometimes taking a canvas, and making it your own.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. Yeah. That's fantastic. I like that. I like that metaphor as well, the canvas.

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Good. All right. Where next?

Jonathan Kono:

55, I guess.

Japhet De Oliveira:

55. All right. Share something with us that frightens you.

Jonathan Kono:

Heights.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Which one? Lights?

Jonathan Kono:

Heights.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Heights. Oh, heights.

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah. I've never liked heights.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah, I'm with you, man. Same.

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah. But I guess the more you go to heights, and experience that, I guess the better you come over your fear of heights. I always feel like someone's going to push me. Somebody I wasn't good to.

Japhet De Oliveira:

You've read the wrong books. Hey, that's fair enough. All right. Next, that was 55.

Jonathan Kono:

65.

Japhet De Oliveira:

65. All right. Share one word that you could use to describe your past, and then unpack it for us.

Jonathan Kono:

I would just say maybe blessed, because I didn't do everything the right way. I had to learn a lot of things the hard way because I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Fair enough. Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

But somehow through it all, again, good God got me through things. And I like to quote a text here if I may.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah, please.

Jonathan Kono:

My favorite is Proverbs three: five, and six, "Trust in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your path." And that's my prayer every morning.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Amen. Amen. That's a good prayer.

Jonathan Kono:

I use it, and I know that's why with involvement with Castle, I know I'm here for a reason, but anyway.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. You love this place, this hospital. Yeah. Yeah. But I can see that you're a personally investing community.

Jonathan Kono:

Very much so.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. Yeah. It's important to you. All right. That was 65. So, where next? I like blessed, by the way. That's good.

Jonathan Kono:

Let me see. 60. Let's go to 83.

Japhet De Oliveira:

83. Think about your favorite childhood memory. What was it? You got a smile on your face.

Jonathan Kono:

Maybe the ice cream truck going around the block.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, yeah?

Jonathan Kono:

But anyway, I would have to say my father took us on cross country trips when I was a young boy still living in Sacramento twice, actually. We'd pick up our grandparents in Los Angeles. He loved to drive. There were, at that time, four kids, two grandparents, a station wagon, and it looked like the Chevy Chase movies. All the bags on top of the car.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Was anyone strapped to the roof?

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah, when I wasn't behaving, it was me. But we went from West Coast to East Coast twice, different routes. One lower, one higher. So, we got to see... He left to go to the national parks. Mount Rushmore, Carlsbad Cavern, Wyoming, and the geysers, and all the way to the Statue of Liberty.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's beautiful.

Jonathan Kono:

And back.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

And the memories were fun ones because you drive all day. Find a little ratty motel in the evening that said swimming pool, and TV, and the pool would be green with moss, and the TV would be rolling. Get up in the morning, drive all day, find another-

Japhet De Oliveira:

Motel.

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah. Five star motels.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Big five star motel.

Hey, but those were good memories.

Jonathan Kono:

Great memories. I mean, that was all family time.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. Exactly.

Jonathan Kono:

People I don't think do that much anymore. I don't know. There's too much technology now.

Japhet De Oliveira:

No, I hear you. I hear. That's good. It's good. All right, Jon. Last number. Where do you want to go with your last number?

Jonathan Kono:

90. Might as well take the deep dive.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Let's go deep dive then.

Jonathan Kono:

94.

Japhet De Oliveira:

All right. 94. If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?

Jonathan Kono:

I would say all the hatred, the love, because the world now has just gone too far.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Jonathan Kono:

I mean, everybody's at war with each other. I think they need to get rid of all the hate.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. Yeah. I agree.

Jonathan Kono:

And give peace a chance.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Give peace a chance. I agree. Oh, I like that. That's actually a good word to end on a good word to think about for everybody in life. Give peace a chance.

Jonathan Kono:

Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. I like that. Jon, thank you for taking the time to be able to share.

Jonathan Kono:

My pleasure, Japhet. It was a pleasure meeting you.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Absolutely. Yeah. And I want to encourage people to do the same thing. Sit down, talk to a friend. I believe by asking good questions, listening to each other, we become better human beings for it.

Jonathan Kono:

Definitely. Did you create this podcast? Is that your brainstorm?

Japhet De Oliveira:

A while ago.

Jonathan Kono:

I want to congratulate you because I think whatever you're doing is like I like to do when I talk with people is find out about them, and then you can find out.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yes.

Jonathan Kono:

And then you can find out, get rid of the hate, and do the peace thing type of thing because it's a barrier where people don't communicate.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's true. I am actually blessed by the stories I hear always. And I'm growing all the time just by listening, and hearing yours as well today, it's just as encouraging. I think it's a good thing to be positive, to think of peace. And I think we need a little bit more love, and peace.

Jonathan Kono:

Definitely.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah, absolutely. Jon it's been a pleasure. God blessed everybody else, and we will connect again soon. So, thanks again.

Jonathan Kono:

My pleasure.

Narrator:

Thank you for joining us for The Story & Experience Podcast. We invite you to read, watch, and submit your story, and experience at adventisthealth.org/story. The Story & Experience Podcast was brought to you by Adventist Health through the Office of Culture.