The Aloha EQ Podcast

Aloha! 🌺 I’m Ruth Kongaika, an emotional intelligence guide shaped by 36 years of life in the islands of the South Pacific. After raising my own family across cultures and generations, I’ve learned that emotional intelligence isn’t just something we teach—it’s how we live, love, and lead every day. 💛

Around here, heart and science come together with island wisdom. 🌴 We’ll talk about how to raise resilient, emotionally aware kids, how to stay calm when big feelings show up, and how to build the kind of relationships that feel safe, loving, and real. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, caregiver, or simply someone who wants more peace in your home, you’re in the right place.

Join me for real-life stories (the kind we usually only share in the kitchen after dinner 🥥), practical tools you can use right away, and a gentle ocean breeze for your soul. 🌊 Together, we’ll learn how to worry less, connect more, and create families where everyone feels seen, heard, and loved. 💫

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Episodes

Thursday Sep 18, 2025

Since the podcast is about emotional intelligence, this episode explains what emotions are as well as why they are important. There are stories from the islands about how different parents teach their children regarding emotional intelligence. It is also perceived that there is less worry in the South Pacific Islands. Ruth's husband from Tonga did not even know a word for it. It was suggested that community and attachment to the land serve as a comforting tie for children from the islands. 

Thursday Sep 11, 2025

Sometimes the world feels a little like my kitchen after my grandkids come over. Everyone is running around, voices are raised, and I can't find the spatula to save my life. But in moments like this, emotional intelligence becomes our anchor. Emotional intelligence is not the opposite of intelligence; it is not the triumph of heart over head - it is the unique intersection of both (Daniel Goleman). Let's hold our heads high while keeping our hearts soft, even when life feels stormy. The words we choose can either calm the waters or stir them up. That's true in our homes, our neighborhoods, and even in the way nations speak to one another. 
Every time you respond with emotional intelligence, you're not just calming the storm - you're teaching others how to paddle with you.

Saturday Aug 30, 2025

Instead of concentrating on what emotional intelligence is, this episode is focused on what EQ is NOT. It is not many things, and there are quotes, and many explanations about what emotional intelligence is not and why it is so. It ends with a beautiful story about a boy who changed his family completely because of his pure way to look at the world. If you like this episode, please like and share it with someone you love. Email Ruth at rkongaika@gmail.com with questions or if you would like to be a guest on her podcast. 

Friday Aug 22, 2025

From elephants to Einstein, emotional intelligence is anything but boring. It's the key to surviving and thriving - in this wild ride we call life. With stories, quotes, facts, and even a little bit of India, you are sure to enjoy this episode of The Aloha EQ Podcast. Find out why emotional intelligence is your superpower, and also why you should embrace your emotions and let EQ be your guide. 

EQ in Every Hello

Thursday Aug 14, 2025

Thursday Aug 14, 2025

This fun podcast shares the unique greetings from several of the islands of the South Pacific, their origins, meanings, and accompanying gestures. A special guest speaker, 'Isileli Tupou, also shares his feelings about the greeting expression, Si'oto'ofa in Tongan, and how it has influenced his life. He shares true stories of his youth and work experiences while living in Tonga. You won't want to miss this episode of The Aloha EQ Podcast that has been created for your education and entertainment. Learn the rich heritage of the islands where the Kongaika's lived, as well as those they have visited and others that are within the South Pacific. 

Friday Aug 08, 2025

Can emotional intelligence make a difference in the role of a fahu. Learn what a fahu is and what her responsibilities are in the Tongan society. Listen as the host, Ruth Kongaika, interviews her daughter Liana, who is the fahu in her family. The questions she asks blend personal reflection, cultural insight, and emotional intelligence themes. Share this episode with others in the Polynesian community and please like and comment. 

Thursday Jul 31, 2025

Living in a fast-paced world, many families feel disconnected, burnt out, or unsure of how to create peace at home. This episode shares five powerful ways to bring the village spirit into your modern parenting, wherever you are. 

Two Worlds, One Heart

Monday Jul 28, 2025

Monday Jul 28, 2025

I didn't grow up in the islands. I grew up in the land of fry sauce, snow-capped mountains, and "I'm fine" said with a tight smile. Emotions were a bit like Jell-O salad: colorful, but often covered up and served with whipped cream. Then I moved to the South Pacific Islands. Let's just say, it was like going from muted pastels to full technicolor. Suddenly, emotions weren't something you hid in your journal; they were woven into daily life like the laughter of kids chasing chickens.  I talk about some obvious differences between the places I have lived and share my gratitude for both worlds. I tell what the differences are and explain how they both bring much to my life and contribute to my coaching parents and teaching about emotional intelligence. 

Hawaiian Style EQ

Saturday Jul 26, 2025

Saturday Jul 26, 2025

After living in Hawaii for 21 years, I was exposed to Hawaiian pidgin, which I enjoyed hearing. This is a brief preview of some of the idioms and humor heard by parents raising children in Hawaii. Please excuse the very poor accent. I thought it might be fun to get an idea of how some keiki (children) are brought up in the Hawaiian Islands. It is emotional intelligence, Hawaiian pidgin style. Not all people in Hawaii speak pidgin, but several do. If you want a list of several pidgin words or phrases, send an email to rkongaika@gmail.com requesting it.

The First of Aloha EQ Podcast

Wednesday Jul 23, 2025

Wednesday Jul 23, 2025

Introduction to The Aloha EQ  Podcast

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