Well-known local comedian Frank De Lima visited Island Pacific Academy elementary students to share an important message: how the spirit of Aloha can motivate you in everything you do. “Aloha means more than hello and goodbye,” he explained. “Aloha is a spirit. It will help you; push you to do the things that are right in life, for your life.” His visit to IPA was just one of the 150 school visits he has on his schedule for this year’s work with Frank De Lima’s Student Enrichment Program. Incorporating his collection of localized songs and skits, De Lima delivered simple but powerful life lessons with brilliant comedic timing.
Frank De Lima let the students know that as an elementary student he initially had trouble focusing in class but asked for help and received it from supportive teachers.
He began his talk by asking his young audience three questions: “How many of you here want to graduate from high school and be college and career ready? How many people want to live to the age of 80 or more and still be able to boogie? How many people want to live in a world that has only aloha?” For each question, everyone’s hands went up immediately along with some shout outs of “me, me, me!”
After showing the students that they all wanted the same things, De Lima then explained how living their lives with Aloha could help them accomplish their goals. “How do you show Aloha Spirit in the classroom, boys and girls? You focus and behave so that your teacher can share her time with everyone in the classroom, life is about sharing. You treat your body with Aloha by eating the right things but not too much, drinking water, getting exercise and enough sleep. You learn to treat others with Aloha and that starts right here,” he told them as he gestured to their classrooms.
To get these messages and meanings across, De Lima was quite candid with the student group sharing some boyhood memories. He even confessed to the young audience that as a school-aged child he often had trouble knowing when it was appropriate to daydream. “I did it any old time,” he laughed. “But then I realized that I needed to focus in class so that I could learn. Focus so you can do well in school, get your homework done, pass your tests, and finally be able to choose the work you love to do some day.”
De Lima delighted our elementary students during his recent visit and motivational talk about Aloha during which he also shared some basic “rules” for being a comedian.
The work that De Lima loves is using his natural gift of comedy as a motivational speaker to Hawaii school children. His series of talks held in public and private schools is heading into 36 years running. He admits his pace has slowed compared to the 1980s and 90s when a typical daily schedule included three school visits during the day, a workout at the gym, some time in the office, and then stand-up comedy until 2:00am.
According to De Lima, to be a truly successful comedian, even telling jokes should be done with Aloha. He shared another set of three questions that he felt would help students know if a joke they wanted to tell would be well-received. “It’s okay to be funny and tell jokes. But before you tell your joke to someone, ask the person this: 1) Are you busy? 2) Would you like to hear a joke or song? 3) Would you like to hear a joke about _____?” De Lima warned the potential comedians, “If you get a “Yes” to number 1 or a “No” to number 2 or 3, don’t tell your joke.” He also reminded students to be mindful of what they share or say on social pages because, “You don’t have a chance to ask all the people who might read your joke those important questions first.”
As a reminder, he encouraged the students to go home and write the word “aloha” on a piece of paper, embellish it however they liked, and then place that paper where they would see it every morning: the bathroom mirror. “That way you will see it when you get up in the morning and brush your teeth…and I hope you do brush your teeth, right?!” he admonished them as they all laughed along. “Aloha should be in your words, your brain, your heart, and in everything you do.”
