Hawaii Matters

" Vax to School Hawaii " for back-to-school... Guests Dr. Jennifer Mbuthia ( Hawaii Department of Health - Immunization Branch Physician Consultant) and Sarah Hipp ( Hawaii Department of Health - School Health Coordinator) help with guidelines as Hawaii students return to school as 7th graders, are new to our islands, and give tips on planning your well-child visit with your child's...

Guests Austin Babayan and Scott Nattenberg share their stories before and after becoming residents at  Habilitat . The Kailua-based rehabilitation treatment center has a better than 60% success rate and assists graduates with temporary transitional housing and job placement. Habilitat has a variety of fundraising campaigns throughout the year, like their " Driving for Change " golf tourn...

(original air date: March 2026) ICSpark offers a free course on website development to students grade 6 to 12 in Hawaii. Guests Briana Lee, Coleman Lau, Dominic Lau, and David Rickards share their experiences as former participants and current mentors at the UH at Manoa. The ICSpark Spring Showcase will present projects from the course is set for Saturday, April 25, 2026. Hawaii Department of Land...

(original air date: February 22, 2026) Guest Nicki Ann Thompson, Administrator of Taxation Services and Processing of Hawai’i State Department of Taxation, shares information on Hawaii Individual Income Tax filing in 2026, for the 2025 Tax season. General information includes who needs to file in Hawai’i, the basic forms to use when filing, and paperwork needed to complete your filing.  Nicki Ann...

Original air date: July 2024 | Gabby Gouveia and her husband Kaeo founded their non-profit Let Grace In , in memory of their son Grayson. As a young child, Grayson was diagnosed with a terminal illness. While Gabby and Kaeo would learn about the affects of treatment to help their son, they would also meet other patients and families living with the death of a loved one. They didn't have a way...

Small yet mighty! That could best describe your kidneys and Dr. Thomas Chen , Chief of Nephrology at Kaiser Permanente Hawaii , talks kidney disease and simple ways to get on track to more healthy living. Cheri Sepasi, Member Education Specialist with Kaiser Permanente Hawaii , shares how members can get lifestyle recommendations on food menus, recipes, exercise routines, and also group support. M...

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness month and screening guidelines begin at age 45 through 74 years old. Christina Teel ( Hawaii Department of Health Cancer Programs Coordinator ) and Dr. Ankur Jain (Gastroenterologist) talk on the importance for early detection, understanding the types of screenings available, and how to start the conversation. Visit Get Screened Hawaii today for detail...

ICSpark gives students grades 6 to 12 a chance to fine tune computer programming or discover if coding is a good fit for their creativity. ICSpark Vice President Briana Lee , mentors Coleman Lau , Dominic Lau , and webmaster David Rickards share their experiences teaching students the ways of html and Java Script. Spring 2026's class for ICSpark's "Intro to Web Development" is in...

Zoe Lewis, Executive Director of AccesSurf Hawaii , was introduced to the non-profit organization while enjoying the south shore surf of Oahu. AccesSurf Hawaii celebrates its 20th year of helping Hawaii residents and their families enjoy surfing, a canoe ride, or learning to swim (in a pool setting). Safety and inclusion are top of mind, with hundreds of volunteers assisting from sign up, check-in...

Guest Nicki Ann Thompson, Administrator of Taxation Services and Processing of Hawai’i State Department of Taxation, shares information on Hawaii Individual Income Tax filing in 2026, for the 2025 Tax season. General information includes who needs to file in Hawai’i, the basic forms to use when filing, and paperwork needed to complete your filing.  Nicki Ann Thompson included a few websites for mo...

Dane Lam's enthusiasm for live symphonic music is contagious, and the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra is welcoming music fans of all levels to experience, learn, and bring others to the fun. As HSO's first-ever Musical Director, he works to bring top-tier artists to lead or accompany the 80-members strong orchestra. Dane Lam talks on the continuing music in schools program, the popular Masterwor...

Dr. Jennifer Mbuthia wants you to understand that feeling unwell means calling your PCP (Primary Care Physician) and getting a proper diagnosis for treatment.  What are the signs of a “common cold”, influenza, and other respiratory ailments?   Dr. Mbuthia discusses what a flu vaccination or flu shot is, basic ways you can keep healthy through the year, and the general differences between having al...

Meli James, co-founder of  ⁠Mana Up⁠ , knows the work it takes to select an idea and the steps to nurture it into a successful business.   Mana Up, a Hawaii-based accelerator, is an option for small businesses who want to expand - but are they ready to grow their leadership, upscale their manufacturing ability, or adjust their brand identity? That is part of their cohort application process and if...

Hawaii Matters, Hana Hou  is a listen back with excerpts featuring past guests and this episode includes:David Sun-Miyashiro (Executive Director of ⁠HawaiiKidsCAN⁠ ) imagined how a student could benefit from a specialized menu to courses, educators, and even the school campus or classroom. As a former teacher, he understands its the cooperation of the parents, the child, and the access. Where to b...

Hawaii Matters, Hana Hou  is a listen back with excerpts featuring past guests and this episode includes: Maila Gibson-Bandmann , a Realtor with Coldwell Banker and their insights on the Hawaii real state market can help those who are at various stages in property ownership. This excerpt highlights what sellers can do to prepare their house, condo, or office space - and what buyers can look for wh...

Hawaii Matters, Hana Hou  is a listen back with excerpts featuring past guests and this episode includes:Kasey Crispin, Communications Lead – Hawai’i 'Ulu Cooperative / Local Farming, Agriculture, Sustainability  Kasey Crispin, Communications Lead with the Hawaii ‘Ulu Cooperative, shares her personal experience as a Hawaii Island farmer on the rewards and challenges of stewarding the land that...

Hawaii Matters, Hana Hou  is a listen back with excerpts featuring past guests and this episode includes: Elizabeth Pickett, Co-Executive Director of the ⁠Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization⁠ , Elizabeth has a strong love for the ocean, and it was there that she discovered the connection of land to sea. The watersheds, the farms, the natural wildlife species, and fauna in Hawai’i could cease t...

Edie Mayeshiro, Medical Assistance Program Officer,  Hawaii Department of Human Services – Medquest Division , and her team are encouraging families to create and keep healthy habits. The Hawai’i Child Wellness Incentive Program (HCWIP) , created by the Hawai’i State Legislature, supports keiki health with an incentive card for each child who completes a well-child exam once a year.  Find out if t...

Hawaii Matters, Hana Hou  is a listen back with excerpts featuring past guests and this episode includes:Molly Schmidt, CEO of the American Red Cross, Pacific Islands Region , recognizes the works of volunteerism on a grassroots level and how it can inform an individual to do more for their community. She shares the need for everyday people to brush up on their CPR certification, take a babysittin...

Hawaii Matters, Hana Hou  is a listen back with excerpts featuring past guests and this episode includes: Amanda Luning, Executive Director of Hawaii FASD / Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders education and prevention   Amanda Luning was a volunteer with ⁠ Hawaii FASD ⁠ for almost a decade before becoming their ⁠Executive Director.⁠ Her work with children, young adults, and older adults has helped he...

David Sun-Miyashiro (Executive Director of HawaiiKidsCAN ) imagined how a student could benefit from a specialized menu to courses, educators, and even the school campus or classroom. As a former teacher, he understands its the cooperation of the parents, the child, and the access. Where to begin? The 2026 Hawaii K-12 Parent-School Expo is set for January 25, 2026 at Bishop Museum’s Atherton Halau...

Tati Guzman knows Medicare! As an HMSA health plan specialist and the daughter of a 92-year old (!) parent, she understands how overwhelming options and enrollment can seem at first. Tati gives an overview of what Medicare is, when to sign up, and why the dates "October 15 through December 7" are brought up annually (answer: that's Open Enrollment time for Medicare). In this conversa...

Hawaii Matters, Hana Hou  is a listen back with excerpts featuring past guests and this episode includes:Randall Tiu is a HIOSH Administration and Technical Support Branch Manager . He believes the more employers understand about the overall safety of their workspace or job site leads to better morale, stronger communication, and a healthier staff.  HIOSH offers many courses that are good refreshe...

Mele Pepa Latu is the Executive Director at Aloha Harvest , Oahu’s largest food recovery organization that helps direct food surplus to partner agencies for redistribution. They work with restaurants and other eateries to ensure safe, clean, and efficient travel for each delivery, every day across our island.  This non-profit has several volunteering opportunities  that include work on local farms...

HMSA ’s Maricel Blackwell speaks with local businesses, employers who want to provide great health coverage and their employees who like options. What is a good health insurance plan? Are employees interested in fitness plan options? Too many choices can also overwhelm decision makers and  HMSA has in person/virtual chats to help clear a path for you and your unique company’s needs. Kathy With a K...