Hawaii Matters

In this episode, we talk to Leo Rodas, the Director of Hope Center Hawaii . It's the local affiliate of the worldwide organization helping people break free from addictive behavior. We'll hear how Hope Center works, the prevalence of substance addiction in Hawaii, methods, and their success rate.

Hawaii Congressman Ed Case joins us this week to talk about the first few months of the Trump administration, DOGE, the federal budget, Case and the SAVE Act, politics, and more. Michael T is your host.

The number of people who go hungry in Hawaii is staggering. Across our state, one in 10 is affected. The Hawaii Food Bank exists to help feed Hawaii's hungry. It doesn't matter who you are or what your situation is. If you're struggling to put food on the table, Hawaii Food Bank can help. Today, HFB President and CEO Amy Miller sits down with us to tell us how the Food Bank works, who is affected,...

The fishing industry is a vital part of Hawaii's lifestyle. Some people fish because it's their job. Some, to put food on the table. Some, because it's an outdoor activity they enjoy. Thousands enjoy it. Even more benefit from it. The fishing industry wants everyone involved in fishing to be educated, informed, and aware. Helping to spread the word are Gil Kualii from Western Pacific F...

We like to keep tabs on the Hawaii real estate market, if for nothing else, just to stay aware of market developments. Today's episode features Celester Thomas from Soldier to Soldier Realty. We'll hear about the name, challenges in Hawaii real estate, and one of his secret strategies to buying a home in Hawaii. We also talk to Sherrie Xiao from High Five Lending. She gets into the basics...

Chances are, you have no idea what DAGS is. It's a department in the state government. DAGS stands for the Department of Accounting and General Services. DAGS is responsible for a wide range of areas from accounting to archives, construction to technology, elections to 9-1-1. Many more divisions and agencies come under the DAGS umbrella. We'll learn about a few of the things going on as we...

For more than 100 years, the American Red Cross Hawaii division has helped local people survive the aftermath of disasters. Today we talk to Matthew Wells, the Communications Director for the Pacific Region. We learn a little about the history of the Red Cross, what they do, why they do it, their response after the Maui fires, and more. Michael T is your host.

It's the biggest sporting event in Hawaii. It's responsible for driving more state tax revenue than the Pro Bowl ever did. It's the 4th largest of its kind in the US. People come from all over the world to do it and outnumber local participants. We're talking about the Honolulu Marathon. This episode features Dr. Jim Barahal, the President and CEO of the marathon. He's been at...

Congressional representatives have a unique perspective on their home state. In this episode, we talk to Hawaii Congresswoman Jill Tokuda. We touch on the Maui fires, FEMA, her outlook on the changes the Trump administration is instituting, battling the high cost of living, and more. Michael T is your host.

So many people in Hawaii need a little bit of help. Organizations like Goodwill Hawaii offer that help in a myriad of ways. In this episode, we talk to Goodwill Hawaii's Pres. & CEO, Katy Chen. She highlights the five main program areas the organization offers. Michael T is your host.

Here in Hawaii, thousands of school-aged children have nowhere to go when the school bell rings at the end of the day. Where do they go? What do they do? After-School All-Stars Hawai i runs after-school programs in a handful of Hawaii middle schools to bridge that gap between school and home. It isn't only child care. ASAS teaches and nurtures middle schoolers at qualifying schools. The kids a...

It's tax season. That's a great time to review information about filing your taxes. In today's episode, we talk to Raphael Tulino, a media specialist with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). You'll hear about what's new in 2025 for the 2024 tax year, big mistakes taxpayers make, deductions you may have missed, filing deadlines, and more. Michael T is your host.

For some people, the end of life can be a journey that needs to be navigated gently. Hospice care might be the answer. We talk to Joyce Bunyan from Islands Hospice about what hospice is, some of the myths, and some of the more nuanced aspects of this level of care. Kathy With a K is your host. We also revisit our conversation with Meli James from Mana Up, the local business accelerator that helps...

In this episode of Hawaii Matters, we talk to Kristen Kelly, Marine Species Specialist and Outreach Coordinator with DLNR's (Department of Land and Natural Resources) Division of Aquatic Resources . She tells us about the problem of debris in our Hawaii waters and on our beaches. Some goes to recycling, repurposing, and what happens to wildlife when these items are not removed from our shoreli...

Last time we talked to our real estate expert Maila Gibson-Bandmann it was about selling your home. In this episode, we talk about buying a home in Hawaii. Yes, it can be done. We talk about financing, location, and keeping the dream of living in Hawaii alive. Michael T is your host.

Thousands of Hawaii residents moved to the mainland in 2024. Roughly 4,400 moved to Las Vegas. Moving away might mean selling your home. What are the important factors to be aware of when selling a home in Hawaii? Maila Gibson-Bandmann is a realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty in Hawaii. She's got the answers. This is part one of two episodes on real estate in Hawaii. Look for part two soon. Michae...

In this episode, we talk to local optometrist Dr. Dane Sultzer from Kahala Eye Clinic . It's all things eyes and eye health, how to care for your eyes, the importance of proper eyewear, problems with the eyes, surgery techniques, and more. Kathy With a K is your host.

The March of Dimes is one of the oldest charities in the United States. And yet, today few know what MOD is all about. Candice Fajardo, the Exec. Dir of the Hawaii chapter, wants to change that. The March of Dimes is all about educating mothers and fathers during their child-rearing years from pregnancy to post-partum. And making sure parents have access to resources and proper healthcare for thei...

When an emergency hits, how we respond is crucial to survival. James Barros is the administrator for HI-EMA, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. He tells us what he would like to see from Hawaii's citizens and responders. It's something HI-EMA calls "a kakou effort." We'll also hear how the Maui wildfires and other situations have impacted Hawaii's emergency response. Kathy With a K is your ho...

We've got two segments for you this week. Kathy With a K talks to Tati Guzman from HMSA. She's back with a review of Medicare during the open enrollment period. And in the second half of the show, we replay an excerpt from our show on homelessness. Michael T talks to Connie Mitchell from IHS (Insitute for Human Services).

Whether you know it or not, OMPO affects your life. OMPO is the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization. In today's episode, we learn what OMPO is, what it does, and how they do it. It all has to do with transportation and traffic and all the related areas (there are more than you think). Michael T is your host.

Meet Don Mangiarelli. He runs the IT security firm, Cyber Security Hawaii. Don tells us about the perils that lurk when it comes to electronic information. It's a nasty world with the bad guys scouring the web trying to steal your vital, private information. According to Mangiarelli, your information probably already has been stolen. And if it hasn't, it will be. He tells us what we can do to prot...

We tackle two subjects today with the help of Dr. Stefanie Park. She's VP and Chief Medical Officer at HMSA (Hawaii Medical Service Association). Baby Boomers are the second largest segment of the US population. Caring for our elderly is a major health concern. What are those concerns and what can our kupuna and their families do to keep them healthy? Dr. Park also helps us understand the importan...

Let's talk about money. Specifically, personal finance-saving, spending, debt, budgets, and more. Today our guest is Bryan Yucoco. He's a Financial Wellness Manager at Hawaii USA FCU. Bryan has a passion for educating people about their finances. We'll also hear about Hawaii USA's efforts to educate Hawaii's youth about the basics of money management. Michael T is your host.

The state of Hawaii's Dept. of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) is a massive organization that few people are knowledgable about. In today's episode of Hawaii Matters, we talk to the top two at DBEDT to find out what they do and how they help Hawaii's businesses and industries. Our guests are James Tokioka (Director) and Dane Wicker (Deputy Director). In addition to the basics o...