5 Questions With ... Archives

5 Questions: Stacy Kealohalani Ferreira, Office of Hawaiian Affairs CEO

None — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

BIO FILE: Stacy Kealohalani Ferreira

5 Questions: Joe Sprague, Hawaiian Airlines CEO

None — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

You have decades of experience in the commercial aviation industry, starting at a commuter airline in Alaska. How will those roots translate to success in the islands?

5 Questions: Dean Minakami, HHFDC’s executive director

None — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 10:05:00 +0000

1. Please explain HHFDC’s mission. How has the agency evolved under Gov. Josh Green, who has made adding affordable housing a priority?

5 Questions: Chris Benjamin, chair of governor’s Climate Advisory Team

None — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 10:05:00 +0000

1. Why did you accept the role of CAT chair?

5 Questions: Isaac Moriwake, of Earthjustice Mid-Pacific Office

Elizabeth Kieszkowski — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Isaac Moriwake, the longtime environmental attorney, reflects on landmark cases that now have potential to improve on the status quo.

5 Questions With: Chad Koyanagi, of Hawaii Health Department

None — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 10:05:00 +0000

From your vantage point as DOH medical director for crisis continuum, what can be gained by signing Senate Bill 3139 into law?

5 Questions With: Ryan Catalani, of Family Promise of Hawaii

Elizabeth Kieszkowski — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Family Promise of Hawai‘i is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, part of a nationwide network of local affiliates dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness for children and their families. Please give us an overview.

5 Questions: Jordan Ruidas, of Lahaina Strong

None — Fri, 03 May 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Lahaina Strong is among the most visible grassroots efforts to support the recovery of Lahaina. To what do you attribute the hui’s success?

5 Questions: Kali Watson, of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

Elizabeth Kieszkowski — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 10:05:00 +0000

In 2023, the Hawaii Legislature approved $600 million for Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) acquisition and preparation of homesteads, envisioned as resulting in 2,000-plus homes for qualified Native Hawaiian beneficiaries — but the agency is aiming to deliver additional housing. Tell us more.

5 Questions: Camron Hurt, of Common Cause Hawaii

None — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 10:05:00 +0000

What aspect of “good government” does Hawaii do well, and where does it need the most improvement?

5 Questions With: Sterling Higa, of Housing Hawai‘i’s Future

Elizabeth Kieszkowski — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Give us a capsule history of Housing Hawai‘i’s Future and its programs.

5 Questions: Tina Andrade, of Catholic Charities Hawaii

None — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 10:05:00 +0000

How have the Maui wildfires altered the plans and goals of nonprofits such as yours?

5 Questions: Elizabeth Pickett, of Hawaii wildfire group

Stephen Downes — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 10:05:00 +0000

How does the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO) work with communities and government to address wildfire dangers?

Michael S. Angelo: Promoting clean energy that’s safe, reliable — and affordable to ratepayers

Stephen Downes — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 10:05:00 +0000

What is the full scope of your advocacy for consumers?

Sandra Fujiyama: An innovative project at UH combines student housing with training center

Stephen Downes — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 10:05:00 +0000

What is the RISE project, and why is the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE) at the Shidler College of Business involving itself in student housing?

Dee Jay Mailer: CEO wants to expand Bishop Museum’s reach and influence

Vicki Viotti — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 10:05:00 +0000

The museum has been criticized in past years for leaning too heavily on commercial attractions, such as the dinosaur exhibit. What do you think?

Yuuko Arikawa-Cross: Director helps preschool keiki get a head start on education

Elizabeth Kieszkowski — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 10:05:00 +0000

What is the role of the Executive Office on Early Learning (EOEL) in the expansion of Ready Keiki, Hawaii’s public prekindergarten program? (Preschool programming received support from the 2023 Legislature: extending access to Hawaii’s Preschool Open Doors program to include 3-year-olds; allocating $200 million to add classrooms; and revising the preschool accreditation process.)

J. Roger Morton: The executive prepares to add rail to the city’s mass transit network

None — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 10:05:00 +0000

What should riders expect when connecting to express buses at the Aloha Stadium rail station?

Alanna James: Managing Director pursues innovative ways to reduce carbon emissions

Vicki Viotti — Fri, 19 May 2023 10:05:00 +0000

How would you describe the air-travel efforts to curb carbon emissions, industry-wide?

5 Questions With … : Leah Laramee, climate-change leader

Elizabeth Kieszkowski — Fri, 05 May 2023 10:05:00 +0000

Tell us about the Oahu Community Climate Fair on May 20, presented by the Commission.

Gary Yabuta: Spreads the word about the most dangerous drugs in Hawaii

None — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 10:05:00 +0000

Briefly describe the role of the Hawaii High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and its top priorities.

Sylvia Hussey: OHA head guides office to Ho‘olua Lahui Aloha

Vicki Viotti — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 10:05:00 +0000

How will the Hakuone project be reshaped, given the Legislature’s latest resistance to high-rise development? Or is that change not certain at this point?

Scott Greenwood: Focuses on law enforcement reform and civil rights

None — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 10:05:00 +0000

Your background with the ACLU is both deep and longstanding. What is your relationship with the national organization, and with ACLU Hawaii?

Naoto T. Ueno: New director wants to help empower Hawaii’s patients

Stephen Downes — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 10:05:00 +0000

What do you see as the role of the UH Cancer Center?

Tanya Tehotu: Kealahou West Oahu reaches out to provide homeless with comprehensive services

Vicki Viotti — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 10:05:00 +0000

How did Kealahou West Oahu (KWO) get started as a nonprofit working on behalf of the homeless? What particular gap in services is it trying to fill?

Suzanne Puanani Vares-Lum: East-West Center President launches a strategic plan for the Indo-Pacific region

Elizabeth Kieszkowski — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 10:05:00 +0000

The East-West Center successfully sought an increase in funding, effective this year. Does this reflect growing national appreciation?

Dawn Takeuchi Apuna: The director takes aim at permitting delays and corruption

None — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 10:05:00 +0000

How many employees does DPP need to hire to address your staffing shortages? What about recruiting?

Ken Hon: The scientist-in-charge at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory explains the recent eruption of Mauna Loa

Vicki Viotti — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 10:05:00 +0000

Can you explain in layman’s terms how scientists determine when geological signs warrant a public watch or warning of an impending eruption?

Dan Foley: Leading advocate for civil rights pushes for improving ethical conduct in the public sector

None — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 10:05:00 +0000

Explain your role on the Commission to Improve Standards of Conduct (CISC).

Kevin Nakaoka, Honolulu’s new postmaster, prepares for modernization plan

Stephen Downes — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 10:05:00 +0000

Kevin Nakaoka, Honolulu’s new U.S. Postal Service postmaster, prepares Oahu’s mail workers for an ambitious modernization plan.

ClimbHI founder Julie Morikawa builds pathways that lead students toward their goals

Vicki Viotti — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 10:05:00 +0000

How did ClimbHI begin? What was the need it addressed in the hospitality workforce?

Amy Miller Marvin: Hawaii Foodbank grapples with a new problem

Elizabeth Kieszkowski — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 10:05:00 +0000

What services does Hawaii Foodbank provide, and what is its budget?

Sheldon K. Hao: Honolulu’s fire chief sees progress in fire safety as COVID-19 wanes

None — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 10:05:00 +0000

Sheldon K. Hao, Honolulu’s fire chief who assumed the top job on Dec. 31, sees progress in fire safety as COVID-19 wanes.

Leo Asuncion Jr.: The Public Utilities Commission chair works to modernize agency while driving forward renewable-energy expansion plans

None — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 10:05:00 +0000

What are the PUC’s principal goals in the next few years?

Denise Eby Konan: The dean of UH’s College of Social Sciences takes on the mission of teaching students how to change the world

Elizabeth Kieszkowski — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 10:05:00 +0000

Tell us about the College of Social Sciences — what services it provides and how many students it will serve this year.

Kathleen Ho: The state Health Department deputy director confronts the Navy to make it clean up Red Hill

Stephen Downes — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 10:05:00 +0000

Q: Are you concerned that more fuel has been spilled than has been publicly acknowledged? How much fuel is in the Red Hill tanks now?

Phil Acosta: With prices rising and economic insecurity growing, the head of Aloha Harvest wants us to stop wasting food

None — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 10:05:00 +0000

How would you describe Hawaii’s food insecurity problem?

David Bissell: The CEO of Kauai Island Utility Cooperative shows how an island can have 100% renewable power

Elizabeth Kieszkowski — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 10:05:00 +0000

What can other islands learn from Kauai’s progress in renewable energy?

Laura H. Thielen: The director of the city’s parks department discusses progress in maintaining and improving Oahu’s recreational oases

Stephen Downes — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 10:05:00 +0000

What are the biggest challenges facing the city’s Parks and Recreation Department today?

Caroline Carl: The executive director of Hawai‘i Energy helps guide the public in saving energy and adopting renewables

None — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 10:05:00 +0000

How much money is generated by the public benefits fee from electric ratepayers, and how does your office use it?