The Conversation

Sandy Ma discusses her new title as Executive Director and Legal Counsel for the Honolulu Ethics Commission; Business owner Bill Comerford makes his Irish exit as he sells beloved live-music bar Anna O'Brien's.

Gov. Josh Green explains why members of Hawaiʻi’s National Guard are deployed in the nation’s capital; Sherry Menor, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, reacts to the state scoring last on CNBC’s Top States for Business ranking.

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Mark Suiso, of Makaha Mangoes, shares tips on mango farming and explains why mango season is late this year; HPR and Canary Media team up to report on the debate around Liquefied Natural Gas.

Hawaiʻi Chief Election Officer Scott Nago discusses preparations for the primary elections; rower and social media sensation Kelsey Pfendler celebrates her record-breaking solo rowing voyage from California.

The Conversation takes a trip back to past broadcasts on the world of travel and transportation.

Northern Mariana Islands journalist Thomas Mangloña II shares his firsthand account of the destruction left by Super Typhoon Bavi; Hawaiʻi locals and city officials share their thoughts on the Driver’s License redesign.

A new pro golf tournament, Play Hawaiʻi Golf, is being organized to replace The Sentry tournament by the PGA Tour; Maui philanthropist Ed Freedman talks about funding investment accounts for Hawaiʻi foster youth.

Vassilis Syrmos, the new Chancellor of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, speaks with HPR about his new role; Honolulu street psychiatrist Chad Koyanagi shares his story helping those suffering on the streets.

HPR’s Cassie Ordonio reports on a super typhoon passing through Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands; Common Cause Hawaii director Camron Hurt discusses the U.S. Supreme Court’s final rulings for 2026.

HPR contributor Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton shares Kānaka opinions on Hawaiian artifacts kept in museums; Hawai’i Island Chef Rhoda Magbitang celebrates her recent “Top Chef” season 23 win.

The National Park Service announces new tours of Kalaupapa; the Smithsonian hosts a 'Quilt Along' event featuring a Hawaiian quilt artist.

ACLU of Hawaiʻi Legal Director Wookie Kim speaks on the U.S. Supreme Court rulings on birthright citizenship and transgender athletes; Maya Soetoro-Ng, sister to Barack Obama, reflects on the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.

Ann Wright, retired United States Army colonel and peace activist, speaks out against RIMPAC 2026; Filmmakers Anna Trent Moore and Ronald Moore share their film about legendary big wave surfer Buzzy Trent.

The Conversation marks the 54th anniversary of Title IX by highlighting past guests who championed the landmark legislation for academic gender equality.

HPR speaks with attorney Kevin O’Grady about the recent Supreme Court decision striking public property gun restrictions; attorney Kristina Baehr shares updates on the court settlements from the Red Hill fuel spill lawsuit.

Peter Young, Chair of the Hawaiʻi America250 Commission, shares some of the festivities planned for the nation’s 250th anniversary; 3D Animator Nick Chang talks about his retro reimaginations of old Hawaiian hot spots.

Journalist Kim Cross marks the 54th anniversary of Title IX; curator Jon Santos talks about the upcoming New York art exhibit “Niu Systems.”

Visual artist Hugo McCloud talks about creating art for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago; Hawaiʻi State Rep. Greggor Ilagan discusses the new SPEED Task Force for building permits.

Hawaiʻi-based Asia-Pacific Leadership fellows discuss their experience at the Obama Presidential Center; Acting Lt. Gov. Keith Regan shares plans to renovate the Hawaiʻi State Capitol reflecting pool.

HPR takes an exclusive preview at the new library in the Obama Presidential Center; University of Hawaiʻi Astronomer Roy Gal shareds upcoming astronomical phenomena, including an upcoming lunar eclipse of Venus.

Chicago Sun-Times journalist Lynn Sweet offers more insight on the upcoming Obama Presidential Center; the Pacific Whale Foundation shares new research on the endangered false killer whale.

Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation, speaks with HPR in an exclusive media preview for the upcoming Obama Presidential Center; Hawaiian Airlines CEO Diana Birkett Rakow discusses rising flight costs.

Dre Kalili, Deputy Director of Harbors for the Department of Transportation, discusses the cruise industry; cruise passengers talk about the Green Fee's tax on cruise passengers.

John Berry, the new director for the Honolulu Zoo, talks about his past work at the Smithsonian; Hawaiʻi legal experts weigh in on the state's lawyer shortage.

Researchers from Columbia and UH talk about weatherproofing the FIFA World Cup; Lokahi Longevity co-founder David Watumull discusses a new blood test for heart health

DHS Director Joseph Campos II speaks about the new strike force organized to tackle Medicaid fraud and abuse; author Jonathan Ezer recounts his time swimming the Kaiwi Channel.

The Conversation highlights past Pacific Islander guests who shared their voice to speak on climate change and their part of the world.

Governor Josh Green discusses his veto list and liquefied natural gas; UC Santa Barbara researcher Cat Fong discusses the link between evacuation routes and wildfire deaths.

Jean Lee, Presidential Chair of the East-West Center, discusses BTS and Hawaiʻi’s economic dependence on South Korea; HPR shares stories told by graduating Kapolei high school students.

UH computer scientist Kim Binsted talks about the HI-SEAS program; Hawaiʻi-based playwright Diane Aoki talks about “Memory Beads,” her upcoming play about family and memory.

June 1 marks the start of hurricane season, and the National Weather Service is forecasting up to 13 tropical cyclones across the central Pacific. Today, our panel will discuss what we can do now to best prepare for the possible hurricanes ahead.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chair Kaiali’i Kahele discusses broadcast stations and military land; the Waialua High and Intermediate School girls’ surf team celebrates a championship win.

Hawaiʻi Island Mayor Kimo Alameda speaks on the manhunt for a murder suspect; the son of a U.S. Navy cook shares his quest to rediscover his late father’s lost artwork

Biologist Brittany Clemans explains the NOAA uses turtle shell etchings help track the "Honu Count;" a new pop-up art exhibit dedicated to zines and trading cards opens in Oʻahu.

Members of the US Coast Guard share weather precautions for the upcoming hurricane season; HPR speaks to one of seven high-achieving Lānaʻi graduates who earned both high school diplomas and associate’s degrees.

The Conversation looks back on a groundbreaking exhibit organized by the British Museum called “Hawaiʻi: A Kingdom Crossing Oceans.”

NOAA Meteorologist John Bravender forecasts a stronger El Niño hurricane season; MEMA discusses the "Maui Method" of safely disposing of lithium ion batteries.

University of Hawaiʻi staff and students discuss the impact of “time, place and manner” policies on campus free speech; Ewa Makai Middle School students discuss their love for learning about drone piloting.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continue recovery efforts in Saipan. At 98 years old, Gil Hicks is the oldest-living Hawaiian Airlines pilot.

Honolulu Star-Advertiser Reporter Kevin Knodell talks unexploded ordnance in Hawaiʻi. Scott Fisher of the Hawaiʻi Land Trust talks about stewardship of the Waiheʻe Refuge on Maui.

HPR’s Bill Dorman reports on the historic summit between President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping; UH Mānoa's eSports team discusses their recent championship win.

HPR’s Savannah Harriman-Pote reports on the state’s decision to cut tax credits for renewable energy; muralist Todd “Estria” Johnson shares more about his murals help enrich keiki and the community.

Ernie Lau, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, discusses hurricane preparedness; Hawai’i Marine Animal Response speaks on the recent viral news of a man throwing a rock at a monk seal and what to do when you see animals in danger.

Tom Moore, from the Center for American Progress, explains a bill that passed to limit corporate influence in elections; singer-songwriter Jack Johnson teases the debut of his new documentary film.

HPR's Cassie Ordonio reports on the status of Chuuk's Super Typhoon Sinlaku recovery efforts; local record shop and label owner Roger Bong responds to the use of AI-generated music at Honolulu International Airport.

Today on the Conversation, we're looking back on stories we've shared about the Vietnam War and Operation Babylift.

Jim Kelly, Hawaiian Electric Company, on rising electric bills; HPRʻs Ashley Mizuo reports on how it's the first year lawmakers had to decide how to spend revenue from The Green Fee

Acting Lt. Gov. Keith Regan and James Kurata of the Department of Accounting and General Services, on a drone survey underway to capture all 8 of the state's cemeteries; UH researcher Yuxin Wang talks about a new model that could help provide early warning ahead of impactful storms

Keith Regan, serving as comptroller and the acting lieutenant governor for the state, talks about balancing the two roles; Karl Banks, of the Environmental Protection Agency, out of the Region 9 office in California, on the aftermath of Super Typhoon Sinlaku in Saipan