Focus Hawaii was a long-running Brigham Young University–Hawaii television program produced by the university's communications and media faculty and students. Beginning in the 1970s and continuing through the early 1990s, the series explored the people, cultures, history, environment, education, and current issues of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific through documentary-style interviews, feature stories, and on-location reporting. Hosted over the years by faculty members and media professionals including Dr. Lance Chase, the program served both as a public affairs television series and as a hands-on educational laboratory for student broadcasters.
The Focus Hawaii collection documents a remarkable cross-section of Hawaiʻi's social and cultural history during the late twentieth century. Episodes feature conversations with educators, community leaders, Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners, artists, government officials, business leaders, religious leaders, scientists, and visiting scholars, alongside programs highlighting Hawaiian history, environmental conservation, Polynesian cultures, archaeology, education, performing arts, tourism, and significant events at Brigham Young University–Hawaii.
This Digital Commons collection contains 157 digitized episodes preserved by the Brigham Young University–Hawaii University Archives and Special Collections. Together, these recordings provide an important audiovisual record of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific, reflecting the university's educational mission and documenting voices, perspectives, and events that shaped the region. The collection serves as a valuable resource for researchers, students, educators, and community members interested in Hawaiian and Pacific history, cultural heritage, and the history of Brigham Young University–Hawaii's media productions.
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Focus Hawaii Officer R. Unciano
Lance Chase and Officer Roland Unciano
Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Officer Roland Unciano of the Windward Oʻahu Community Policing Team, who shares his background—from growing up in Waimea, Kauaʻi, to serving in the Air Force during Vietnam, to 24 years with the Honolulu Police Department. He explains the mission and structure of the newly established community policing unit, detailing programs such as Neighborhood Security Watch, Adopt‑a‑Block, Stamp Out Graffiti, Citizen Patrols, CTAP (Community Traffic Awareness Partnership), and CROSS (Community Response on School Security). Through real examples, photos, and video clips, Officer Unciano describes how community partnerships, non‑confrontational reporting, school patrols, sign‑waving traffic campaigns, and neighborhood involvement help reduce vandalism, speeding, graffiti, and other concerns. Emphasizing collaboration, safety, and relationship‑building, he highlights how citizen engagement can strengthen communities and support police efforts across Windward Oʻahu.
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Focus Hawaii Olani Durrant and Kirk Evans
Chad Compton, Olani Durrant, and Kirk Evans
Hosted by Chad Compton, this 1994 episode of Focus Hawaii introduces two newly arrived leaders at Brigham Young University–Hawaii: Olani Durrant, Academic Vice President, and Kirk Evans, Administrative Vice President. In a warm and wide‑ranging conversation, they discuss the challenges of relocating their families to Hawaiʻi, their early impressions of the Laʻie community, and the unique international atmosphere of BYU–Hawaii—where nearly half the student body comes from outside the United States. Durrant shares memories of being born in Honolulu, his earlier mission years in Hawaiʻi, and his excitement at working with a globally diverse student population. Evans reflects on his family’s move from Southern California, the demands of administrative operations such as budgeting, food services, housing, facilities, and the university farm, and his efforts to stay closely connected with students by attending campus events. Together, they describe BYU–Hawaii’s identity as a small undergraduate university with strong liberal arts and professional programs, intimate class sizes, active faculty mentorship, and a mission grounded in academic excellence, cultural diversity, and spiritual values. The episode also touches on housing shortages, campus computing advancements, international student needs, and their shared hopes for maintaining an environment where students thrive academically, socially, and personally.
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Focus Hawaii Pacific Islanders
Lance Chase and Debbie Hippolite‑Wright
Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii introduces the Pacific Islanders in America Research Team, led by BYU–Hawaii social work professor Debbie Hippolite‑Wright. The team—composed of student researchers from Hawai‘i, Tonga, New Zealand, and other Pacific backgrounds—discusses their groundbreaking work documenting the experiences, identities, and social realities of Pacific Islanders living in the United States. They describe several major projects: a comprehensive annotated bibliography of Pacific Islander scholarship; a study on barriers Pacific Islanders face when seeking social services in Hawai‘i; and a social‑distance survey measuring how Pacific groups perceive one another in local communities. Team members share findings, personal insights about identity, and their participation in major academic conferences, including the Tongan Historical Conference and the Asian‑American Studies Conference. The episode highlights empowerment, cultural pride, and the team’s mission to increase recognition of Pacific Islanders as a distinct population deserving of stronger research, visibility, and academic representation.
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Focus Hawaii Patricia Saiki
Lance Chase and Patricia Saiki
Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Patricia Saiki — former Hawaiʻi state legislator, U.S. congresswoman, and Administrator of the Small Business Administration. Saiki reflects on her journey from a Hilo-born schoolteacher to a pioneering union organizer and then a trailblazing public servant who helped modernize state laws affecting women, families, and workers. She recounts her years shaping Hawaii’s Constitution, serving in both the House and Senate, championing equal rights, and later representing Hawaiʻi in Washington, D.C., where she worked on banking, finance, maritime issues, and landmark legislation such as family leave. Through personal stories, she describes her family’s immigrant roots, her husband’s support, the rapid pace of political life, and her continuing commitment to strengthening education, supporting small businesses, and diversifying Hawaiʻi’s economy. Saiki also discusses her upcoming run for governor, emphasizing leadership, accountability, and community‑based reform as keys to Hawaiʻi’s future.
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Focus Hawaii PCC 40th Anniversary Alumni Night Show Performance
Polynesian Cultural Center
This episode of Focus Hawaii highlights the Polynesian Cultural Center’s 40th Anniversary Alumni Night Show held in October 2003, where hundreds of former performers returned to Laʻie to celebrate decades of cultural sharing and service. The program features footage from the 6 p.m. alumni showcase, with each island group presenting a traditional number just as they did in their youth: the Hawaiian alumni perform a graceful hula in white muʻumuʻu and grass‑skirt attire; the Tongan group presents a historic lakalaka composed in honor of the LDS Church; the Māori performers fill the stage with powerful action dance and harmonies; the Fijian alumni sing Bula Laʻie, written by PCC’s first Fijian instructor; the Tahitian women perform a lively tamure; and the Samoan alumni deliver a synchronized sasa followed by an exciting fire‑knife finale. The episode celebrates the legacy of more than 13,000 students and community members who helped establish PCC as Hawaiʻi’s top‑paid visitor attraction, concluding with extended encore performances and the traditional Polynesian finale honoring Samoa’s Captain Toto Titi.
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Focus Hawaii PCC Mahalo Week
Lance Chase and Polynesian Cultural Center
Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii highlights the Polynesian Cultural Center’s first-ever Community Mahalo Week, celebrating the Center’s 33rd anniversary. The program features comments from PCC President Les Moore, Vice President of Marketing David Preece, and Vice President of Human Resources John Muaina, who explain the purpose of the event—to thank the surrounding Ko‘olauloa communities for decades of support. During Mahalo Week, residents from Kahaluʻu to Haleʻiwa were invited to enjoy free admission to the villages, the IMAX films, and the evening show, along with special discounts on dining. More than 2,500 community members attended, showing strong local interest. The segment also includes footage of PCC performances and cultural demonstrations, along with reflections on the close relationship between BYU–Hawaii students, the community, and the Center.
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Focus Hawaii Peter Carlisle
Peter Carlisle
This special Focus Hawaii episode presents a sobering and urgent public lecture by Peter Carlisle, then the Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu, addressing Hawai‘i’s escalating crisis of ICE (crystal methamphetamine) abuse. Drawing on law‑enforcement data, medical research, and graphic case studies, Carlisle explains why Hawai‘i leads the nation in meth use and arrests, detailing the drug’s extreme addictiveness, irreversible brain damage, psychosis, paranoia, and the heightened risk of violence during the “tweaking” phase. Through tragic real‑world cases—including those of Wayman Kaua and Frank Janto—the presentation illustrates how chronic meth use fuels homicides, hostage situations, and catastrophic harm to victims and communities. Carlisle concludes with a forceful call for systemic change, emphasizing early prevention, family stability, school‑based intervention, treatment reform, and legislative action, framing the meth epidemic as a public‑safety, public‑health, and moral emergency requiring immediate and sustained community involvement.
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Focus Hawaii Peter Johnson
Lance Chase and Peter Johnson
Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Peter Johnson, a BYU–Hawaii assistant professor of accounting and the university’s first African American full‑time faculty member. Johnson shares his remarkable journey from growing up in Jamaica, Queens, to moving to Hawai‘i as a teenager, excelling in high school sports, and playing college basketball at BYU–Hawaii, Dixie College, and Southern Utah University. He discusses joining the Church at age 19, serving a mission in Alabama, and navigating issues of race, culture, and community both in the South and in Church life. Johnson reflects on his brief professional basketball opportunity in Belgium, his shift to public accounting with Grant Thornton, and his eventual love for teaching that brought him back to BYU–Hawaii—where he was named Professor of the Year. He also speaks candidly about family influences, educational challenges, interracial marriage, future PhD plans, and his desire to help students succeed academically and personally.
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Focus Hawaii Peter Matz and Reinhardt Krekow
Lance Chase, Peter Matz, and Reinhardt Krekow
Hosted by Lance Chase, this Focus Hawaii episode features composer‑arranger Peter Matz—known for his work with Barbara Streisand, Carol Burnett, and Broadway—and Reinhardt Krekow, chair of the BYU–Hawaii music department, as they introduce the world‑premiere musical Stevenson by Heart. They discuss the creative process behind the production, which dramatizes the final years of author Robert Louis Stevenson in Samoa, exploring his conflict between literary ambition and political involvement. Matz and Krekow share insights into casting, musical development, the incorporation of Samoan culture and spectacle, and the unique rehearsal workshop that brought fictional Stevenson characters—like Long John Silver and Dr. Jekyll—to life onstage. They highlight the collaboration with book writer Gene Levitt (creator of Hawaii Five‑O) and lyricist Kelly Hamilton, the challenges of mounting a new musical, and the excitement of blending Polynesian performers with Broadway‑style storytelling.
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Focus Hawaii Pioneers in the Pacific Excerpts from the Opening Ceremonies Part 2
Lance Chase
Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii presents selected excerpts from the “Pioneers in the Pacific” sesquicentennial celebration held at Brigham Young University–Hawai‘i in December 1997. The program features a series of cultural performances, including traditional chants, songs, and staged presentations representing the diverse Pacific Island communities connected to the history of early Latter‑day Saint missionary efforts in the region. Through music and expressive performance, the episode highlights the shared heritage, spiritual traditions, and cultural identity of Polynesian peoples while commemorating the legacy of pioneer faith and migration across the Pacific. The presentation reflects the celebratory and unifying spirit of the larger commemorative event, emphasizing cultural continuity, historical remembrance, and community participation.
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Focus Hawaii Pioneers in the Pacific Gold and Green Ball
Lance Chase
Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii showcases scenes from the Gold and Green Ball, part of the Pioneers in the Pacific sesquicentennial celebration held on the Brigham Young University–Hawai‘i campus in January 1998. The program highlights an evening of music, dance, and theatrical performance inspired by popular styles of the 18th century through the mid‑20th century, blending ballroom traditions with vintage American and Latin rhythms. Performances include period waltzes, costumed ballroom dancing, and energetic numbers such as rumboogie, reflecting how young people across generations have used music and dance for joy, connection, and cultural expression—even during times of global hardship. Through these lively scenes, the episode captures the celebratory spirit of the Pioneers in the Pacific week, emphasizing youth participation, cultural creativity, and communal remembrance of history through performance and festivity.
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Focus Hawaii: Pioneers in the Pacific Opening Ceremony Part II
Lance Chase
Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii showcases stirring performances from BYU–Hawaii’s sesquicentennial celebration of Pioneers in the Pacific, featuring a powerful cultural and spiritual presentation by representatives from Rarotonga, Cook Islands. The program highlights the Cook Islands’ portrayal of the coming of Christianity—Te Atu Omo—through prophecy, chant, drumming, and dramatized storytelling. The performance interweaves Pacific heritage with scriptural narratives, including the journeys of Lehi and Nephi, the division of Nephite and Lamanite peoples, the destruction at Christ’s crucifixion, and the Savior’s appearance to the people in the Americas. Through vivid imagery of the birdman (Te Mamaia), celestial symbols, and the voice from heaven, the presentation expresses deep gratitude for the gospel and honors the connection between Polynesian identity, ancestry, and faith. The episode captures the reverence, artistry, and cultural pride of this Cook Islands tribute as part of the larger campus‑wide commemoration.
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Focus Hawaii Pioneers in the Pacific Opening Exercise Part 1
Lance Chase
Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii presents highlights from the opening exercises of the “Pioneers in the Pacific” sesquicentennial celebration, held on the Brigham Young University–Hawai‘i campus in November 1997. Blending scripture, Hawaiian chant, dramatic narration, music, and theatrical reenactment, the program reflects on spiritual signs, cultural traditions, and historical events linking Polynesian beliefs with the arrival of early missionaries in the Pacific. Lance Chase frames the presentation within both Hawaiian tradition—particularly stories associated with the god Lono—and Latter‑day Saint history, recounting the 1843–1844 mission of Addison Pratt, Benjamin Gruard, and Noah Rogers, whose labors led to the establishment of the first LDS branch in the South Pacific. The episode emphasizes remembrance, faith, cultural continuity, and historical perspective, illustrating President Gordon B. Hinckley’s call to look to the past to better understand the present and future.
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Focus Hawaii Ponds at Punaluu
Lance Chase, The Ponds, John Tapner, and Cliff Cassity
Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii visits The Ponds, an assisted‑living community in Punaluʻu operated under The Fountains network. Executive Director John Tapner and Marketing Director Cliff Cassity introduce viewers to the philosophy, services, and environment that define the community. They explain the national reach of The Fountains organization, the purpose of assisted living, and the amenities offered—restaurant‑style dining, housekeeping, activity programs, transportation services, family‑connection shuttles, and outings around Oʻahu. The episode highlights the facility’s 127 units, its unique 26‑bed Alzheimer’s/dementia care unit (the first in the state at the time), and its commitment to safety with CPR‑trained staff, emergency systems, and nearby medical support. Tapner and Cassity also discuss resident demographics, community outreach programs, future expansion plans, staffing needs, and the mission of “creating extraordinary communities where people choose to be.”
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Focus Hawaii President Clarke
Lance Chase, J. Richard Clarke, and Barbara Reed Clarke
Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features President J. Richard Clarke and Sister Barbara Reed Clarke, newly arrived as president and matron of the Hawai‘i Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints, following his emeritus release as a General Authority after more than two decades of worldwide church leadership. President Clarke reflects on his upbringing in Idaho, military service at the close of World War II, a successful career in the life‑insurance industry, and his call to full‑time church leadership—including service in the Presiding Bishopric, the First Quorum of the Seventy, and multiple assignments across Africa and other international areas. Sister Clarke shares her perspective on family life, motherhood, and her extensive service alongside her husband in church auxiliary leadership. Together, they discuss the sacred role of temples, the responsibilities of a temple president and matron, the history of the Hawai‘i Temple as the first LDS temple built outside the continental United States, and the spiritual significance of temple worship, eternal families, and proxy ordinances, offering viewers a thoughtful and personal introduction to their mission and ministry in Hawai‘i.
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Focus Hawaii President Eric B. Shumway
Lance Chase and Eric B. Shumway
Hosted by Lance Chase, this in‑depth episode of Focus Hawaii features President Eric Shumway of Brigham Young University–Hawaii, offering a personal and wide‑ranging conversation about his life, leadership, and the mission of the university. Born in small‑town St. Johns, Arizona, President Shumway reflects on his journey from missionary service in Tonga, to earning his doctorate at the University of Virginia, to more than three decades of service at BYU–Hawaii. He discusses recent university accomplishments—including national championships in athletics, international performance tours, and a thriving undergraduate research program—along with the school’s transition into NCAA Division II. Central to the interview is President Shumway’s explanation of BYU–Hawaii’s prophetic mission as outlined by President David O. McKay: to develop leaders of integrity from many cultures, united by shared values. He also addresses stewardship over sacred tithing funds, efforts to reduce per‑student costs, the pivotal role of the Polynesian Cultural Center in student employment and education, the university’s evolving academic structure, and the ongoing challenges of enrollment demand and distance education.
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Focus Hawaii Randy Day
Lance Chase and Randy Day
Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Dr. Randy Day, a BYU–Hawaii biology professor, softball coach, and newly appointed chair of the Math–Science–Technology Division. Randy shares his background growing up in Arizona, serving an LDS mission in France and Belgium, and pursuing advanced degrees in marine science and physiology. He talks about his unexpected journey into coaching women’s softball—leading the team to a district championship—and explains why stepping into administration required him to set coaching aside. The conversation also covers his sports‑medicine research on ammonia buildup during exercise, which he presented at an international conference in the Netherlands, and his recent travels through Europe, including attending a rare Van Gogh retrospective and experiencing the excitement of the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Randy reflects on art, culture, travel, teaching, and the broadening perspective gained from time abroad as he prepares to take on new responsibilities at the university.
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Focus Hawaii Recycle Hawaii
Lance Chase, Suzanne Jones, Annetta Kinnicutt, and Tony Sickler
Hosted by Lance Chase, this 1994 episode of Focus Hawaii spotlights Recycle Hawaiʻi, a city–school partnership designed to reduce waste, educate children, and build island‑wide recycling habits. Chase welcomes three guests central to the movement: Suzanne Jones, the City & County of Honolulu’s recycling coordinator; Annetta Kinnicutt, Laʻie Elementary’s gifted‑and‑talented teacher and student council advisor; and Toni Sickler, a parent volunteer who helps run on‑campus recycling operations. Together they explain how the program began in 1990 as a pilot at twenty schools and grew to more than fifty recycling drop‑off sites across Oʻahu, accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Viewers learn how the large white “Recycle Hawaiʻi” bins work, what materials can be accepted (newspaper, glass bottles, aluminum cans, milk jugs, and select plastics), and what happens to the collected recyclables—from sorting to baling to export to Asian and mainland markets. The episode features a short video tour of the Dillingham Boulevard processing facility, along with examples of how Laʻie students creatively reuse materials in class projects, award‑winning videos, and environmental inventions. The guests discuss the economic realities of fluctuating commodity prices, the educational impact on children, the revenue returned to schools (about $100,000 the previous year), and the growing civic pride in recycling. Filled with humor, community insight, and hands‑on demonstrations, the episode encourages residents to participate in recycling as both an environmental responsibility and a direct investment in local schools.
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Focus Hawaii Return of Lance Chase
Chad Compton and Lance Chase
Hosted by Chad Compton, this episode of Focus Hawaii welcomes back longtime host Lance Chase, who openly shares his three‑year battle with cancer and the major turning points in his treatment. The conversation covers how he first discovered the illness, the surgeries and chemotherapy he went through, his hair loss and radiation effects, and the emotional and physical challenges of continuing treatments, including a difficult bone marrow transplant in Salt Lake City. Lance also reflects on the support of his family and community, how the experience changed him, and the courage required to keep going through moments of fear, exhaustion, and uncertainty. The episode offers a personal, honest look at illness, recovery, and the strength found in faith, family, and resilience.
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Focus Hawaii Rex Frandsen Dedication of McKay Foyer
Lance Chase and Rex Frandsen
Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Rex Frandsen, Associate Dean of Library and Academic Support at Brigham Young University–Hawai‘i, in a discussion centered on the renovation and rededication of the David O. McKay foyer in December 1995. Frandsen recounts his personal history with the campus and explains the historical significance of President David O. McKay’s early vision for the school, which grew out of his 1921 visit to Laie. The program highlights the transformation of the foyer from a largely ceremonial space into an interactive educational and visitor information center, showcasing Hawaiian artifacts, campus history, and important cultural and religious narratives through curated exhibits and design features. Frandsen also describes the challenges of museum curation, including display design, preservation concerns, and plans for rotating exhibits, while emphasizing the foyer’s role as a focal point for visitors and students to better understand the heritage, mission, and global impact of the university.
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Focus Hawaii Richard Burns Bookmobile Librarian
Lance Chase and Richard Burns
Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii spotlights Richard Burns, the bookmobile librarian for the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System, as he explains how this unique “library on wheels” serves communities from Kailua to Sunset Beach. Burns describes Hawaiʻi’s statewide library structure, the bookmobile’s role in reaching residents with limited access to library branches, and the wide range of materials carried—including fiction, nonfiction, Hawaiiana, magazines, paperbacks, audiobooks, and even videotapes. He discusses how routes are scheduled, how patrons can borrow or request books, how the collection is rotated monthly, and how personalized service develops through long‑term relationships with regular visitors. Burns also highlights the state’s forward‑leaning use of technology, such as dial‑up catalog access, and offers practical insights on lending policies, fines, book care, and the future potential for onboard computers. The episode provides a rare inside look at a vital mobile service that keeps literature, learning, and library access alive across Oʻahu’s rural and coastal communities.
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Focus Hawaii Richard Kato
Lance Chase
Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Richard Kato, Executive Director of the KEY Project (Koʻolauloa–Heʻeia Ecumenical Youth Project)—a community-based organization serving families from Kāneʻohe to Kualoa, Waiāhole, Kahaluʻu, Hauʻula, and surrounding rural areas. Kato recounts the project’s beginnings in the late 1960s, when churches and parents joined forces to address youth drug abuse, eventually expanding into a multi‑service hub dedicated to seniors, families, and children. Through photos and discussion, he describes the project’s evolution from a donated, weathered two‑story building into a purpose‑built community center supported by state, city, and local families. Kato explains KEY Project’s broad range of programs—food bank services, senior meal sites, cultural and continuing education classes, after‑school and summer youth programs, counseling support, GED instruction, crisis assistance, and extensive outreach to local schools. He emphasizes the organization’s “ohana‑centered” philosophy, its heavy reliance on volunteers, and the deep trust the community places in the program. Kato also reflects on the changing challenges families face, including drugs, gangs, and lack of youth resources, and shares personal stories of families aided through emergency support. His role as director spans community advocacy, administration, legislative outreach, and the day‑to‑day management of a bustling community space constantly in use by seniors, youth, school partners, legal aid, church groups, and volunteer crews—embodying the mission of bringing the community together.
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Focus Hawaii Riki Stevens "Plane Truth"
Lance Chase and Riki Stevens
Hosted by Lance Chase, this compelling 1995 episode of Focus Hawaii features Riki Stevens, a former flight attendant turned airline‑health activist, whose 24 years in commercial aviation—including flying troop transports during the Vietnam War’s Tet Offensive—led her to investigate the hidden health risks of frequent flying. Drawing on more than a decade of research, Freedom‑of‑Information‑Act struggles, and collaboration with NASA medical experts and investigative journalists, Stevens discusses her book Plane Truth: Tips for Combating the Health and Safety Perils of Flying. Throughout the episode she outlines the documented dangers of modern air travel: reduced cabin oxygen, inefficient air‑exchange systems, clogged vents, high‑altitude radiation, chemical exposure, dehydration, and increased risks for crew members including cancers, sinus issues, arthritis, and varicose veins. She offers practical advice on seat selection, food and water safety, immune support, antioxidant use, and protecting medically vulnerable passengers—especially children and those recovering from illness or radiation treatment. Stevens also sheds light on activism within the airline industry, international policy differences, and continuing resistance from agencies like the FAA. With clarity and urgency, she encourages travelers to take an active role in safeguarding their health before, during, and after flying.
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Focus Hawaii Riley Moffat
Zane Clark and Riley Moffat
Hosted by Zane Clark, this episode of Focus Hawaii begins with the first three minutes silent due to missing audio, and then transitions into an in‑depth discussion with historian and cartographer Riley Moffat about the Hawaiian Kingdom’s Mahele era and its enduring impact on modern land issues. Moffat explains how King Kamehameha III, under pressure from foreign powers and internal political change, initiated the privatization of land through the Bill of Rights (1839), the Constitution of 1840, and the establishment of the Land Commission in 1845. He describes how aliʻi, government officials, and commoners navigated a new Western‑style land system without precedent or infrastructure, resulting in inconsistent surveys, boundary disputes, and long‑term consequences that still shape sovereignty claims today. The episode explores the roles of early surveyors—including Hawaiian‑trained students and even a 17‑year‑old boy—along with the creation of crown lands, kuleana awards, ceded lands, and the later Hawaiian Government Survey of 1870–1900. Moffat also discusses his multi‑volume book project Pala Pala ʻĀina and how research into the Mahele unexpectedly became central to modern legal and cultural debates.
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Focus Hawaii Ron Miyashiro
Lance Chase and Ron Miyashiro
Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Ron Miyashiro, a blind pianist and popular entertainer known for performing at the Tahitian Lanai. Ron shares his life story—being born on the Big Island, losing his sight as a child, and growing up with parents who taught him confidence and independence. He explains how he taught himself accordion and piano, how he labels his digital synthesizer in braille, and how music became both a career and a way to express emotion. Ron talks about raising a family, performing across Hawaiʻi, California, and Utah, and giving back through the Lions Club after they supported him in his youth. With humor and warmth, he describes memorable moments from his performing career, his challenges and adaptations as a sightless musician, and the joy he finds in connecting with people through music. The episode includes several Christmas performances on piano and synthesizer.
