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Focus Hawaii

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Focus Hawaii Debi Hartman

Lance Chase and Debi Hartman

Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Debi Hartman, a Hawaiʻi State Board of Education member who shares her unlikely path from housewife and PTA volunteer to influential education advocate. Hartman describes her childhood in California and Oklahoma, her move to Hawaiʻi, and how a simple invitation to attend a PTA convention led to district leadership, legislative testimony, and statewide representation. She explains her appointments to school advisory councils, her gubernatorial appointment to the Board of Education, and her eventual election as the Windward District member. Hartman provides insight into Hawaiʻi’s unique statewide school board election system, funding challenges, class-size concerns, and the need for shared educational goals among the Board, Legislature, and Governor. She also discusses the upcoming statewide Education Summit, community‑based school management, curriculum restructuring, and efforts to strengthen both academic and vocational pathways for Hawaiʻi’s students.
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.
Focus Hawaii Ken Wagner and Rob Nielson

Lance Chase, Ken Wagner, and Rob Nielson

Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Ken Wagner, head basketball coach, and Rob Nielson, assistant coach at Brigham Young University–Hawai‘i, in a discussion of collegiate athletics, coaching philosophy, and student development. Drawing on their playing and coaching experience at both junior college and university levels, Wagner and Nielson describe their approach to building a competitive basketball program grounded in team chemistry, discipline, and strong defensive play, while emphasizing that academic success and personal growth are equally important goals for student-athletes. They reflect on recruiting challenges, the evolving nature of modern athletes, and the importance of aligning player roles with team success. The conversation also highlights the broader role of athletics in higher education, exploring how sports can provide opportunities for education, character development, and leadership, while balancing increasing pressures from competition and commercialization.
Focus Hawaii Jamie Kealoha

Lance Chase and Jamie Kealoha

Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Jamie Kealoha, a 16‑year‑old Hawai‘i student and successful international teen model, who offers a candid look at balancing education, personal values, and a demanding modeling career. A junior at ʻIolani School and an honor student, Kealoha discusses how she manages academic responsibilities alongside professional opportunities that have taken her to Paris, Spain, and New York. She reflects on both the glamorous and challenging aspects of modeling, explaining the long hours, travel, and competitive environment, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining her religious standards, family support, and personal identity. The conversation also explores her future goals beyond modeling—including college, teaching, and family life—as well as the cultural and ethical challenges faced by young people in high‑visibility careers. Through her perspective, the episode highlights themes of discipline, humility, and the importance of grounding career ambitions in strong personal values.
Focus Hawaii David Porter

Lance Chase and David Porter

Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features BYU–Hawaii’s “wandering statesman” David Porter, who shares vivid experiences from his goodwill athletic tour through the Soviet Union as part of Athletes United for Peace. Fresh from competing in the Moscow Peace Marathon, a tennis tournament in Sochi, and other events in Leningrad, Porter recounts everything from a chaotic Aeroflot flight to meaningful one‑on‑one encounters with Soviet citizens, descriptions of somber public behavior, and the warmth he found inside families’ homes. He discusses Soviet athletic culture, black‑market trading, political attitudes toward Gorbachev’s reforms, economic hardships, restrictions on daily life, and the emotional contrast he felt between public oppression and private hospitality. Porter also displays mementos—including lacquer boxes, pins, coins, hats, T‑shirts, and a doubles championship trophy—while reflecting on how the journey reshaped his understanding of Soviet life and strengthened his gratitude for personal freedoms.
Focus Hawaii James Arringtom Brother Brigham

Lance Chase and James Arrington

Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features James Arrington, acclaimed actor, playwright, and performer, known for his one‑man stage productions portraying historical figures such as Brigham Young and J. Golden Kimball. Arrington discusses his artistic journey, from formal theater training to developing original solo performances rooted in Western and Latter‑day Saint history, emphasizing the challenges of writing, researching, and performing historically based material in an engaging and accurate way. He offers insight into the craft of acting, including the dynamic relationship between performer and audience, the discipline required to sustain compelling performances, and the creative process of transforming historical figures into relatable, human characters. The episode culminates in a live excerpt from his well‑known production Here’s Brother Brigham, in which Arrington portrays Brigham Young, blending humor, historical interpretation, and theatrical storytelling to bring the past to life.
Focus Hawaii Keith Merrill

Lance Chase and Keith Merrill

Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii visits filmmaker Keith Merrill on the North Shore of Oʻahu as he works on a new IMAX movie for the Polynesian Cultural Center. Merrill talks about his background, how he got into filmmaking, and what makes IMAX different—huge film, huge screens, and special cameras. He explains that the movie they’re making shows important scenes from ancient Polynesia, filmed in places like Samoa, Tahiti, Easter Island, Oʻahu, and Kauaʻi. Instead of telling one long story, the film uses short reenactments to show what life might have been like: voyaging, families, traditions, and cultural ceremonies. Merrill also shares challenges of filming in the islands, what it’s like working with a big crew, and his hope that this IMAX film will help people around the world better appreciate Polynesian culture.
Focus Hawaii Gregory John Newell

Lance Chase and Gregory John Newell

Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Gregory John Newell, the United States Ambassador to Sweden and the youngest American ever to hold an ambassadorship. Newell recounts his journey from humble beginnings in Illinois and California to studying at the Church College of Hawaiʻi, serving a mission in Europe, and pursuing a political path that led him into high‑level national service under Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Reagan. He describes his work in presidential campaigns, his tenure as Assistant Secretary of State for multilateral foreign policy, and his eventual appointment as ambassador charged with repairing strained U.S.–Sweden relations rooted in the Vietnam era. Newell also discusses diplomatic life in Stockholm, security challenges—including an attempted attack—raising his young family abroad, the cultural benefits of international schooling, his efforts to learn Swedish, the realities of ambassadorial salary and cost of living, and his future plans in government or the private sector.
Focus Hawaii Tuione Pulotu Artist

Lance Chase and Tuione Pulotu

Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Tuione Pulotu, a self‑taught Tongan sculptor and Hawai‘i resident, whose remarkable woodcarving reflects both traditional Polynesian influences and his own artistic vision. Pulotu recounts his journey from growing up in Tonga with limited artistic resources to developing a passion for carving after exposure to Hawaiian woodworking and museum collections. Balancing a full‑time construction business with his creative work, he describes his process of shaping pieces directly from the natural form and grain of wood, often drawing inspiration from Hawaiian, Tongan, and Marquesan designs. The program highlights several of his works, including bowls, paddles, and canoes, and features his most significant creation—a seven‑foot‑tall ceremonial throne carved from a single piece of wood for the future King of Tonga, completed as a personal labor of devotion rather than for compensation. Through his story, the episode celebrates artistic dedication, cultural identity, and the enduring power of craftsmanship in Polynesian tradition.
Focus Hawaii Elijah Solists The Robinsons

Lance Chase, Clayne Robinson, and Vivien Robinson

Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features acclaimed vocalists Clayne and Vivien Robinson, visiting Hawai‘i as featured soloists for Mendelssohn’s Elijah oratorio. The husband‑and‑wife performers share their personal journeys in music, faith, and family life, tracing Clayne’s path from Harvard law school to a doctorate in music and leadership in opera education, and Vivien’s decision to balance her exceptional vocal talent with a deep commitment to raising their six children. Through thoughtful conversation, they explore themes of artistic balance, the role of fine arts in education, classical versus popular vocal traditions, and the importance of exposing young people to creative expression. Their reflections underscore the value of music not only as performance, but as a lifelong, enriching experience deeply connected to personal growth, family priorities, and community involvement.
Focus Hawaii BYUH Presidents Past, Present

Lance Chase, Dr. Alton Wade, and Dr. Owen Cook

Hosted by Lance Chase, this Focus Hawaii episode brings together Dr. Alton Wade, the then‑current president of BYU–Hawaii, and Dr. Owen Cook, a former president of the institution, for a reflective discussion on the university’s past, present, and future. The two leaders share personal histories that intersect through Church education in the Pacific, tracing the evolution of BYU–Hawaii from the early days of the Church College of Hawaii to its role as an internationally diverse liberal arts university. They discuss the development of Church‑supported schools throughout Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia, the transition from mainland to locally trained educators, and the challenges of serving a multicultural student body. The conversation also highlights campus growth, community relationships, academic and spiritual priorities, and the school’s “prophetic destiny” to educate students whose influence will be felt internationally through leadership, service, and moral preparation.
Focus Hawaii Jan Fisher

Lance Chase and Jan Fisher

Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Jan Fisher, a BYU–Hawaii art professor and sculptor known for his large bronze monuments and powerful figurative work. Fisher shares his background—from teaching in American Samoa to studying ceramics and sculpture in California—and explains why he works almost entirely through commissions. He describes major projects such as the Koloa Sugar Monument on Kaua‘i, a massive millstone‑shaped sculpture containing near‑life‑size bronze figures, as well as his commissioned fountain for Dr. Robert Schuller and an equestrian sculpture of St. Louis. Throughout the interview, Fisher talks about his artistic philosophy, his shift from abstract ceramic forms to Renaissance‑inspired figurative sculpture, and the emotional and spiritual experiences he has while creating. He also discusses his teaching approach, his belief in balancing art and family life, and his excitement about competing as a finalist in a national sculpture competition in Washington, D.C.
Focus Hawaii George Auflick Department of Justice Investigator on Drugs

Lance Chase and George Auflick

Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features George Auflick, a Drug Enforcement Administration investigator with the U.S. Department of Justice, in an in‑depth discussion of drug trafficking, law enforcement, and substance abuse issues in Hawai‘i and the mainland United States. Drawing on his experience overseeing an airport task force and conducting undercover operations, Auflick explains how drugs such as marijuana and cocaine are transported into Hawai‘i, outlines current trends in drug use, and describes the dangers associated with both substances—including psychological, physical, and social consequences. He emphasizes the growing role of education in reducing drug use among young people, while also addressing the risks faced by law enforcement officers and the increasing sophistication of drug distribution methods. The conversation highlights emerging threats such as crack cocaine, the impact of drug culture and media portrayal, and the importance of personal responsibility and awareness, particularly among youth, in combating drug abuse and its effects on individuals, families, and communities. Note: this episode survives as audio only; no video recording is available.
Focus Hawaii Uncle Five Cents

Lance Chase and Thomas Au

Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Thomas Au, affectionately known as “Uncle Five Cents,” a lifelong Laie resident and respected steel guitar player. He shares the story behind his nickname—earned as a boy diving for coins at the old “Beauty Hole”—and talks about his Hawaiian‑Chinese heritage, local swimming legends, and his place as the eighth steel guitarist in a long Laie tradition. Uncle Five Cents recounts the history of the steel guitar, including the role of Joseph Kekuku, and explains how he taught himself by buying 78‑rpm records, comparing players, and practicing late into the night. He also describes performing at the famous Hukilau events, his admiration for steel artists like Solomon Hopi, and the revival of steel guitar music. Beyond music, he reflects on his years working in the sugar plantation, construction, and for the City and County of Honolulu. The episode concludes with a live performance of the classic steel guitar piece “Sands,” accompanied by BYU–Hawaii student Fred Watson.
Focus Hawaii Grant E. Barton Zone Manager for LDS & CES

Lance Chase and Grant E. Barton

Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Grant E. Barton, Zone Manager for Public Communications for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints and an educator, businessman, and media specialist, in a wide‑ranging discussion of church communication, education, and community outreach in Hawai‘i. Drawing on his background in educational communications, business, and leadership—including service as a mission president—Barton reflects on the role of media relations, missionary work, and public understanding of the Church. He discusses efforts to strengthen connections between BYU–Hawai‘i, the Polynesian Cultural Center, and local communities, as well as initiatives to highlight educational opportunities and promote shared values such as family unity, morality, and service. The episode also explores programs like Family Home Evening and the Church’s broader goal of fostering strong families and cultural understanding, while emphasizing Hawai‘i’s unique diversity and its role as a place where different cultures live and cooperate harmoniously. Note: this episode survives as audio only; no video recording is available.
Focus Hawaii Dorothy Behling

Lance Chase and Dorothy L. Behling

Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Dorothy L. Behling, a dedicated family history researcher, who introduces viewers to the principles and personal rewards of genealogy and family research. Drawing on her own journey of discovering ancestral roots across Europe and Hawai‘i, Behling explains how genealogy transforms history into a living, personal experience, connecting individuals to generations past through stories, records, and relationships. She outlines practical methods for beginning research—focusing on interviewing elders, preserving photographs, and gathering key documents—while also demonstrating how emerging computer technology can dramatically improve organization and efficiency. Beyond techniques, Behling emphasizes the deeper emotional and spiritual impact of family history, describing how understanding one’s lineage fosters identity, belonging, and compassion for others, ultimately creating a powerful sense of connection across time and humanity. Note: this episode survives as audio only; no video recording is available.
Focus Hawaii Special Cy Bridges

Lance Chase and Cy Bridges

Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Cy Bridges, Vice President for Cultural Presentation at the Polynesian Cultural Center and a respected kumu hula, in a fascinating exploration of Hawaiian origins, genealogy, and cultural tradition. Drawing on oral histories, ancestral genealogies, chants, and comparative cultural evidence, Bridges discusses the complex question of where the Hawaiian people originated, presenting the view that Hawaiians are likely a multicultural people shaped by migrations from several regions, including Southeast Asia and possibly the Americas. He reflects on traditional Hawaiian genealogies that link ancestral figures to ancient flood narratives, temple rituals, and migration patterns, and explores parallels between Polynesian traditions and Latter‑day Saint teachings about Hagoth and the Lamanites. The conversation highlights the importance of oral tradition, chant, and hula as vehicles of historical memory, emphasizing how cultural knowledge has been preserved across generations and continues to inform identity, belief, and community understanding among Native Hawaiians. Note: this episode survives as audio only; no video recording is available.
Focus Hawaii Darwin Fisher

Lance Chase and Darwin Fisher

Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Darwin Fisher, attorney‑turned‑entrepreneur and founder and chairman of Ideal Products, Inc., who discusses his transition from a successful legal career into building a rapidly growing network marketing and distribution company. Fisher traces his background from Washington state to Brigham Young University and the University of Utah Law School, explaining how his experience in law shaped Ideal Products’ consumer‑focused business philosophy. The conversation explores the company’s unique hybrid approach that blends retail pricing with network marketing, offering both proprietary nutritional products—such as AllFoodTab, Rescue 1000, and CalTab—and major name‑brand goods. Fisher outlines his emphasis on low entry barriers for distributors, family involvement, ethical growth, and international expansion, presenting Ideal Products as an accessible opportunity for individuals seeking supplemental or full‑time business ownership while emphasizing product value, personal testimony, and long‑term sustainability.
Focus Hawaii Dr. Bruce Hafen Dean of Provo Campus

Lance Chase and Bruce C. Hafen

Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Dr. Bruce C. Hafen, Dean of the Brigham Young University Law School, in a thoughtful discussion of children’s rights, family relationships, and the role of law in society. Drawing on his expertise in children’s law and family studies, Hafen examines the emerging debate over a so‑called “children’s liberation” movement, distinguishing between rights that protect and nurture children—such as education, safety, and parental care—and those that might prematurely extend adult freedoms without adequate preparation. He explores the balance between parental authority and legal intervention, emphasizing that stable family relationships, discipline, and moral responsibility are essential to the development of children and the health of society. Addressing issues such as age‑based legal limits, child protection, education, and the risks of excessive reliance on litigation, Hafen argues for a common‑sense approach that upholds both the rights and responsibilities necessary to prepare young people for mature citizenship. Note: The video is shaky.
Focus Hawaii Dr. Bruce Hafen Dean of Provo Campus

Lance Chase and Bruce C. Hafen

Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Dr. Bruce C. Hafen, Dean of the Brigham Young University Law School, in a thoughtful discussion of children’s rights, family relationships, and the role of law in society. Drawing on his expertise in children’s law and family studies, Hafen examines the emerging debate over a so‑called “children’s liberation” movement, distinguishing between rights that protect and nurture children—such as education, safety, and parental care—and those that might prematurely extend adult freedoms without adequate preparation. He explores the balance between parental authority and legal intervention, emphasizing that stable family relationships, discipline, and moral responsibility are essential to the development of children and the health of society. Addressing issues such as age‑based legal limits, child protection, education, and the risks of excessive reliance on litigation, Hafen argues for a common‑sense approach that upholds both the rights and responsibilities necessary to prepare young people for mature citizenship. Note: The video is shaky.
Focus Hawaii Jerry Jarrett

Lance Chase and Jerry Jarrett

Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Jerry Jarrett, a professional stage and television actor, who visits Brigham Young University–Hawai‘i to perform the lead role of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. Drawing on decades of experience in Broadway productions, television, and national tours, Jarrett reflects on his acting career, the challenges of the performing arts, and the discipline required to succeed in theater. He discusses the enduring themes of Fiddler on the Roof—including tradition, family relationships, and social change—and explains their universal appeal across cultures, particularly within the diverse student community at BYU–Hawai‘i. The conversation also explores the realities of acting as a profession, from training and perseverance to rejection and resilience, while highlighting the unique dynamic of casting an international ensemble and the continuing vitality of live theater as a meaningful cultural and artistic tradition.
Focus Hawaii Kamaki Kanahele Office of Hawaii Affairs

Lance Chase and Kamaki Kanahele

Lance Chase, Focus Hawaii, Kamaki Kanahele, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, OHA, Native Hawaiian policy, Hawaiian governance, ceded lands trust, Hawaiian community issues, Native Hawaiian identity, Pacific politics, economic development Hawaii, Hawaiian culture preservation, education and health programs Hawaii, public administration Hawaii, indigenous rights Hawaii.
Focus Hawaii Making of a Camakau

Lance Chase and Dr. Jerry K. Loveland

Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Dr. Jerry K. Loveland, Director of the Institute for Polynesian Studies, who recounts the multi‑year project to document and reconstruct a traditional Fijian camakau canoe on the remote island of Kambara in Fiji’s Lau Group. Loveland explains the cultural urgency behind preserving canoe‑building knowledge—one of the Polynesians’ most sophisticated material achievements—and describes efforts to collaborate with Fijian chiefs, expert canoe builders, and even the Prime Minister to build an authentically crafted vessel using native hardwoods and traditional materials. He details the filming expeditions, the months‑long on‑site documentation by a young couple, the community’s involvement, and the canoe’s eventual transport to the Polynesian Cultural Center. The discussion also highlights the broader work of the Institute for Polynesian Studies, including publications, films, and conferences dedicated to Pacific scholarship
Focus Hawaii Making of a Camakau

Lance Chase and Dr. Jerry K. Loveland

Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Dr. Jerry K. Loveland, Director of the Institute for Polynesian Studies, who recounts the multi‑year project to document and reconstruct a traditional Fijian camakau canoe on the remote island of Kambara in Fiji’s Lau Group. Loveland explains the cultural urgency behind preserving canoe‑building knowledge—one of the Polynesians’ most sophisticated material achievements—and describes efforts to collaborate with Fijian chiefs, expert canoe builders, and even the Prime Minister to build an authentically crafted vessel using native hardwoods and traditional materials. He details the filming expeditions, the months‑long on‑site documentation by a young couple, the community’s involvement, and the canoe’s eventual transport to the Polynesian Cultural Center. The discussion also highlights the broader work of the Institute for Polynesian Studies, including publications, films, and conferences dedicated to Pacific scholarship
Focus Hawaii Duke Hamilton and Dale Robertson

Lance Chase, Dale Robertson, and R.G. "Duke" Hamilton

Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Dr. Dale Robertson, associate professor of political science at BYU–Hawai‘i, and R.G. “Duke” Hamilton, a retired U.S. Marine and student, in an in‑depth discussion of the U.S. bombing of Libya in 1986 and the broader issue of international terrorism. Drawing on academic analysis and military perspective, the guests explore competing definitions of terrorism, the political and moral implications of U.S. military action, and the likelihood that such actions could either deter or escalate further violence. The conversation also examines Middle Eastern responses, the role of Libya’s leader Muammar Qaddafi, and the strategic considerations involving Soviet influence and global power dynamics during the Cold War era. Presenting differing viewpoints, the episode highlights the complexity of foreign policy decisions and the difficulty of addressing terrorism on both political and ethical grounds. Note: the recording is incomplete; both video and audio are cut off after approximately the first ten minutes.