Island Conversations

*/ ?>

Latest Episodes:

Island Conversations #56--Pulse Point--saving Big Island lives Feb 03, 2020

Show notes

Hawaii County Fire Department has joined 3800 other communities in using Pulse Point, a free app you can download to your phone from the App Store. It alerts users to the locations of Fire Department incidents, including where CPR is needed. Host Sherry Bracken talks with HFD Captain Mike Lam of the EMS Bureau about the new app, and why it is so very important for those who know CPR to start CPR when somebody has cardiac arrest, even before the ambulance arrives. Why? Lam tells us organ death starts within 2 to 5 minutes, so as he says, bystander CPR is critical to the victim's survival. He says so far, bystander CPR has tripled our island's survival rates. I talked with the folks at Pulse Point, and they have MANY stories of successful saves, even in an infant 5 weeks old! Posting date: Feb. 3, 2020

Island Conversations #55--Invasive Species, with Franny Brewer of the Big Island Invasive Species Committee Feb 02, 2020

Show notes

Franny Brewer with the Big Island Invasive Species Committee talks with host Sherry Bracken about invasive species, starting with the definition. We talk about the role of the BIISC, and then more about some specific problems: coqui frogs, Queensland Longhorn Beetle (see photo, the big bug on the left), the two-line spittlebug, and more, including the role of the BIISC in Rapid Ohia Death. Air date: Feb. 2, 2020

Island Conversations #54--Heart Health, Hula, and Blood Pressure Jan 26, 2020

Show notes

There was a five year study, recently shared at an American Heart Association meeting, showing that hula can help lower blood pressure, can help heart health. Some research was done on the Big Island with Kumu Pi'ilani Ka'awaloa from Kamehameha Schools and health worker Stacey Haumea working with Big Island participants. Dr. Todd Seto, cardiologist at Queen's Medical Center, talks about the study. PLUS, host Sherry Bracken talks with Randy Kurohara and Toby Taniguchi of Community First, a local health initiative that's sponsoring blood pressure check drives in February and March. Dr. Seto photo courtesy Queen's Medical Center. Air date: Jan. 26, 2020

Island Conversations #53--Measles and Vaccinations Jan 19, 2020

Show notes

Hawaii State Department of Health Chair Dr. Bruce Anderson and the state's Chief Epidemiologist, Dr. Sarah Park, and local Big Island (Kona) pediatrician Dr. Peter Locatelli discuss measles and vaccinations with Island Conversations host Sherry Bracken. Photo: Science News Magazine Air date: Jan. 19, 2020

Island Conversations #52--a new budget approach? Hawaii County Council members Sue Lee Loy and Ashley Kierkiewicz Jan 12, 2020

Show notes

Can the Hawaii County Budget process be done differently? Sue Lee Loy and Ashley Kierkiewicz, Hawaii County Council members representing Hilo and Puna, are looking at a new approach called Budgeting for Outcomes. They talk with host Sherry Bracken. Air date: Jan. 12, 2020

Island Conversations #51--Japanese come to West Hawaii, with Walter Kunitake Jan 05, 2020

Show notes

Kona coffee farmer Walter Kunitake talks with Island Conversations host Sherry Bracken about the Japanese who left plantations and came to West Hawaii once their contracts were up --who, why, what they did. AND about work to create a new Japanese Cultural Center of Kona! Air date: Jan. 5, 2020

Island Conversations #50--the Japanese in Hawaii, with Arnold Hiura of the Hawaii Japanese Center Dec 29, 2019

Show notes

The first Japanese arrived in the State 151 years ago. Arnold Hiura of the Hawaii Japanese Center in Hilo spoke with Island Conversations host Sherry Bracken about the arrival, the work, the influence of the Japanese in Hawaii, in an interview recorded in December, 2018, the year to celebrate the arrival of those first workers, the Gannenmono. This is the first of two discussions--next week we talk with Kona coffee farmer Walter Kunitake about the Japanese who moved to Kona after leaving plantations--what they did, what their legacy is--and the plan to build a Japanese Cultural Center in Kona. Air date: Dec. 29, 2019

Island Conversations #49--Kona Hospital CEO Jay Kreuzer Dec 22, 2019

Show notes

Kona Community Hospital CEO Jay Kreuzer talks with Island Conversations host Sherry Bracken about Kona Hospital, Kohala Hospital, Ali'i Health (which employs 23 physicians), and the Kona Surgery Center, the past improvements at Kona Hospital, future plans -- a new hospital? affiliations? -- plus the plan for a new CEO, since he's retiring January 2. Air date: Dec. 22, 2019

Island Conversations #48--Mayor Harry Kim plus Prosecutor Mitch Roth announces mayoral run Dec 15, 2019

Show notes

Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim and host Sherry Bracken conclude their conversation, talking budget, adding more people to the county budget, short term rental taxes, and more. PLUS, Hawaii County Prosecutor Mitch Roth has announced that he will run for Mayor in the August, 2020 election. Prosecutor Roth shares his initial thoughts. Air date: December 15, 2019

Island Conversations #47--Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim Dec 08, 2019

Show notes

Island Conversations host Sherry Bracken and Mayor Harry Kim talked on Monday, Dec. 2, 2019 in his Hilo office. He wanted to share his thinking about his "The Heart of Aloha, a Way Forward --Mauna Kea," (available at hawaiicounty.gov), and we also talked about budget, and solutions to homelessness. We air the rest of the discussion on Sunday, Dec. 15, and on that date, air a short discussion with a second guest. Air date: Dec. 8, 2019

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected