Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said earlier this spring that he does not believe Oahu needs another landfill. The mayor hopes technological advances, including a new H-POWER plant will eliminate the need to add anything beyond the Waimanalo Gulch landfill. But in Hong Kong, waste is a very different story. And Bill Dorman has it in today’s Asia Minute.

A local contest is making it easier to kickstart a career in agriculture. An open call for land proposals on some of the state’s prime ag lands could result in a five year land lease…for free! HPR’s Molly Solomon reports.

(Credit Mahi‘ai Matchup)

The number of Chinese tourists coming to Hawaii is continuing to grow. But China’s government has some advice for citizens traveling anywhere overseas. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

One of Apple’s main contractors in China has been making progress when it comes to improving working conditions, but there’s still a lot more to do. That’s the view of a labor monitor appointed by Apple. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Tensions are rising between two Asian allies of the United States. And U.S. officials say the escalation is a matter of concern. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

If you look out the window anywhere across the islands, the Arctic Circle may feel like a long way away. But at a meeting in Sweden this week, a number of Asian countries are trying to get a bit closer. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in today’s Asia Minute.

Award winning writer, storyteller, educator, Makia Malo, was diagnosed with Hansen’s disease at age 12, and exiled to Kalaupapa in 1947.  HPR’s Noe Tanigawa spoke with Malo about experiences included in his new memoir.

Makia Malo will appear at this weekend’s Hawai’i Book and Music Festival for a talk story and reading from his new book, My Name is Makia: A Memoir of Kalaupapa.   Pamela Young & Jeff Gere, contributors to Makia Malo’s new book, will appear also, this Saturday, May 18th, 10am in the Alana Hawaiian Culture Pavillion.

The Hawai’i Book and Music Festival site:

http://hawaiibookandmusicfestival.com/

Find My Name is Makia: A Memoir of Kalaupapa and other books by Watermark Publishing:

http://blog.bookshawaii.net/2013/04/26/hbmf-2013/

Hawai’i Bookblog:

http://www.hawaiibookblog.com/articles/tag/makia-malo/

Honolulu is not the only city with a debate about trains. In Vietnam, there’s been an ongoing discussion about improving the rail link between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

There are an estimated two thousand maker spaces around the world.  Also called hackerspaces or co-working spaces, these enclaves of equipment and creative people are part of a changing way of working.  HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports.

Learn more about Maker Spaces in Hawaii, Oahu, Kauai, and Maui.

Maui Makers is the grant manager for SpaceGAMBIT, a $500,000 2 year DARPA funded program to encourage makerspaces around the world to work on projects that promote humanity's long term survival and expansion into space.

In Box Jelly in Kaka'ako:

http://hicapacity.org/

On Hawai'i Island:

http://easthawaii.org/program-areas/hawaiitechworks/

Cyclovia Hawai’i/ Hele On Kaka’ako:

http://cycloviahawaii.org/

Make Magazine:

http://makezine.com/