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The Conversation: Thursday, September 6th, 2018

Wikimedia Commons

Public Comment of Vacation Rentals; Hanauma Bay Capacity; OHA Masterplan; Puna Recovery

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Credit Wayne Yoshioka
Four bills containing various regulations of temporary vacation rentals were submitted by city council members. A fifth competing bill has been drafted by the Caldwell Administration.

Vacation Rental Regulation Plan Finds Little Support from Residents

For several years, state and city lawmakers have been unable to reach an agreement on how best to regulate vacation rental services like Airbnb, VRBO, and Home Away.

The Honolulu Planning Commission held a public hearing yesterday on several proposals that would change the way Temporary Vacation Units - or TVU’s - operate on Oahu. Dozens of Oahu residents appeared in person to testify.

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Ryan Finnerty

Outro Music: Dawn Dance by Alasdair Fraser 

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Credit D. Ramey Logan / Wikimedia Commons
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Wikimedia Commons

Ecological Impacts of Overuse in Hanauma Bay

For decades now the city has been monitoring visitor counts at Hanauma Bay.

But its overdue for a carrying capacity survey to understand the toil that the thousands of visitors a day may be taking on the bay, particularly the coral which has been degrading over the years.

We talked to City Parks director Michelle Nekota about the need to assess what is happening to the marine preserve. Researchers with the University’s sea grant college are focusing on particular areas of overuse in the bay.

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Michele Nekota

Intro Music: Little Echoes by Jake Shimabukuro

Outro Music: Flying High by McCoy Tyner Trio

                                                       

Credit Wikimedia Commons
The entrance to Kukaniloko in Wahiawa.

OHA Considers Management Plan for Wahiawa Birthing Stones

Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs are taking up a master plan for more than 500 hundred acres in Wahiawa. The land was acquired six years ago to safeguard a rich cultural resource.

Kukaniloko is known as the birthing stones of the Hawaiian royalty. The most sacred and highest ranking ali’i traveled there to give birth on the large stone formation. But in recent years an encampment of homeless has taken hold in the area. Concern for visitors to the area has become an issue after a recent gunpoint robbery.

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Jonathan Ching

Intro Music: New South Africa by Bela Fleck

Outro Music: Kalapaki by Keola Beamer

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Credit Drug Policy Alliance
Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno.

National Drug Policy Alliance Chief in Hawaii

This weekend marks the 25th anniversary of the Drug Policy Forum. The big milestone is getting medical marijuana dispensaries established in the islands this past year.

In town to mark the anniversary is Maria McFarland Sanchez Moreno - head of the National Drug Policy Alliance. She’s the keynote speaker at a Gala Saturday.

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Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno

Intro Music: Come Go With Me by Exposé

Outro Music: Nights Off by Siriusmo


Credit Courtesy of the Salazar Family
Aaron Salazar

Civil Beat Reality Check: Hawaii Man Injured on Amtrack

Police say the Kaiser grad leaped out the window of a moving train in an attempted suicide. His Hawaii family says he was targeted for being gay.

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Brittany Lyte

Intro Music: Sweet Oblivious Antidote by Perpetual Groove

Outro Music: Isn't She Lovely by Tom Misch

Credit Wikimedia Commons
Hundreds of homes around Kapoho Bay were destroyed when a lava flow inundated the bay.

Hawaii Island Residents Look to the Future Following Disasters

Big Island residents are enjoying blue skies again following the flash flooding of Hurricane Lane and months of heavy vog. While that may be lifting spirits of the community finding a solution to the long-term needs of housing is still a challenge.

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Sherry Bracken

Intro Music: Weekend by Smith Westerns

Outro Music: Intro by Yellow Days

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Catherine Cruz is the host of The Conversation. Originally from Guam, she spent more than 30 years at KITV, covering beats from government to education. Contact her at ccruz@hawaiipublicradio.org.
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