A handful of bills that passed through the Legislature this year focus on reforming Hawaiʻi's permitting processes to speed up housing construction, including shoring up a shortage of permitting staff.

A conference this week in Tokyo on ocean planning and management is drawing leaders from more than two-dozen island countries. Itʻs being led by the head of a Pacific Island nation. HPR's Derrick Malama has more in the Pacific News Minute.

Playwright Diane Aoki spoke to HPR's Lillian Tsang about "Memory Beads," which will be playing onstage at Kumu Kahua Theatre through June 28.

The Hawaiʻi Foodbank, the state Department of Education, and community partners are launching their summer programs to keep families fed.

University of Hawaiʻi computer scientist Kim Binsted talks about the the HI-SEAS program on Maunaloa, which simulates missions to the moon and to Mars.

The Polynesian voyaging canoes Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia have been in New Zealand since November and were supposed to leave for Tonga in May.

While money was tight at the state Legislature this year, it was still another successful year for local agriculture and food security.

If you've ever felt that visiting a museum is good for you, you may be onto something. And there's now scientific evidence to back that up. HPR's Bill Dorman has more in todayʻs Asia Minute.