These are the audio episodes of This Is Our Hawaiʻi. Listen and read the full stories here.
Hawaiʻi has sustained hundreds of thousands of people for centuries, yet these days, it can feel like there isn’t enough for everyone.
Who owns the Hawaiian Islands? Who makes the rules? And why do so many local people feel like they’re left out? Communities across the islands have been having this discussion for decades.
Join host Russell Subiono as he digs deep into residents’ frustrations with the status quo. In each episode, Russell visits a different Hawaiʻi community threatened by outside ownership and listens to what longtime locals have to say.
From Hawaiʻi Public Radio, ʻO ko mākou Hawaiʻi kēia: This Is Our Hawaiʻi explores the history of local people dealing with outside forces — and what may be in store. Episodes will drop once a week this summer.
This Is Our Hawaiʻi is produced with support from PRX and is made possible (in part) by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
This podcast was made possible with financial support from HPR members. Consider making a contribution today.
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Lahaina residents found connection and support on social media after the devastating wildfire. But they also found a rumor claiming that FEMA could seize land from property owners who applied for disaster assistance. The rumor is false, but it revealed an erosion of trust between the community and the government. -
Hop on a nine-seater plane to Molokaʻi and you'll find miles of farmland and a tight-knit community. Often known as the “Friendly Isle,” Molokaʻi has had its fair share of land and food struggles — especially when the pandemic isolated families from crucial access to basic resources.
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Imagine trying to make ends meet while living on an island owned by one of the richest people in the world. That’s the reality for some residents on Lānaʻi, who say the power dynamic of land control can get… complicated. In this episode, we talk to some of those residents who call Lānaʻi home — and have no plans of leaving.
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Before James Dole transformed Lānaʻi into one of the world's largest pineapple plantations, another man set his sights on the island. In 1909, businessman William Irwin bought nearly the entire island of Lānaʻi for $1. But who put it up for sale in the first place?
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The home of high chiefs, kalo farms, and a black sand beach — Waipiʻo Valley is one of the most sacred places on Hawaiʻi Island. But when the county suddenly closed the only road to get there, deep rifts among the people of the island began to emerge.
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This Is Our Hawaiʻi asks: Who owns the Islands? Who makes the rules? And why do so many local people feel like they’re being left out? Podcast drops Summer 2023. Subscribe and join host Russell Subiono as he listens to locals in communities that have dealt with this issue for decades.