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The Conversation: Honolulu Rail Critic; Foster Care System

Catherine Cruz
/
HPR

Criticisms of the Honolulu rail; Foster care system facing challenges; Reality Check with Civil Beat: Vaccinating young teens; Resuming LDS missions; 60th anniversary of the Peace Corps

Criticisms of the Honolulu rail from UH Manoa professor Panos Prevedouros | Full Article

Credit Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit

One of the most vocal critics of Honolulu’s rail project, UH Manoa civil engineering professor Panos Prevedouros hasn't held back on his criticism of the decision to build the steel-on-steel project--which has an estimated price tag upwards of $12 billion. 

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Panos Prevedouros, University of Hawaii civil engineering professor

Hawaii foster care system facing challenges

Hawaii’s foster care system is facing big challenges. Hale Kipa works with at-risk youth and their families on Oahu, Kauai, and Hawaii Island. The organization said they have seen a dramatic increase in the need for temporary foster services for families over the past year. Program coordinator Michelle Rocca and therapist Jason Redick spoke with us about the new needs of their 50-year-old foster program. Makana, who has gone through Hale Kipa’s transitional family homes, also joined the discussion. 

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Hale Kipa program coordinator Michelle Rocca and therapist Jason Redick

Reality Check with Civil Beat: Vaccinating young teens | Full Article

Credit AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool

Honolulu Civil Beat’s reality check looked at the move to vaccinate younger teens across the state. Public health reporter Eleni Avendaño had the latest.  

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Honolulu Civil Beat reporter Eleni Avendaño

Resuming LDS mission trips amid the pandemic

With the increase in vaccinations and travel in and out of Hawaii ramping up, will churches now resume mission work? That’s what The Conversation’s Russell Subiono set out to find when he spoke with Oahu-based Elder Nolan Michael Hicken, a missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

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Elder Nolan Michael Hicken, missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Peace Corps celebrates 60th anniversary | Event Calendar

The Honolulu Star Advertiser recently featured an article to mark volunteer week and the 60th anniversary of the Peace Corps. We reached out to Caroline Mackenzie, who leads a group called Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Hawaii

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Caroline Mackenzie, president of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Hawai'i

Talkback

If you have any comments or feedback, let us know by calling the Talkback Line at (808) 792-8217, or recording a voice memo on your smartphone and sending it to talkback@hawaiipublicradio.org.

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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.
Russell Subiono is the executive producer of The Conversation and host of HPR's This Is Our Hawaiʻi podcast. Born in Honolulu and raised on Hawaiʻi Island, he’s spent the last decade working in local film, television and radio. Contact him at talkback@hawaiipublicradio.org.
Savannah Harriman-Pote is the energy and climate change reporter. She is also the lead producer of HPR's "This Is Our Hawaiʻi" podcast. Contact her at sharrimanpote@hawaiipublicradio.org.
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