Friday, June 27th – from HPR2, it’s The Conversation
Federal Efforts to Preserve Pollinators: Anthony Maxfield
Hawaii’s bees and the plants they pollinate have been threatened since 2007, when a Manoa beekeeper discovered a varroa mite infestation. Our state isn’t the only place where bees and other pollinators are in jeopardy. A week ago, the President called for a task force to create a federal strategy promoting the health of honey bees and other pollinators. The Secretary of Agriculture and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency are the co-chairs. They and a dozen or so task force members have six months to design an action plan. Anthony Maxfield is the President of the board of Hawaii Beekeepers’ Association. He’s reviewed what the feds hope to accomplish and was on the phone with us today.
Intro Music: Sweet Honey Bee by Duke Pearson
Outro Music: Blessed Be, Honey Bee by Grand Hallway
Hawaii Coffee Fest: Shawn Steiman aka Dr. Coffee
You probably know that Hawaii is an excellent place to grow coffee, and that the Kona Coast has built a reputation for some of the best coffee available anywhere. What you may not know is that coffee-growing in Hawaii has expanded well beyond the Big Island, and that each region has a distinctive flavor. Shawn Steiman, known by some Dr. Coffee, will be sharing his enthusiasm tomorrow morning in Honolulu at the Hawaii Coffee Fest. He’s a coffee connoisseur, and he joined us this morning.
Intro Music: Falling in Love at the Coffee Shop by Landon Pigg
Outro Music: Groovin’ High by Canonball Adderly and Milt Jackson
HB2163, Child Custody/Parental Parity Bill: Chris Lethem
You know this adage: Half of all marriages will end in divorce. According to University of Minnesota researchers, the many ways of collecting divorce data may be skewing the numbers. That can make it tough to pin down the actual divorce rate since the 1980s, but sources say that close to 50% of children are now growing up in a single parent environment. In Hawaii, the bill to reform the state’s child custody law by encouraging judges to order shared parenting is on the Governor’s probable veto list. Chris Lethem, the Chair of the Hawaii Executive Committee of the National Parents Organization says that stance is out of step with changing times and he joined us in studio to discuss.
Intro Music: Past Lives by DIIV
Outro Music: Classy Penguin by The Books
UH Insect Museum Enlists Bug Enthusiasts: Daniel Rubinoff
The folks at the University of Hawaii Insect Museum love to collect bugs, and they gather them from field collectors around the state throughout the year. The collection can get a little bit out of hand, so once a year the folks at the Museum hold an Insect Sorting Event. You don’t need a lot of expertise, just a little bit of enthusiasm. Professor Daniel Rubinoff, director of the Museum, is on the line to tell us more how you can get involved.
Intro Music: Wonder Years (ft. Josh Martinez) by The Insects
Outro Music: Cloud Generator by Tycho
