State of Hawaii's airline industry; Checking in on Hawaii's small businesses; Addressing Hawaii's illiterate population; Public access in the time of COVID; Hawaiian Soul, a new film on George Helm
State of Hawaii's airline industry
The Hawaii Tourism Authority has released data to show Hawaii saw 2.3 million visitor arrivals from January to October 2020. That number was 8.5 million last year. Hawaii's airlift - the industry term for the number of available airline seats - is down from all markets and some routes have been cut. Peter Forman is an aviation expert and the author of two books on flying in Hawaii. He tells us about the current state of affairs and why he's optimistic about travel in the future.
Checking in on Hawaii's small businesses
The COVID-19 pandemic and its ensuing economic crisis has had a partciularly strong effect on small business. According to Melissa Pavlicek, the Hawaii state director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the scope of small business is much broader than what the average resident might think and the resources needed to help different affected businesses across the board vary from operation to operation. She spoke with The Conversation producer Harrison Patino and breaks down the plight of small business in Hawaii, and what can be done to help.
Addressing Hawaii's illiterate population
One in six adults in Hawaii struggle with reading English, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The means that they may be able to read simple texts but have trouble understanding more complex material. Civil Beat Politics & Opinions Editor Chad Blair tells us about a problem that advocates say has persisted for decades. Click hereto read the story at CivilBeat.org.
Public access in the time of COVID
What a difference a year makes. At this time in 2019, the Hawaii State Capitol was open to the public and people could visit their lawmakers or share oral testimony in person. They could also swing by the Public Access Room on the fourth floor. PAR's mission is to provide information, facilities and services to help citizens participate in the state legislative process. The Conversation Producer Lillian Tsang spoke with Public Access Coordinator Virginia Beck on the changes made due to the COVID crisis. Click here to visit the State of hawaii Legislative Reference Bureau Public Access Room website.
Hawaiian Soul, a new film on George Helm
Few stories in Hawaii's recent history have the mythcial lore of George Helm, the charismatic Native Hawaiian activist who mysteriously vanised at sea in the 1970s. His life was captured in a short film called Hawaiian Soul, which won multiple awards at this year's Hawaii International Film Festival. HPR Reporter Kuuwehi Hiraishi tells us more.
Click hereto listen to this week's edition of the Manu Minute.
