The Long View with Neal Milner: Striking findings from 2020 national surveys; Systemic change needed to address Native Hawaiian health disparities, study says; Reality Check with Honolulu Civil Beat: HART, City low balled rail budget by $1.3 billion, according to P3 bids; Maui Mortuary; Koloa Iki campaign raising awareness on sea level rise in Hawaii
The Long View with Neal Milner: Striking findings from 2020 national surveys
At the end of the year, HPR Contributing Editor and political analyst Neal Milner likes to look at Pew Research Center's most striking findings for the year. Not surprisingly, the significant 2020 findings are different from 2019 because of COVID. Some of the survey findings affect how people's lives have been changed. Others show significant political and social patterns that have been around for a number of years and now show themselves in regard to COVID. And then there were developments like the Black Lives Matter protests that were significant even in the middle of a pandemic. Click here to read "20 striking findings from 2020" from Pew Research Center.
Study shows structural inequities, history cause of Native Hawaiian health disparities
A new report by the University of Hawaii John. A. Burns School of Medicine found structural inequities and historical events are partly to blame for continued health disparities among Native Hawaiians. The solution, according to researchers, requires not only systemic change but health interventions rooted in Native Hawaiian culture. HPR Reporter Kuuwehi Hiraishi tells us more.
Reality Check with Honolulu Civil Beat: HART, City underestimated rail costs by $1.3B, P3 prices show
Details released Tuesday on the now defunct Honolulu rail "P3" effort show the actual prices to complete the rail line's final four miles and eight stations, plus build a mid-route transit hub in Pearl City, could costs at least $1.3 billion more than the city had budgeted for that work. Both of the private-sector teams that recently competed for the public-private partnership to finish rail bid over $2.7 billion for the construction contract. Click here to reach the story at CivilBeat.org.
Maui Mortuary adjusts to funerals during COVID
Funerals are an essential aspect of our community that has had to make with COVID-19 restrictions. Tony Lopez, locations manager at Nakamura Mortuary on Maui tells us about the changes the 70-year-old company has made.
Koloa Iki campaign raises awareness of sea level rise in Hawaii
We often hear about the phrase "sitting duck" - you think of vulnerability, an easy target. That's a position we don't want to be in and there's a campaign recently launched around Koloa Iki, a little Hawaiian duck with a serious message about resilience and climate change. We'll hear more about the campaign, which is a joint effort of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Board of Water Supply from various counties and the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College. We spoke with Kauai County Planning Director Kaaina Hull and DLNR's Anu Hittle about new guidance just released today on dealing with sea level rise and the new scrutiny about future development. Click here to visit the Koloa Iki website and activities for kids.
