The Conversation: Vaping laws; Architects of Hawaiʻi

By Catherine Cruz,

Maddie Bender, Kevin Allen, Jason Ubay

Published February 12, 2026 at 3:42 PM HST

FILE - The measure notes a state Department of Health survey from 2019 that found more than 30% of Hawaiʻi high school students regularly use electronic smoking devices, such as vapes or e-cigarettes. — FILE - Electronic smoking devices, such as vapes or e-cigarettes.

Pedro Haro, the executive director of the American Lung Association in Hawaiʻi, shares the longstanding push to regulate the tobacco industry | Full Story
Perry Arrasmith, a freelance writer for Hawaii Business, talks about his deep dive into the history of cannabis in Hawaiʻi | Full Story
Melanie Islam, American Institute of Architects — Hawaiʻi Chapter president, on efforts to fund the State Building Code Council | Full Story
Author Scott Miller shares his book, "The Below," about a dystopian world in which Hawaiʻi is the last habitable place | Full Story
DJ Lulú Solares talks about her new Friday night music show as part of "After Hours" on HPR-1 | Full Story

The Conversation

Catherine Cruz

Catherine Cruz is the host of The Conversation. Contact her at ccruz@hawaiipublicradio.org.

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Maddie Bender

Maddie Bender is the executive producer of The Conversation. She also provided production assistance on HPR's "This Is Our Hawaiʻi" podcast. Contact her at mbender@hawaiipublicradio.org.

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Kevin Allen

Kevin Allen is a producer on The Conversation.

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Jason Ubay

Jason Ubay is the managing editor at Hawaiʻi Public Radio. Send your story ideas to him at jubay@hawaiipublicradio.org.

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