Spotlight Now

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Got questions for everyone from Hawaii’s governor to business leaders to community organizers? Get them answered on HNN’s new weekly interview show, “Spotlight Now,” which includes live engagement with viewers on social media. The program is hosted by interviewers Yunji de Nies and Ryan Kalei Tsuji, who go in-depth on critical topics impacting the islands.

Feb 25

Spotlight Now: Health care leaders weigh in on proposed HMSA-Hawaii Pacific Health partnership

Health care leaders weigh in on the proposed HMSA-Hawaii Pacific Health partnership. Then, Aloha United Way's CEO Michelle Bartell discusses the nonprofit’s annual 211 report.

56 min
Jan 28

Spotlight Now: Gov. Josh Green discusses immigration and health care in Hawaii

Gov. Josh Green sits down with Spotlight Now a day after his fourth State of the State address to discuss his top priorities for the 2026 legislative session. Amid the federal government’s immigration crackdown, Gov. Green will comment on the future of ICE enforcement in Hawaii. The governor will also share his thoughts on One Health Hawaii, the potential partnership between HMSA and Hawaii Pacific Health.

56 min
10/01/2025

Spotlight Now: Hawaii County mayor, cesspool-to-sewer conversions

On this episode of Spotlight Now, Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda sits down to talk about the pressing challenges facing the Big Island and potential pay raises for all county workers. He also provides an update on a bus crash that sent 22 people to the hospital. Then Stuart Coleman, executive director of Wastewater Alternatives & Innovations, sheds light on the state’s cesspool conversion mandate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

58 min
09/24/2025

Spotlight Now: Examining Hawaii’s relationship with the military

Spotlight Now welcomes two guests to explore Hawaii's relationship with the military when it comes to water and land leases. The Board of Water Supply is suing the U.S. Navy for $1.2 billion to help clean up the 2021 Red Hill fuel spill. BWS manager and chief engineer Ernie Lau says he has been asking the Navy to share their monitoring data, but they have not cooperated. Meanwhile, negotiations continue with the state and military over land leases. Those leases are set to expire in 2029, but the Trump administration has said they want a new deal much sooner. Gov. Josh Green has said it’s in the state’s best interest to engage. Native Hawaiian scholar Jon Kamakawiwoʻole Osorio, dean of the Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, calls his response disappointing. In our new Community Spotlight segment, Kayla Keehu-Alexander, vice president of community impact at Aloha United Way, reflects on federal impacts to local nonprofits. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

57 min
09/17/2025

Spotlight Now (Sept. 16, 2025)

Aloha Stadium is just weeks away from demolition day. On this episode of Spotlight Now, we sit down with the lead developer and the governor’s senior advisor on the project to discuss the project's next phase, including what fans can expect from the new build, and how school and housing plans tie into the redevelopment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

58 min
09/10/2025

Spotlight Now: Gov. Green on e-bikes, land leases, Kamehameha Schools

Gov. Josh Green announced Tuesday on Spotlight Now that he plans to sign an executive order within a week regulating e-bike safety across the islands. This comes during a sharp rise in traffic deaths, along with e-bike and motorcycle crashes. Green also discusses specific requests he has for the federal government in exchange for military land leases. Lastly, Green responds to a recent threat of litigation against Kamehameha Schools about its admission policy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

58 min
09/03/2025

Spotlight Now: Hawaii nonprofits sound alarm over federal funding cuts

Hawaii nonprofits are losing millions of dollars in federal funding. Local organizations are sounding the alarm about programs that could be cut and the impacts that can have on our community and the economy. Joining us on Spotlight Now to explain are: Shawn Kanaiaupuni, Partners in Development CEO Trey Gordner, University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization (UHERO) Melissa Miyashiro, Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations (HANO) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

57 min
08/27/2025

Spotlight Now: Honolulu's mayor, council chair discuss key issues (Aug. 26, 2025)

Spotlight Now welcomed Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi to discuss key city issues, including the Wahiawa landfill site and efforts to retain police officers. Then City Council chair Tommy Waters discusses the recent shakeup in leadership at Honolulu Hale and the future of his political career. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

58 min

Got questions for everyone from Hawaii’s governor to business leaders to community organizers? Get them answered on HNN’s new weekly interview show, “Spotlight Now,” which includes live engagement with viewers on social media. The program is hosted by interviewers Yunji de Nies and Ryan Kalei Tsuji, who go in-depth on critical topics impacting the islands.

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