The Conversation
Whether you live in our state or far from our shores, you’ll know what’s happening in Hawaiʻi with HPR's daily hour of locally focused discussions of public affairs, ideas, culture and the arts. Guests from across the islands and around the world provide perspectives on life in Hawaiʻi — and issues that have not yet reached Hawaiʻi. Hosted by HPR's Catherine Cruz.
Have something to say? Send a comment to [email protected] or call our talkback line at 808-792-8217.
- Update frequency
- every day
- Average duration
- 51 minutes
- Episodes
- 310
- Years Active
- 2024 - 2025
The Conversation: "No Kings" protests; The story of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
HPR speaks to participants of the "No Kings" protests in Honolulu; L&L's Eddie Flores Jr. chronicles his journey in the new book "Franchising the American Dream"
00:53:44 |
Mon 16 Jun 2025
The Conversation: UH research funding cuts; Jazz harpist wins Doris Duke award
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa interim provost Vassilis Syrmos explains how proposed cuts to federal funding would affect research; Grammy-nominated jazz harpist Brandee Younger is recognized by the …
00:53:45 |
Fri 13 Jun 2025
The Conversation: Public media funding; Immigration concerns in COFA communities
U.S. House lawmakers have voted to cut funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting; Advocate Austin Haleyalpiy with COFA CAN discusses concerns in the COFA community about immigration raids
00:53:52 |
Thu 12 Jun 2025
The Conversation: The future of public media; Kuleana lands
HPR's Bill Dorman breaks down the brewing fight over public media funding; A Yale professor digs into her family history after she unexpectedly inherits kuleana lands
00:51:56 |
Tue 10 Jun 2025
The Conversation: FBI leadership; Local bar owner in James Beard final round
Honolulu's new Special Agent in Charge discusses the priorities of the FBI under Trump; Pint + Jigger co-owner Dave Newman makes it to the final round of a new cocktail service category of the James …
00:53:47 |
Mon 09 Jun 2025
The Conversation: Cirque du Soleil's ʻAuana
Today, the Conversation is revisiting interviews with the creators and performers in Cirque du Soleil's ʻAuana!
00:51:45 |
Fri 06 Jun 2025
The Conversation: EMS responds to Honolulu bus crash; South Korean elections
Dr. Jim Ireland with Honolulu EMS discusses the response to a major crash between a city bus and a pick-up truck; South Korea has elected a new president months after the country faced a martial law …
00:51:41 |
Thu 05 Jun 2025
The Conversation: Thirty Meter Telescope; Hawaiʻi Convention Center
John De Fries, executive director of the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority, responds to TMT funding cuts; State Comptroller Keith Regan provides an update on repairs to the Hawaiʻi Conven…
00:51:47 |
Wed 04 Jun 2025
The Conversation: Funding cut for TMT; Point-in-Time count in Waikīkī
Mayor Kimo Alameda, community members react to the National Science Foundation's decision to cut funding for the Thirty Meter Telescope; HPR joins an early morning Point-in-Time count in Waikīkī
00:51:40 |
Tue 03 Jun 2025
The Conversation: Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke; Medicare fraud prevention
Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke says Hawaiʻi stands to lose $6 million in broadband funding under President Trump's proposed spending bill; Tips on how to identify Medicare scams
00:50:25 |
Mon 02 Jun 2025
The Conversation: Lawsuit seeks to protect marine monument; Gene editing
Conservation groups have filed a lawsuit against President Trump's move to relax protections in the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument; The UH Institute for Biogenesis Research provide…
00:52:02 |
Fri 30 May 2025
The Conversation: Tariffs and tea; New developments in gene editing
Byron Goo, CEO of Tea Chest Hawaiʻi, talks about how tariffs are affecting the tea trade; Jennifer Doudna, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, discusses developments in gene-editing with CRISPR
00:50:14 |
Thu 29 May 2025
The Conversation: Tariffs impact coffee growers; Farmers' mental health
Ralph Gaston of Rusty's Hawaiian Coffee lays out how tariffs are affecting Kona coffee growers; Overstory's Noelle Fujii-Oride reports on a new program to support mental wellness among farmers
00:53:45 |
Wed 28 May 2025
The Conversation: Tariffs; Polynesian Cultural Festival in Kentucky
Designer Jalene Kanani of Noho Home talks about how tariffs are affecting her textile business; Kaila Chung, director of Hui Kaululehua, leads the first Polynesian Cultural Festival in Louisville, Ke…
00:53:44 |
Tue 27 May 2025
The Conversation: How tariffs are affecting Hawaiʻi businesses
Today on The Conversation, we're taking an in-depth look at how tariffs are affecting Hawaiʻi businesses.
00:51:15 |
Fri 23 May 2025
The Conversation: 'Lilo & Stitch'; Beer competition
We revisit an interview with Chris Sanders, the voice and creator of Stitch, ahead of the premiere of Disney's live-action "Lilo & Stitch"; HPR's Cathrine Cluett Pactol shares about Ka La’i Ola, a ho…
00:53:02 |
Thu 22 May 2025
The Conversation: Downtown Honolulu; Keeping keiki fed on summer break
Urban planning experts discuss how to revitalize downtown Honolulu; Tariffs and cuts to federal grants affect local school lunch providers
00:53:46 |
Wed 21 May 2025
The Conversation: Mākua Valley; Hula and health
The military has released a report signalling it may drastically reduce its footprint on Oʻahu; A hula hālau of breast cancer survivors discuss their shared journey
00:52:54 |
Tue 20 May 2025
The Conversation: Small business owners talk tariffs; Hula and health
Small Kine Gift owners detail how tariffs are affecting store prices; What is the relationship between hula and health?
00:53:47 |
Mon 19 May 2025
The Conversation: Fireworks industry seeks tariff exemption; Marion Jones
The firework industry is seeking an exemption to Trump's tariffs on China; Two-time Olympian Marion Jones prepares for the Honolulu Triathlon
00:53:51 |
Fri 16 May 2025
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