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: Startup news outlet highlights housing; Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony
Noelle Fujii-Oride, founder of Overstory, shares the mission of the new digital journalism outlet; HPR staff reflect on their time as members of the Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony
00:53:46 |
Tue 18 Mar 2025
The Conversation: Snapshot of the retail industry; Anime in Honolulu
Tina Yamaki, president of the Retail Merchants of Hawaiʻi, provides a snapshot of the retail industry amid growing economic uncertainty; Voice actors Sally Amaki and Kana Ichinose arrive in Honolulu …
00:53:54 |
Tue 18 Mar 2025
The Conversation: A panel discussion on the state of the economy
Today on The Conversation, experts discuss the current state of the economy amid market dips and federal funding uncertainties. Share your comments during the live show by calling 808-941-3689 (O’ahu…
00:53:58 |
Fri 14 Mar 2025
The Conversation: 5 years of COVID-19; Red Hill update
Former East-West Center epidemiologist Tim Brown discusses five years of the coronavirus pandemic and the various variants; Board of Water Supply Chief Engineer Ernie Lau and Director of Public Affai…
00:53:50 |
Thu 13 Mar 2025
The Conversation: Limiting vaccine exemptions for keiki; South Korean politics
Hye-ryeon Lee, who is the chair of the School of Communication and Information and studies health communication at UH Mānoa, on vaccine hesitancy; East-West Center's new inaugural Presidential Chair,…
00:53:43 |
Wed 12 Mar 2025
The Conversation: NOAA federal cuts; New Hawaiʻi publication
Former NOAA Chief Scientist Sylvia Earle shares the effects further cuts to the agency could have on public access; A. Kam Napier, editor-in-chief of the new Hawaiʻi publication Aloha State Daily, on…
00:53:55 |
Tue 11 Mar 2025
The Conversation: Hōkūleʻa's 50th birthday; Religious decline
Polynesian Voyaging Society CEO Nainoa Thompson talks about the principles that have guided the organization’s work and how he views the next generation of voyagers; Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony President …
00:53:43 |
Mon 10 Mar 2025
The Conversation: Funding freeze court ruling; HOH808 funding still frozen
Hawaiʻi Attorney General Anne Lopez hails a court ruling against the Trump administration that will unfreeze federal funds for some programs; Federal funding freezes are hampering efforts to clear wa…
00:53:56 |
Fri 07 Mar 2025
The Conversation: Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami; 'Ride the Cyclone' musical
Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami responds to questions from HPR listeners; Members of the cast and crew of "Ride the Cyclone" share a preview of the "delightfully weird" musical premiering on Oʻahu
00:53:41 |
Thu 06 Mar 2025
The Conversation: Maui County snapshot; Food insecurity and mental health
Maui Mayor Rick Bissen gives a snapshot of Maui County; UHERO Professor of Health Economics Ruben Juarez lays out the link between food insecurity and symptoms of depression
00:53:44 |
Wed 05 Mar 2025
The Conversation: Operation Hire Hawaiʻi; Kumu hula pays tribute to Roberta Flack
The state Director of Human Resources Brenna Hashimoto tracks efforts to hire laid-off federal workers for vacant state positions through Operation Hire Hawaiʻi; Kumu hula Patrick Makuakāne pays trib…
00:53:52 |
Tue 04 Mar 2025
The Conversation: Protests to DEI cuts; Hawaiʻi Island conservation workers laid off
Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and Hawaiʻi Rep. Jill Tokuda speak before a crowd protesting cuts to DEI programs at an Allies in Resistance rally; Eric-Preston Hamren shares what the loss of his job means for …
00:50:44 |
Mon 03 Mar 2025
The Conversation: Gov. Josh Green; Songs of Resilience & Joy
Gov. Josh Green responds to the recent federal firings by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency; Composer Māhealani Uchiyama shares the untold stories of people of African descent who shape…
00:53:41 |
Thu 27 Feb 2025
The Conversation: Geothermal energy; Turning ag land into agroforests
New Zealand geothermal consultant Gavin Murphy meets with state lawmakers and researchers about Hawaiʻi's geothermal potential; Researchers Leah Bremer and Kawika Winter map the carbon storage potent…
00:53:35 |
Wed 26 Feb 2025
The Conversation: Digital ag forms; Art and emerging technologies
The Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture announces the rollout of long-awaited digital ag declaration forms; The Hawaiian and Indigenous Future Imaginaries Lab charts a path in the AI world
00:53:42 |
Tue 25 Feb 2025
The Conversation: Constitutionality of executive orders; Native bee
Avi Soifer, former dean of the University of Hawaiʻi William Richardson School of Law, talks about the constitutionality of President Donald Trump’s executive orders; Department of Land and Natural R…
00:53:33 |
Mon 24 Feb 2025
The Conversation live from Waikīkī: Sea level rise and climate change
The Conversation broadcasts live from Waikīkī; Hawaiʻi Attorney General Ann Lopez discusses the legal challenge the state is mounting against some of Trump's executive orders
00:54:13 |
Fri 21 Feb 2025
The Conversation: Media blackouts; Local teacher creates viral videos with AI
Fernanda Camarena with the Poynter Institute discusses the implications of the Trump administration's restrictions on the media's access to public officials; ‘Iolani School teacher Gabriel Yanagihara…
00:53:34 |
Thu 20 Feb 2025
The Conversation: Homeless relocation program; Diabetes management
State lawmakers may make a homeless relocation program permanent; A clinic sees success by pairing patients in diabetes treatment with "patient navigators"
00:53:36 |
Wed 19 Feb 2025
The Conversation: 'Not My President' rally; Kalani Peʻa wins 4th Grammy
Local groups organize a "Not My President" rally against the White House's executive orders; Singer-songwriter Kalani Peʻa wins his fourth Grammy with the album "Kuini"
00:52:29 |
Tue 18 Feb 2025
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