Small yet mighty! That could best describe your kidneys and Dr. Thomas Chen, Chief of Nephrology at Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, talks kidney disease and simple ways to get on track to more healthy living.

Cheri Sepasi, Member Education Specialist with Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, shares how members can get lifestyle recommendations on food menus, recipes, exercise routines, and also group support.

March is National Kidney Month

Kathy With a K is your host

[image: left to right - Kathy With a K, Cheri Sepasi, Dr. Thomas Chen]

"Hawaii Matters", a public service community program that airs on Sundays at 6:30 a.m. Hawaii across ⁠Pacific Media Group Oahu⁠ radio stations:

⁠KDDB 102.7 Da Bomb⁠ |⁠ KQMQ HI93⁠ | ⁠KUMU 94.7 KUMU⁠ | ⁠KPOI 105.9 The Wave⁠

To be featured or for inquiries on "Hawaii Matters", please email: [email protected]

Recorded on March 5, 2026 at Pacific Media Group Oahu in Honolulu, HI 96813

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness month and screening guidelines begin at age 45 through 74 years old.

Christina Teel (Hawaii Department of Health Cancer Programs Coordinator) and Dr. Ankur Jain (Gastroenterologist) talk on the importance for early detection, understanding the types of screenings available, and how to start the conversation.

Visit Get Screened Hawaii today for details.

Kathy With a K is your host.

"Hawaii Matters", a public service community program that airs on Sundays at 6:30 a.m. Hawaii across ⁠Pacific Media Group Oahu⁠ radio stations:⁠

KDDB 102.7 Da Bomb⁠ |⁠ KQMQ HI93⁠ | ⁠KUMU 94.7 KUMU⁠ | ⁠KPOI 105.9 The Wave⁠

To be featured or for inquiries on "Hawaii Matters", please email: [email protected] air date: March 22, 2026

ICSpark gives students grades 6 to 12 a chance to fine tune computer programming or discover if coding is a good fit for their creativity.

ICSpark Vice President Briana Lee, mentors Coleman Lau, Dominic Lau, and webmaster David Rickards share their experiences teaching students the ways of html and Java Script.

Spring 2026's class for ICSpark's "Intro to Web Development" is in-person and virtual; their Spring Showcase is set for Saturday, April 25, 2026 at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa campus.

See past Showcase projects here.

Learn about TORCH here

Kathy With a K is your host.

"Hawaii Matters", a public service community program that airs on Sundays at 6:30 a.m. Hawaii across ⁠Pacific Media Group Oahu⁠ radio stations:⁠

KDDB 102.7 Da Bomb⁠ |⁠ KQMQ HI93⁠ | ⁠KUMU 94.7 KUMU⁠ | ⁠KPOI 105.9 The Wave⁠

To be featured or for inquiries on "Hawaii Matters", please email: [email protected]

Recorded on February 23, 2026 at Pacific Media Group Oahu, Honolulu, HI 96813

Zoe Lewis, Executive Director of AccesSurf Hawaii, was introduced to the non-profit organization while enjoying the south shore surf of Oahu.

AccesSurf Hawaii celebrates its 20th year of helping Hawaii residents and their families enjoy surfing, a canoe ride, or learning to swim (in a pool setting). Safety and inclusion are top of mind, with hundreds of volunteers assisting from sign up, check-in, and all the in between to help participants enjoy the water activities, many staged once a month, on Oahu.

Learn about their works with Wounded Warrior and the annual Hawaii Adaptive Surfing Championship (HASC), hosted off Queen's Beach in Waikiki each May.

Kathy With a K is your host.

Recorded on March 2, 2026 at Pacific Media Group Oahu, Honolulu, 96813

"Hawaii Matters", a public service community program that airs on Sundays at 6:30 a.m. Hawaii across ⁠Pacific Media Group Oahu⁠ radio stations:

⁠KDDB 102.7 Da Bomb⁠ |⁠ KQMQ HI93⁠ | ⁠KUMU 94.7 KUMU⁠ | ⁠KPOI 105.9 The Wave⁠

To be featured or for inquiries on "Hawaii Matters", please email: [email protected]

Guest Nicki Ann Thompson, Administrator of Taxation Services and Processing of Hawai’i State Department of Taxation, shares information on Hawaii Individual Income Tax filing in 2026, for the 2025 Tax season.

General information includes who needs to file in Hawai’i, the basic forms to use when filing, and paperwork needed to complete your filing. 

Nicki Ann Thompson included a few websites for more detailed information:

Hawaii Tax Online

Hawaii VITA/Tax Sites

Email: [email protected]

Hawaii Department of Taxation (808) 587-4242 - Available Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (excluding holidays)

Kathy With a K is your host 

"Hawaii Matters", a public service community program that airs on Sundays at 6:30 a.m. Hawaii across ⁠Pacific Media Group Oahu⁠ radio stations:⁠

KDDB 102.7 Da Bomb⁠ |⁠ KQMQ HI93⁠ | ⁠KUMU 94.7 KUMU⁠ | ⁠KPOI 105.9 The Wave⁠

To be featured or for inquiries on "Hawaii Matters", please email: [email protected]

Dane Lam's enthusiasm for live symphonic music is contagious, and the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra is welcoming music fans of all levels to experience, learn, and bring others to the fun.

As HSO's first-ever Musical Director, he works to bring top-tier artists to lead or accompany the 80-members strong orchestra. Dane Lam talks on the continuing music in schools program, the popular Masterworks, and ways to Support Local with the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra.

Kathy With a K is your host.

Recorded on January 20, 2026 at Pacific Media Group Oahu, Honolulu, HI 96813

"Hawaii Matters", a public service community program that airs on Sundays at 6:30 a.m. Hawaii across ⁠Pacific Media Group Oahu⁠ radio stations:⁠

KDDB 102.7 Da Bomb⁠ |⁠ KQMQ HI93⁠ | ⁠KUMU 94.7 KUMU⁠ | ⁠KPOI 105.9 The Wave⁠

To be featured or for inquiries on "Hawaii Matters", please email: [email protected]

Dr. Jennifer Mbuthia wants you to understand that feeling unwell means calling your PCP (Primary Care Physician) and getting a proper diagnosis for treatment. 

What are the signs of a “common cold”, influenza, and other respiratory ailments?  

Dr. Mbuthia discusses what a flu vaccination or flu shot is, basic ways you can keep healthy through the year, and the general differences between having allergies and having a respiratory virus during flu season.

Kathy With a K is your host. 

Recorded on January 13, 2026 at Pacific Media Group OahuHonolulu, HI 96813"Hawaii Matters", a public service community program that airs on Sundays at 6:30 a.m. Hawaii across ⁠Pacific Media Group Oahu⁠ radio stations:⁠

KDDB 102.7 Da Bomb⁠ |⁠ KQMQ HI93⁠ | ⁠KUMU 94.7 KUMU⁠ | ⁠KPOI 105.9 The Wave⁠

To be featured or for inquiries on "Hawaii Matters", please email: [email protected]

Meli James, co-founder of ⁠Mana Up⁠, knows the work it takes to select an idea and the steps to nurture it into a successful business.  

Mana Up, a Hawaii-based accelerator, is an option for small businesses who want to expand - but are they ready to grow their leadership, upscale their manufacturing ability, or adjust their brand identity? That is part of their cohort application process and if accepted, their current six-month program could be likened to an entrepreneurship boot camp! 

Meli James shares success stories from past cohorts and how Hawaii communities can support and shop local every day.

See  ⁠House of Mana Up⁠ Waikiki in January 2026

Mana Up: Corporate Gifting

Kathy With a K is your host. (recorded on January 12, 2026)

"Hawaii Matters", a public service community program that airs on Sundays at 6:30 a.m. Hawaii across ⁠Pacific Media Group Oahu⁠ radio stations:⁠

KDDB 102.7 Da Bomb⁠ |⁠ KQMQ HI93⁠ | ⁠KUMU 94.7 KUMU⁠ | ⁠KPOI 105.9 The Wave⁠

To be featured or for inquiries on "Hawaii Matters", please email: [email protected]

Hawaii Matters, Hana Hou is a listen back with excerpts featuring past guests and this episode includes:David Sun-Miyashiro (Executive Director of ⁠HawaiiKidsCAN⁠) imagined how a student could benefit from a specialized menu to courses, educators, and even the school campus or classroom. As a former teacher, he understands its the cooperation of the parents, the child, and the access.

Where to begin?

The ⁠2026 Hawaii K-12 Parent-School Expo⁠ is set for January 25, 2026 at Bishop Museum’s Atherton Halau, where a variety of learning campuses – charter, home school, and traditional models – will be on hand to talk story.

Connie Epenesa is a Parent Advocate and shares her personal experiences with a mix of home school, public, and private school observations. Kathy With a K is your host. [original air date: December 7, 2025]

"Hawaii Matters", a public service community program that airs on Sundays at 6:30 a.m. Hawaii across ⁠⁠Pacific Media Group Oahu⁠⁠ radio stations: ⁠⁠KDDB 102.7 Da Bomb⁠⁠ |⁠⁠ KQMQ HI93⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠KUMU 94.7 KUMU⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠KPOI 105.9 The Wave⁠⁠

To be featured or for inquiries on "Hawaii Matters", please email: [email protected]

Hawaii Matters, Hana Hou is a listen back with excerpts featuring past guests and this episode includes:

Maila Gibson-Bandmann, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker and their insights on the Hawaii real state market can help those who are at various stages in property ownership. This excerpt highlights what sellers can do to prepare their house, condo, or office space - and what buyers can look for when shopping. Host: Michael T (original air date: January 12, 2025)

Gerrit DeWeese [Public Health Educator, Tobacco Prevention and Control Section, Hawaii Department of Health] and Valerie Smalley [Tobacco Treatment Specialist, Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children] joined us with ways someone who is thinking about quitting tobacco use, vaping, or using e-products can succeed. In this clip, they talk about the free and confidential Hawaii Tobacco Quitline and for teens, My Life, My Quit has support for the whole family in our islands. Host: Kathy With a K (original air date: June 29, 2025)

"Hawaii Matters", a public service community program that airs on Sundays at 6:30 a.m. Hawaii across ⁠Pacific Media Group Oahu⁠ radio stations:⁠ KDDB 102.7 Da Bomb⁠ |⁠ KQMQ HI93⁠ | ⁠KUMU 94.7 KUMU⁠ | ⁠KPOI 105.9 The Wave⁠

To be featured or for inquiries on "Hawaii Matters", please email: [email protected]