Island Conversations

Dr. Rick Bennett has been in heated conversations with heads of the Hawaii County Department of Environmental Management for years, concerned about the wastewater treatment plants around the island.  For years he--and others-- have been urging the County to upgrade the plants.   Kona side, the partially treated sewage is discharged into a hole in the ground by the Kona Police station.  He says it's 1 to 2 million gallons per day, and because water flows downhill, it flows the mile or less towards the coast.  Hilo side, the wastewater goes a few miles out into Hilo Bay, and that Bay has been affected.   In addition, the County is under EPA mandates to provide wastewater treatment plants in some island areas because of pollution issues. Dr. Bennett had the chance to work with two other water experts (Rick Gaffney, Steve Holmes) and help Mayor Mitch Roth find candidates for the all-important post of Director of the Department of Environmental Management. In a conversation with Island Conversations host Sherry Bracken, in her final podcast for New West Broadcasting, Dr. Bennett talks about watersheds, wastewater plants, the newly-appointed head of the County Department of Environmental Management (Ramzi Monsour) and why he is the "right guy," and more. Photo of Dr. Rick Bennett courtesy Dr. Bennett.

Dr. Rick Bennett, PhD, is a Kona Coast Waterkeeper, a title bestowed on him by The Water Keeper Alliance, International, which has been in operation since the 1970s.   He and Island Conversations host Sherry Bracken talk about bacteria in the Big Island's ocean water, how it's monitored, and the impact of sun.  And the need for people who live along Ali'i Drive, especially, consider allowing having a weather monitoring station on their property to monitor the amount of ultraviolet light, which helps keep tabs on the ocean. Air date:  Dec. 30, 2020 Photo of Dr. Bennett courtesy Dave Corrigan, Big Island Video News.

As I record my final Sunday Island Conversations, after nearly 17 years in radio,  I want to express my gratitude to everybody on this island--and elsewhere--who have been so supportive of the work that I do, whether it's news, the weekly interviews, forum moderation, or whatever.  This is a trying time, and I asked several people to share the source of their gratitude as they face challenges--with work, personally, with health.  I talked with 3 Mayors, 1 US Senator, the head of the Hawaii Food Basket, the Director of Imiloa Astronomy, the head of Canada France Hawaii Telescope, and Chris Leonard, General Manager of New West Broadcasting.  There will be two additional podcasts posted, all about water...so look for them, even though I retire Dec. 31, 2020.  And thank YOU for your support -- I am grateful to you, and to this island.  I'm not going anywhere, so I hope to continue serving our Big Island community (once I clean off my desk at home). With aloha, Sherry Bracken

Dental care is an integral part of overall medical care.  But there's much less discussion about dental care than general health care.  Questions like, what kind of toothbrush is best,  when should you start cleaning your keiki's teeth and when should they first see a dentist, why flouridated water or toothpaste, are electric or manual brushes better, what kinds of health conditions affect the mouth and vice versa, can a dentist see medical problems before we're aware of them?  Can a dentist tell if a woman is hapai (pregnant) because of her teeth?  Can you still see the dentist in the time of COVID?  Dr. Steven Pine, DDS, and Dr. John Gawlick, a pediatric dentist, both with West Hawaii Community Health Center, address that and more in a discussion with Island Conversations host Sherry Bracken. Air date:  Dec. 20, 2020 Attached photo courtesy American Dental Association, photos below of Dr. Steven Pine (l) and Dr. John Gawlick (r) provided by West Hawaii Community Health Center

West Hawaii Community Health Center is one of three Federally Qualified Health Centers on the island.  CEO Richard Taaffe, who is the only Chief Executive there has been since WHCHC opened in 2005, talks about capabilities, employees, patients, COVID-19, and more.  **Note, WHCHC offers dental care, too, and following this there will be a podcast only Island Conversations with general dentist Dr. Steven Pine and Pediatric Dentist Dr. John Gawlick. Air date:  Dec. 20, 2020

We air the rest of the conversation with Mayor Mitch Roth, who was sworn in Dec. 7, 2020, and with whom Island Conversations host Sherry Bracken spoke in advance of his swearing in.  Guest 2 is Lt. Gov. Josh Green, M.D., an emergency room physician who talks about the COVID-19 vaccines and what Hawaii's plan is around vaccinations.  Part 1 of the discussion with Mayor Roth aired Dec. 6 and may be found as a podcast. Air date:  Dec. 13, 2020 Attached photo is Mayor Mitch Roth at his swearing in (nobody else close at the time of this photo, which is why he is maskless) and below is Lt. Gov. Josh Green, M.D., at a state press conference.

The week before being sworn in as Mayor, Mitch Roth talked with Island Conversations host Sherry Bracken about some of his cabinet appointments and plans.  Mayor-elect Roth had much to say, including that he's excited and hopeful about the future.  This week, Part 1 of the discussion airs.  Part 2 will air next week.  These are two of the last four Island Conversations programs that will air on KWXX, B97/B93, and KPUA 670 AM in Hilo. Air date:  Dec. 6, 2020

The Big Island is subject to lots of hazards, including tsunami.  Island Conversations host Sherry Bracken talks with Dr. Walter Dudley, a professor emeritus from UH Hilo and author of many books on tsunami (including two new ones coming out in the spring), and Darryl Oliveira, former Hawaii County Fire Chief and former Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator, about tsunami in general and the 1975 Halape quake/tsunami as well.  Darryl Oliveira has a personal connection story -- it was his Boy Scout troop that was camping at Halape the morning of the event. For a fascinating report on the Halape earthquake, tsunami, and landslide, on Nov. 29, 1975, click here. Air date:  Nov. 29, 2020 Dr. Walter Dudley: Darryl Oliveira: Attached photo is courtesy USGS/Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

The Big Island has three acute care hospitals, including one in Waimea.  Queen's North Hawaii Community Hospital President Cindy Kamikawa talks with Island Conversations host Sherry Bracken about the hospital's capacities, capabilities, clinics, and COVID-19 response. Air date:  Nov. 22, 2020

Mitch Roth will be inaugurated as the Hawaii County Mayor on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020.  He has now announced the names of some of those he will bring to the Hawaii County Council for confirmation as the new Mayor's Cabinet--Managing Director Lee Lord, Deputy Managing Director Bobby Command, Elizabeth Strance as Corporation Counsel,  Finance Director Deanna Sako of Keaau, Parks and Recreation Director Maurice C. Messina of Mountain View, Information Technology Director Scott Uehara of Hilo and Housing Administrator Susan K. Kunz of Hilo. Roth talked with Island Conversations host Sherry Bracken about some of the key things on which he expects his cabinet members to focus and about the interview and selection process.   He also said he's still in the process of confirming a number of positions.  He expects those people who live closer to the West Hawaii Civic Center than to the Hilo County Building to work out of West Hawaii.  He also talked about the transition from current Mayor Harry Kim to the new administration. Roth will be inaugurated at noon on Dec. 7. Air date:  Nov. 19, 2020