Spotlight Now

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi joins "Spotlight Now" to address the biggest issues facing the City and County of Honolulu. The mayor reveals his push to make the general excise tax surcharge for rail permanent to fund future extensions to Waikīkī and the University of Hawaiʻi, explains the city's urgent interim options as the Waimānalo Gulch landfill deadline nears, discusses police patrol reassignments to curb overtime, and shares an update on the city's bid to bring giant pandas to the Honolulu Zoo.

Then, Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) economist Jacob Vuillemin breaks down a new report on Japan’s evolving economic footprint in Hawaiʻi. From shifting tourist spending patterns and exchange rates to multibillion-dollar opportunities in defense contracting, agricultural seed research, and prefabricated housing, Vuillemin explains how the bilateral relationship extends far beyond Waikīkī.

Finally, in our Community Spotlight partnership with Hawaiʻi Pacific Health, Honolulu pulmonologist and critical care specialist Dr. Samuel Evans addresses Hawaiʻi’s low lung cancer screening rates. Dr. Evans explains risk factors for both smokers and non-smokers, and spotlights cutting-edge robotic bronchoscopy technology that is revolutionizing early detection right here at home.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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.

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In this episode, Gov. Josh Green has an update on negotiations with the military regarding expiring land leases, and his wish list. Plus, he shares his frustrations on the slow, costly development of Aloha Stadium, and touches on other state priorities and potential revenue streams, including the idea of legalizing marijuana and gambling.

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