special topics

Hawaiian Airlines has become the latest carrier to suspend service to South Korea. Increased travel restrictions are part of what has become a rapidly changing picture of daily life in parts of the country.

The coronavirus has led to travel complications in many parts of the world — especially in the Asia Pacific.  Some countries are banning or restricting visitors from places ranging from China to South Korea. And in at least one location, there’s an angry reaction.

From coral bleaching to rising sea temperatures, Hawai’i is full of evidence of climate change. But a prominent UK scientist says Hawai’i may also have an important role to play in a new effort: climate repair. Find out more in today’s episode of “Planet 808: Climate Change in the Islands.”

Hawaii shares many cultural ties with New Zealand. But the two island groups also share some challenges. And one of them is a consistent shortage of teachers.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been keeping a low profile in recent weeks. And while the region remains focused on the coronavirus, policymakers in Seoul and Washington remain mindful of developments in the north.

The longer the coronavirus lingers, the more of a concern it becomes as a potential threat to global tourism. While that has not yet emerged as a focus in Hawaii, it’s already hitting destinations in the Asia Pacific.

Cities and countries around the Asia Pacific are struggling to deal with the public safety aspects of the coronavirus — as well as its economic impact. While the situation is still developing, some locations are doing better than others.

There’s a new report out this week about plastic pollution in the Pacific Ocean. The study looked at half a dozen countries that together are responsible for most of the plastic in the world’s oceans—and it came to some surprising conclusions.

A week from today, President Trump is scheduled to be in Inida. The two-day visit is expected to include discussions on a variety of topics — from trade to China.

Tomorrow marks one week since the worst mass shooting in the history of Thailand. 30 people were killed and 58 wounded, and many in the nation are still filled with grief and shock.

The spread of the coronavirus has knocked a number of other international stories out of the news. One of those stories centers on the fires that burned through huge parts of Australia.

The coronavirus continues to dominate news coverage in China and across Asia. There’s one part of the story that is getting less attention, but it’s growing.

The Oscar success of the South Korean film “Parasite” has gotten a lot of publicity around the world. An editorial in the South China Morning Post said it “should pave the way for more offerings from different cultural perspectives.” And then there was the reaction from South Korea.

When it comes to the coronavirus, China remains the country with the vast majority of cases. But health officials in one Southeast Asian nation have just raised their alert level.

For many people, UN reports and scientific papers do not really convey what climate change will be like. Part of the problem is that scientists are warning about effects we never imagined on the economy, migration, health, and human relations. In this edition of HPR’s Planet808, we look at one journalist's estimation of how the Earth's worst and best case scenarios have changed. 

Nearly one in five residents in Hawai’i is 65 or older. That’s the seventh-highest figure in the country, and that part of the population is growing faster here than the national average. Japan is graying even faster, and is moving closer to a major age-related change.

ʻOhana ʻālani, or orange family, is how we say citrus in Hawaiian. ʻOhana of course is family. And ʻālani for orange.

While the death toll continues to rise from the coronavirus, attention remains focused on efforts to contain it. One situation that’s drawing differing reactions in Asia: what to do about special events.

Ulia kaʻa is an auto accident, and we hope you never have one. But if you do, you'll know what to call it, ulia kaʻa.

Health concerns in Asia remain focused on the coronavirus. While medical workers are trying to stop the spread of the virus, it’s also having an effect on regional business.

ʻAhamele means concert. ʻAha is a gathering, and mele is music. So ʻahamele is a concert.

We hear more about the value of land-based telescopes, as opposed to space-based telescopes, with HPR’s Dave Lawrence and Christopher Phillips in this week’s Stargazer.

A recent study from the University of Hawaiʻi's Economic Research Organization shows rents in Hawaiʻi are more than 50% higher than the national average. In South Korea's capital, housing costs are also high — but rising even faster.

Kaila hou is how we say modern in Hawaiian. Literally it means new style. Kaila means style and hou for new.

This week on Helping Hand, HPR All Things Considered Host Dave Lawrence welcomes back Big Brothers, Big Sisters Hawaii. Dave is joined by President and CEO Dennis Brown, the very first little brother ever for this organization in Hawaii.

For Stargazer, it’s a return to a nearby planet, with fresh data thanks to area telescope facilities with HPR’s Dave Lawrence and Christopher Phillips.

This week on Helping Hand we have returning guest Leilani Farm Sanctuary of Maui, an all-volunteer, nonprofit that provides shelter to hundreds of rescued and sometimes previously abused animals. HPR All Things Considered Host Dave Lawrence speaks with Founder and President Laurelee Blanchard about the sanctuary and ways people can support them.

The Lunar New Year begins this Saturday. It’s the year of the metal rat and celebrations hit a peak Friday night through Saturday. Lion dances, firecrackers, even the foods of the season, are slipping from sight in Honolulu, but there's a spot at the Vineyard Boulevard edge of Chinatown that will be hopping Friday night.

For Stargazer this week, we hear about a new planet discovery in a system not too far from Earth as HPR’s Dave Lawrence and Christopher Phillips.

This week on Helping Hand, After-School All-Stars Hawaii return. HPR All Things Considered Host Dave Lawrence speaks with Paula Fitzell, President and CEO, and Program Manager Maria Glidden.