This Is Our Hawaiʻi

Lahaina residents found connection and support on social media after the devastating wildfire. But they also found a rumor claiming that FEMA could seize land from property owners who applied for disaster assistance. The rumor is false, but it revealed an erosion of trust between the community and the government.

Hop on a nine-seater plane to Molokaʻi and you'll find miles of farmland and a tight-knit community. Often known as the “Friendly Isle,” Molokaʻi has had its fair share of land and food struggles — especially when the pandemic isolated families from crucial access to basic resources.

Imagine trying to make ends meet while living on an island owned by one of the richest people in the world. That's the reality for some residents on Lānaʻi, who say the power dynamic of land control can get… complicated. In this episode, we talk to some of those residents who call Lānaʻi home — and have no plans of leaving.

Before James Dole transformed Lānaʻi into one of the world's largest pineapple plantations, another man set his sights on the island. In 1909, businessman William Irwin bought nearly the entire island of Lānaʻi for $1. But who put it up for sale in the first place?

The home of high chiefs, kalo farms, and a black sand beach — Waipiʻo Valley is one of the most sacred places on Hawaiʻi Island. But when the county suddenly closed the only road to get there, deep rifts among the people of the island began to emerge.

This Is Our Hawaiʻi asks: Who owns the Islands? Who makes the rules? And why do so many local people feel like they're being left out? Podcast drops Summer 2023. Subscribe and join host Russell Subiono as he listens to locals in communities that have dealt with this issue for decades.