Podcasts about Big Island

Is whale watching in Hawaii just luck, or are most visitors doing it at the wrong time or in the wrong place?If you're traveling to Hawaii and hoping to see humpback whales, timing, location, and expectations make all the difference between frustration and an unforgettable experience.

Crews continue to search for a young fisherman who was swept into rough waters on Kauai's North Shore. Hawaii County's police commission interviews eight chief candidates. Police determine possible factors in an overnight Hilo crash that resulted in a man's death.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Macadamia nuts. Labor shortages. Volcanoes. All that might sound like econ Mad Libs, but they're all connected to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's entry into the Beige Book this month: labor shortages are hurting macadamia nut harvests in Hawaii. On today's show, we take a vacation and talk to someone on the Big Island who runs a macadamia nut farm. He calls them “mac nuts.” Related episodes: Why beef prices are so high For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.  Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The search continues for a teen who was swept into the ocean while fishing with a friend. Senate Democrats vote to block legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security. A Hawaii Island disaster response group is helping residents clear massive amounts of tephra after Kilauea's 41st eruption.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hawaii lawmakers introduce new resolutions to launch their own investigation into a legislator who accepted a $35,000 bribe. A rescue off Rabbit Island and how first responders saved a distressed swimmer. Also, the Honolulu City Council approved a proposal to raise the fares for TheBus.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lawmakers have a new strategy as they try to determine which one of them was involved in a federal bribery case. City bus fares are going up again -- how much more you'll have to pay to ride. And the clean up continues on Hawaii Island after last weekends eruption episode sent tephra and ash over communities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lawmakers may consider changing traffic laws following Tuesday's deadly crash on the H-1 Freeway. The city council votes on a proposal to raise public transit fares. Two border patrol agents are now on leave after a shooting in Minneapolis killed ICU nurse Alex Pretti.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is facing fresh criticism today following Saturday's deadly shooting in Minneapolis by Federal agents. A 27-year-old woman was killed in a bad crash yesterday after police say she was ejected from an open truck bed. And friends and family are mourning the loss of a Hawaii Island chef who was killed in a plane crash in Maine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fresh off his State of the State address, Gov. Josh Green discusses his top priorities for the 2026 legislative session. The governor covered a wide range of topics, including the proposed partnership between Hawaii Pacific Health and HMSA. Green also said he plans to support legislation to prevent federal law enforcement from covering their faces. The governor also addressed the attorney general’s investigation into an unnamed lawmaker who allegedly took $35,000 in a paper bag. He says he does not know the identity of the lawmaker, or what may have happened. But he is pushing the attorney general to work quickly to release the results of her investigation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A multi-car crash on the H-1 Freeway in Aiea claims the life of a young woman. On the Big Island, authorities seize over a thousand pounds of marijuana in a major drug bust. Plus, concerns grow over water catchment systems on Hawaii Island just two days after Kilauea's latest eruption.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A major crackdown on drugs in Hawaii County. We'll tell you how many pounds of drugs police were able to keep off the streets. Hawaii's solar power capacity is going up. The amount of energy local homeowners are producing with their rooftop systems. And wildlife officials ask for help finding a troubled whale. Where it was last seen and what you can do if you spot it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A crash on the H-1 Freeway kills a woman and injures six others, shutting down all eastbound lanes through the afternoon commute. A community vigil at the Hawaii State Capitol honors Alex Pretti, the ICU nurse who was fatally shot by ICE agents in Minnesota. A Hawaii Island chef is among six people killed in a private jet crash in Maine this weekend, according to his family.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you trying to plan a 7 day Oahu itinerary and worried you'll miss key spots or book things in the wrong order?

A vigil to remember Alex Pretti, who was shot to death last Saturday in Minneapolis, took place at the Hawaii state capitol this morning. Gov. Josh Green delivered his fourth State of the State Address yesterday -- his last one before he runs for re-election. And Kauai police are searching for the person who painted swastikas on a hiking trail.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gov. Josh Green delivers his fourth State of the State Address, his last one before he runs for reelection. A political analyst says he played it safe and explains why. Kaiser Permanente health care workers begin the first day of an indefinite strike. A Maui judge rules that recorded jail calls may be admitted in a murder trial.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Governor Josh Green touts his accomplishments during his fourth State of the State address, but he also had some bad news about the budget. The City is hiring for positions in more than a dozen departments. Casey Lund is live with a look at some of the jobs available and details on a recruitment fair this week. And shaking wakes hundreds of residents on Hawaii Island overnight. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How lawmakers are responding to Gov. Josh Green's State of the State, an annual address that sets the primary agenda for the legislature. Hundreds of Kaiser Permanente workers in Hawaii are on strike for a second time in a matter of months. An event this week honors soldiers and survivors who were attacked by a Japanese torpedo off Molokai during WWII. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hundreds of Kaiser Permanente workers in Hawaii have walked off the job as they seek a new contract. Cleanup efforts are underway after episode 41 of Kilauea's ongoing eruption sent tephra and ash falling from the sky. How a recent FBI rescue of eight Oahu teens is shining a light on human-trafficking in our state.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hundreds of local nurses and health care workers are set to walk off the job this morning. Casey Lund is live, discussing the potential impacts this will have on patients. Plus, we're hearing from the victims of a Maui resort grill explosion. Details on the lawsuit now filed against the hotel. And, eruptive episode 41 at Kilauea has come and gone, but not before some jaw-dropping images. It also made a mess in some neighbors' nearby. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Latest updates on charges for the woman accused of throwing boiling bleach on her husband, what the prosecutors decided and where the case stands now. Find out why a popular chia seed product is being pulled from shelves in stores and what to check on the package before you use it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flights out of Hawaii are getting cancelled as millions on the mainland hunker down for a massive winter storm. Relief for Maui wildfire survivors as FEMA will extend temporary housing assistance for another year. And the murder trial for the Waimanalo couple accused of killing their adopted daughter is pushed back again.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The FBI rescued eight Oahu teenagers who were at risk of human-trafficking. Latest update on the man who allegedly threw an explosive device that detonated in Kakaako. A Hilo brawl that occurred earlier this week involving nearly 50 people. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Oahu dentist is picking up the pieces of his business after a fire destroyed it Wednesday night. Police have opened an attempted murder investigation after a 33-year-old allegedly threw boiling bleach on her husband at Schofield Barracks. And forecasters are tracking a massive winter storm that could impact more than half of the U.S. this weekend. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fire investigators determine a possible cause of a fire that destroyed a dental office. A mother is taking action after her child was punched and thrown to the ground in a Kihei public school. A Hawaii lawmaker is pushing for a new recruiting strategy to boost University of Hawaii athletics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crews on Maui are working to drain Kea Street and Holua Drive after heavy showers drenched the area this morning. Meanwhile, more than half the U.S. population is hunkering down as a massive winter storm sweeps across the country this weekend. And an update on a stabbing at the Tripler Barracks, police tell us they have located the suspect. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is opening day at the Hawaii State Capitol. Why this legislative session is clouded by uncertainty. An investigation is underway into a break-in at the Maui Humane Society. And on the global stage, President Trump pulls back his threat of using military force to acquire Greenland as he meets with world leaders in Switzerland. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lawmakers face more than the usual concerns as they begin a new legislative session. The two issues that kept coming up during the opening day ceremonies were. A popular ingredient is being left out of poke bowls across Oahu. It's one thing to set a goal; it's another thing to work towards it. Casey Lund is live with details on the challenge to keep you "on track" with your fitness goals. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Honolulu police have opened an attempted murder investigation after a woman allegedly threw boiling bleach at her husband at Schofield Barracks. A 32-year-old man has been arrested on charges of kidnapping after police say he assaulted a woman in Kailua yesterday morning. And the Honolulu Police Department is defending why it only made 2 arrests for the illegal aerial fireworks on New Year's Eve after repeated warnings about crackdowns. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A historic health care partnership between two of Hawaii’s biggest medical companies aims to provide health care more efficiently to hundreds of thousands of patients. On this episode of Spotlight Now, we sit down with Hawaii Pacific Health CEO Ray Vara and HMSA CEO Mark Mugiishi to learn more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The state launches an investigation to try to identify the legislator who allegedly accepted a $35,000 bribe. Honolulu police are searching for a man wanted for felony abuse and fleeing police custody. And as he marks one year into his 2nd term in office, President Donald Trump doubles down on his plan to acquire Greenland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2026 Legislative session kicks off today as lawmakers push their top priorities in the upcoming months. Debates over aquarium fishing in Hawaii waters as fisherman claims it can be done responsibly. As tax season is months away, the state provides us with some tax filing tips. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's opening day at the Hawaii State Legislature. Dignitaries, community leaders, and members of the public packed the gallery in the Senate chamber as business officially got underway. Maui police arrested a 15-year-old boy accused of smashing the windshield of a tourist's rental car last Friday. And President Trump arrived in Switzerland to meet with world leaders and deliver a highly anticipated speech at the World Economic Forum. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Honolulu police are warning the public of an escaped felony abuse suspect, who is determined to be armed and dangerous. The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments challenging a Hawaii gun law dubbed the "Vampire Rule." Hawaii Island scout camp leaders say they feel betrayed after Camp Honoka'ia was sold to a mainland buyer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is your Oahu itinerary full, but you're not sure which experiences are really worth your time?For Hawaii travelers and people who love Hawaii, the hardest part of planning Oahu isn't finding options. It's narrowing them down without overscheduling or overspending.

The U.S. Supreme Court prepares to debate whether Hawaii's gun laws violate the Second Amendment. After an eight-year-long absence, the Pacific Island Beach Boys returned to a prime concession spot on Kuhio Beach. Sidewalks along Nimitz Highway will be closed for several weeks due to construction for Honolulu's Skyline rail.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Maui County mayor is urging nearly 1,000 families to create backup plans as a temporary housing program is set to expire. An international volleyball tournament boosts Hawaii's economy. A parade honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., prompts talks about civil rights.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A landmark Supreme Court case surrounding Hawaii's gun laws, arguments on balancing public safety and our constitutional rights. The Pacific Island Beach Boys have returned to a prime spot in Waikiki after years away. Rocky the Monk Seal has been soaking up the sun.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments today about a Hawaii law that limits guns in businesses. A man accused of murdering his wife and two children nearly a decade ago is expected in court for a pre-trial hearing on Thursday. And Maui Police still aren't saying much about an investigation that had officers flying over the Haiku area yesterday for hours. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A whale carcass on Oahu's east side prompts warnings to the public. Where sharks were circling over the weekend. Happening this week, state lawmakers will be back in session, weighing in on proposals that impact our communities. We'll look at one of their priorities, keeping people off the streets. A few beer drinkers showed their strength at a friendly bar competition over the weekend.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here in Hawaii and across the nation, Americans are celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with tributes, acts of service, and parades. Former patients of an Army gynecologist charged with sex crimes are pushing for change in our nation's capital. And police are looking for a suspect in an alleged stabbing at Ala Moana Beach Park. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Hawaii still worth visiting in 2026, or are you setting yourself up for sticker shock and sold-out reservations?Hawaii hasn't lost its magic, but the way you need to plan for it has completely changed, and understanding that shift is what separates a stressful trip from an unforgettable one.

Another nurses strike is on the horizon. We'll tell you the demands and claims against Kaiser and how it'll impact operations. Lawmakers are suggesting a new move to reduce traffic deaths. How about putting drivers to the test again? A 12-year-old raises more than $110,000 to honor Pearl Harbor. Casey Lund is live there this morning to explain how.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Breaking news, a shooting suspect is on the run this morning after a man was shot multiple times at an Oahu park. Hawaii homeowners are digging deeper to afford insurance rates this year. What is mostly to blame, and what our lawmakers are doing about it. And tech scammers are always on the lookout for new victims. The group that data shows is most at risk, and it is not our kapuna. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Diane Woodburn speaks to Roger Stettler, renowned Executive Chef & Restaurateur on Maui.  In this podcast Roger talks about his early training as a chef growing up in Switzerland, a career path that included stops on the Big Island, Singapore, Seoul, & Maui, adapting to different cultures, his work on Maui that included Four Seasons & opening Taverna, spending time last year as a chef instructor at UH Maui College, his experience teaching the younger generation of chefs, drawing inspiration from his roots when he travels back to Europe, how the culinary experience has evolved on Maui, and after 40 years in the kitchen what he sees for his future in the culinary industry.  

On this episode of Spotlight Now, we talk tourism with the CEOs of Hawaiian Airlines and the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB). Hawaiian Airlines CEO Diana Birkett Rakow acknowledges that the Alaska-Hawaiian merger brought real challenges for travelers and promises a smoother 2026. Meanwhile Dr. Aaron Sala explains what the HVCB is doing in light of a softening tourism market with fewer visitors, more competition, and travelers watching their budgets. In our Community Spotlight, learn more about the Hawaii Pacific Health Women’s 10K & 5K Fun Run.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fenced-in dogs escape and attack a man and his pet in West Oahu. Prepare for layoffs. That's the message to over 100 employees of a local coffee company. The 2026 PGA season is almost set to tee off with the Sony Open. Casey "long drive" Lund is live this morning at the Waialae Country Club for a preview at what this event means to the local community. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you booking enough days in Hawaii, or are you setting yourself up for regret?Most travelers either cut their trip too short or waste half their vacation in airports trying to see too many islands.

New efforts are underway to find a state legislator who allegedly accepted tens of thousands of dollars in cash. Opponents and supporters of a controversial gondola project on Oahu's North Shore provided emotional testimony as the city reconsiders the project's permit. Prosecutors charge a man who allegedly wielded a machete during an armed robbery in Kapolei.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new push to get rid of Oahu's trash without burying it in dirt. Details on a proposal to do away with local landfills. A new partneship will soom be celebrated. Casey Lund is live this morning with what a Skyline Swap Meet collaboration means for bargain hunters. And another day of awe-inspiring sights at Kilauea. The heights these lava fountains hit during yesterday's latest eruptive episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Schulte is an elite boulderer known for bold first ascents, compression mastery, and a thoughtful approach that prioritizes style over grades. We talked about his evolution as a climber, developing his own style, how Fred Nicole inspired him, redefining progress with age, tips for compression problems and wide cracks, and the state of elite bouldering and cutting-edge grades.Increase Your Finger Strength by 10%