Florence “Johnny” Frisbie’s sense of curiosity and adventure took her far beyond her Pacific island home in Pukapuka, in the Cook Islands. She traveled to Hawai‘i, Japan and eventually New Zealand, where she raised her family. She eventually followed her desire to return home to Pukapuka, an island now gravely threatened by climate change and the rapid loss of its ancient culture and language.

The false alarm alert from Hawai‘i’s Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) on January 13 may have been a wake-up call for everyone. According to a report released this week, Hawai‘i has a long way to go to adequately prepare for a nuclear disaster – or any kind of disaster.

TOP STORY Students from Konawaena High School on Hawai‘i Island tell the personal and inspirational story of one of their teachers. Emma Erwin hiked all 2,650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail – from Mexico to Canada – as part of her recovery from the trauma of sexual assault.

Florence “Johnny” Frisbie was only 15 years old when she published her first autobiography in 1948. Miss Ulysses from Puka-Puka is an account of her life on the little-known Pacific island of Pukapuka, part of the Cook Islands. The adventurous daughter of an American writer father and native Pukapukan mother, Johnny discusses the beauty and hardship of her remote island upbringing.

Rising sea levels are a concern here in Hawai‘i and other coastal communities around the world. In December 2017, the State Climate Commission accepted the first major study on Hawai‘i’s vulnerability to rising sea levels.

This episode is an encore presentation of a HIKI NŌ special that first aired in the summer of 2017– HIKI NŌ Focus On Compassion: Self-Identity –hosted and co-written by HIKI NŌ alumna and Wai‘anae High School graduate Crystal Cebedo.

Previously on INSIGHTS, the daughter of a stroke victim talked about her experience trying to find a nursing home and qualify for Medicaid coverage, while she coped with the realities of her mother’s future.

TOP STORY Students from Waiākea High School in Hilo on the Big Island introduce us to a man who’s spreading his motto: “Stay Humble, Pray.” This philosophy grew out of Kyle Quilausing’s experience during a decade in prison.

Hawai‘i has the highest life expectancy in the nation for people over 65 years of age, with women living on average six years longer than men. Long lifespans, of course, have ramifications on personal finances. Meanwhile, more and more kūpuna and their adult children are challenged by new and stricter Medicaid eligibility requirements.

TOP STORY Students from Sacred Hearts Academy in Kaimuki on O‘ahu explore the pros and cons of using Uber and other ride-sharing services. The main issues raised by students, parents and drivers revolve around convenience versus safety for young riders.