Susan Yamada is Executive Director of the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa’s Shidler College of Business. Yamada calls herself an “accidental entrepreneur,” with a career that moved from hospitality to publishing to leading tech companies. After a successful life in Silicon Valley during the dot-com boom, she came home to Hawaiʻi, never needing to work again. But in this phase of her life, she has dedicated herself to giving back to her community by mentoring young future entrepreneurs.

In this election year, the next topic is Politics and Small Business. Hawai‘i’s small businesses are a mainstay of our local economy. Yet our state is consistently ranked among the lowest in the country for friendliness to small business.

This episode, hosted by HIKI NŌ graduate Shisa Kahaunaele, looks back at past stories about Hawaii-based, locally-run businesses:   –A story from Maui High School about a grocer in Happy Valley, Maui who has figured out how to use the influx of big-box retailers to his advantage.

INSIGHTS kicks off Election 2016 coverage with an overview discussion on key local races and the issues driving these races – including the messy Presidential contest, local elections for Mayor and your district’s state representative. Leaders from Hawai‘i’s Democratic and Republican parties, along with political analysts, take a look at what’s at stake.

Attorney Crystal Rose is a Hilo-born litigator with a reputation for being tough, fearless and strategic. She has taken on complex and contentious civil cases – and the results have helped to reshape the business landscape in Hawaii. “I’ve had the privilege...of being able to work on cases and issues that have been multi-faceted, complex. It really does make me tick,” Rose says.

In Hawai‘i, an average of 50 people die each year from the abuse of prescription painkillers. Are doctors prescribing too many pills to help manage pain?   Your questions and comments are welcome via phone, email and via Twitter during the Live Broadcast.

TOP STORY:   Students from H.P. Baldwin High School in Wailuku, Maui present poignant portraits of two long-time HC&S (Hawaii Commercial and Sugar) employees: machinist Wes Bissen and millwright Koa Martin. HC&S is the last remaining sugar mill in Hawaii and will be closing at the end of 2016.

Sarah Richards was the President of Hawaiʻi Theatre Center for nearly 25 years and retired in June 2014. She spearheaded the Hawaiʻi Theatre’s restoration, and the $32 million fundraising campaign for the project. Born and raised in Indiana, Sarah always had a love for the arts, which she brought with her to Hawaiʻi.

We continue to examine The Fatherless Factor. Studies show that children who grow up without an involved father experience more behavioral problems and achieve lower academic success than those who have Dad around.

TOP STORY:   Students from Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School on Kauai report on Kauai’s Search and Rescue Canine Team. The story focuses on the training of rescue dogs from the time they are puppies and the qualities in puppies that reveal they might make good rescue dogs: curiosity, bravery, and a love of people.