Jim Leahey did more than call plays; he informed and entertained.

The Hawaiʻi State Legislature started this year’s session uncertain how it would fund anything, given the dire predictions of a $1.4 billion budget shortfall. However, the economic outlook improved with a new influx of federal dollars and a quicker than expected rebound in tourism.

In this episode of Long Story Short with Leslie Wilcox, we feature four athletes who found success in their sports – and beyond: the late Skippa Diaz, Bob Apisa, Mahina Eleneki Hugo and Al Harrington.

Honolulu’s rail system was supposed to have begun service in 2020. It is not only still not running, it is way over budget and there are no specific dates about when service may start. A multitude of problems ranging from leadership changes, poor planning and defective parts continues to substantially raise the price tag and delay further construction. So what now? Where will the money come from to finish the project and where exactly will the rail line end?

Find out why, "Heart is where the home is" in these winning stories from the high school and middle school divisions of the HIKI NŌ 2021 Winter Challenge competition.

Join us as we talk story with Waipahu High School Principal Keith Hayashi, an undisputed statewide leader in Hawaiʻi public education and the driving force in creating the school’s groundbreaking Early College program. He has been recognized for his leadership, most recently becoming the first high school principal to receive the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction, which recognizes college presidents who have demonstrated strong support of student advancement on their campus.

For the past 45 years, Aloha Stadium has played host to everything from college, high school and professional football games to soccer matches, concerts and monster truck rallies. Time has taken its toll and the state agency that manages the facility says it is now unsafe to use. How will the state pay for plans that are in the works to build a new, smaller stadium, as part of an overall entertainment district?

Madden Awaya, a fourth grader at Waiākea Elementary School on Hawaiʻi Island, talks about how adopting a dog helped them during the pandemic. If you missed last night's program, stream it now,

Hear how Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu’s Maile Loo-Ching is on a quest to preserve the knowledge of Hawaiʻi’s hula masters. After graduating from Kamehameha Schools, she attended Stanford University where she earned a degree in Symbolic Systems, or artificial intelligence. But instead of pursuing a career on the mainland, she returned to Hawaiʻi and is using her high-tech background to capture the oral histories of these kūpuna.

As Hawaiʻi’s coronavirus vaccination rollout continues to expand, state and county leaders are easing or modifying restrictions. Good news for some local companies, but after a year of turmoil, many others remain in crisis mode or are no longer in business. From overdue rent to enforcing health guidelines and changing consumer habits, businesses continue to adjust to the ever-evolving situation.