This special edition of Insights on PBS Hawai‘i goes beyond the usual prepared talking points and sound bites to bring voters a live, loosely structured conversation with incumbent Mayor Kirk Caldwell, and his leading challengers – Peter Carlisle and Charles Djou.

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.

In Hawai‘i, a drug conviction can lead to jail time, especially when the drug is crystal methamphetamine, the state’s top drug threat.

We see the tents lining the streets of Kaka‘ako and the encampments on the beaches, but what about what we don’t see? There are people in Hawai‘i who have worked their way out of homelessness, giving themselves and their family members an opportunity for a fresh start.

Children usually rely on parents and guardians to provide homes where they can count on hot meals, warm showers, clean clothes and safe, secure shelter. But in Hawai‘i, many children are living with their families in homeless shelters, transitional housing or on the streets.

For many of the nearly 800 families living in homelessness in Hawai‘i, raising children requires extra effort, sacrifice, and resourcefulness. Without permanent shelter, homeless parents must find creative ways to meet the basic needs of their children.

Colbert Matsumoto grew up on Lanai when it was a pineapple plantation employing both his father and mother. He didn’t set foot on the Continent until he was a college freshman. And he grew up to become an attorney, insurance company executive and business and community leader in Hawaii.

July marked the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA. The legislation prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in employment, State and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities and transportation.

More visitors are arriving in Hawai‘i, but according to recent numbers from Hospitality Advisors, hotel occupancy has not seen a corresponding rise. The growing Hawai‘i timeshare market, along with legal and illegal bed and breakfasts give visitors more options.