The One Oʻahu Podcast with Mayor Rick Blangiardi

Amy Asselbaye on Economic Revitalization, Business Recovery Grants and Regenerative Tourism

This week, Amy Asselbaye, the executive director of the City’s Office of Economic Revitalization, joins host Brandi Higa on the One Oʻahu Podcast to talk about a handful of programs that the City and County of Honolulu has to offer when it comes to rent and utility relief, grants programs, and other resources. Asselbaye provides an update on the Oahu Business Recovery Grant Program, which has already received 600 applications (1:51). Later, Dexter Kishida, the City’s Food Security and Sustainability Program Manager, joins the podcast to talk about the City's Agriculture Grant program and the Good Food Pledge (8:31). And finally, Amy Asselbaye explains what success would look like for our island when it comes to regenerative tourism (36:57). 

Mayor Rick Blangiardi on the Honolulu Liquor Commission, the Downtown Walmart’s Closing and Town Hall Lessons

This week, Mayor Rick Blangiardi joins host Brandi Higa on the One Oʻahu Podcast to talk about what he has learned so far from the town hall meetings in ʻEwa Beach, Waiʻanae and Waipahū over the past three weeks (0:45). Later, Mayor Blangiardi provides an update on the search for a permanent administrator for the Honolulu Liquor Commission, which is already undergoing a series of reviews by the Managing Director's Office (12:18). And finally, Mayor Blangiardi reacts to the announcement that Walmart is closing its Downtown Honolulu store — and what future development could look like for that area (19:00). 

Mary Lewis on the Future of the Blaisdell Arena, $44M Renovations and Lessons Learned After 33 Years

This week, the top leadership from the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Enterprise Services (DES) join host Brandi Higa on the One Oʻahu Podcast. Mary Lewis, the Events and Services Administrator for the Neal S. Blaisdell Center and Tom Moffatt Waikīkī Shell, begins the episode with a discussion on the $44 million renovation project happening across the Neal S. Blaisdell Center campus (00:38). Later, Lewis clears up some retirement rumors after dedicating 33 years to public service at the City (10:10). And DES Director Jerry Pupillo provides some updates on the Cityʻs municipal golf courses, the Honolulu Zoo, and the Waikīkī surf racks (22:10). Tracy Kubota, the departmentʻs Deputy Director, is also featured!

Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Mike Formby on Town Halls, the Salary Commission and Departmental Reorganization

Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Managing Director Mike Formby and podcast host Brandi Higa begin the episode with a recap of the first of 11 town hall meetings — held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at ʻEwa Makai Middle School — and preview Thursday's town hall meeting at Waiʻanae District Park (2:07). Later, Mayor Blangiardi and Managing Director Formby set the record straight on the Honolulu Salary Commission’s recent approval of pay raises for some of the City’s top officials (10:22). To close out the episode, the mayor and Brandi look back at some of the major announcements from the State of the City address last week, including the potential reorganization of the Department of Planning and Permitting (30:28).

Dawn Takeuchi Apuna on Planning and Permitting, Self Certification and Artificial Intelligence

This week on the One Oʻahu Podcast, host Brandi Higa and Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) Director Dawn Takeuchi Apuna open with a discussion on the task force groups announced by Mayor Rick Blangiardi in this year’s State of the City address to focus on three specific areas: permitting, affordable housing, and the solar industry (00:30). Then, Director Apuna explains how her department has begun using artificial intelligence to streamline permit review preprocessing (3:16). Finally, we discuss Bill 6, relating to professional self-certification, and what this bill would mean for DPP and industry professionals if passed by the Honolulu City Council (10:52).

Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s 2023 State of the City Address

On Tuesday, March 14, 2023, Mayor Rick Blangiardi delivered his third State of the City address, talking about 'Wicked Problems' like affordable housing, homelessness, the City's Department of Planning and Permitting and public safety. During his roughly 70-minute speech, Mayor Blangiardi also touched on topics like the start of interim operations for Honolulu's rail project, the creation of an Office of Early Childhood Development, and the City's progress with regard to hiring. The full text of the speech is available at www.honolulu.gov/mayor, and the video of the speech is available on Mayor Rick Blangiardi's YouTube page. 

Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Andy Kawano on the FY2024 Budget, Property Tax Relief and $100M for Affordable Housing

Mayor Rick Blangiardi and host Brandi Higa are joined by Andy Kawano, the director of the City’s Department of Budget and Fiscal Services, for a wide-ranging conversation about the administration’s proposed budget for the 2024 fiscal year, including funding set aside for public safety, affordable housing projects, and consent decree projects for wastewater and solid waste (00:57). Later, Kawano explains the City’s historic plan to offer property tax relief to nearly 152,000 qualifying homeowners on Oʻahu (6:28) and chats with the Mayor about plans to improve regional infrastructure to support affordable housing in East Kapolei, Hālawa, Iwilei and Kapālama (18:07).
 

Jon Nouchi on the Opening of Honolulu Rail, Pedestrian Safety and Complete Streets

Jon Nouchi, the deputy director of the City's Department of Transportation Services, and host Brandi Higa open the episode with a discussion about the opening of the Honolulu rail system, including some cool rail car features and the expansion of bus services along the rail line (00:31). Later, Nouchi addresses recent pedestrian accidents on Oʻahu roadways and explains the City's Vision Zero program, which strives to eliminate fatal accidents involving motor vehicles (12:02). Nouchi and Higa also talk about the Complete Streets program, which requires the City to look at how roadways are used by all users, of all ages, and not just motor vehicles (25:22).

Mayor Rick Blangiardi on Bill 57, Retaining City Employees and Oʻahu’s Film Industry

Mayor Rick Blangiardi and host Brandi Higa begin the episode with a lengthy discussion on Bill 57, a piece of legislation — which passed a second reading before the Honolulu City Council on Wednesday — that defines sensitive places with regard to the carrying of firearms across the City and County of Honolulu (00:31). Later, Mayor Blangiardi discusses how his administration is working to solve problems related to the retention of the City's workforce, including historically poor recruiting strategies and high turnover rates (09:34). And finally, with a trip to Los Angeles on the calendar this week, the mayor previews an upcoming series of meetings with Hollywood executives to discuss new ways to expand the burgeoning film industry on Oʻahu (26:50). 

Makanani Salā on Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, Street Signs and Kuleana

Makanani Salā, the executive director of the Mayor's Office of Culture and the Arts in Honolulu, joins the One Oʻahu Podcast to talk about the City's initiatives during Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, or Hawaiian Language Month (02:55). Then, Makanani explains the genesis of the “Word on the Street” campaign, which is taking a closer look at street signs across the island with misspelled Hawaiian words (05:42). Finally, we discuss “kuleana” and the role it can play in solving some of the problems of today (16:32). To submit questions for Mayor Blangiardi to answer on the show, visit www.oneoahu.org/podcast.