PODCAST · news
Covering the Cost
by Hawaii News Now
Locals say we’re “lucky we live Hawaii,” but at what cost? Join Annalisa Burgos as she breaks down the numbers behind Hawaii’s affordability crisis in candid conversations with financial experts, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. From skyrocketing housing prices to the country’s highest tax burden, Annalisa is covering the cost of aloha in America’s most expensive state and offering practical strategies, policy insights, and honest talk about what it really takes to call Hawaii home.
Episodes
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The cost of health insurance plans and Medicare
Annalisa Burgos talks with health insurance and Medicare expert Martha Khlopin, about what you need to know when enrolling in a health plan and shifting from employer-paid insurance to Medicare.
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The cost of bringing liquefied natural gas to Hawaii
Annalisa Burgos talks with Erik Montague, vice president of development at JERA Americas, the U.S. arm of JERA, a major Japanese power generation and liquefied natural gas (LNG) trading company about bringing the energy source to Hawaii.
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The cost of perimenopause and mid-life women’s health on the economy
Annalisa Burgos talks with Kelly Yamamoto, co-founder of women’s mid-life healthcare provider Magnolia Collective Wellness, and Jennifer Ablan, editor in chief of Hawaii Business Magazine, about the investment gap between men’s and women’s health, especially during mid-life years.
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The cost of falling and its impact on Hawaii’s aging population
In Hawaii, 1 in 4 older adults fall each year, with preventable falls accounting for about half of injury-related deaths for seniors. Hawaii Falls Prevention Alliance is hosting a weeklong outreach campaign from Sept. 21-25.
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The cost of shipping, Jones Act in Hawaii
Annalisa Burgos talks with Matson SVP Ku’uhaku Park and Melissa Pavlicek of HHUG about Hawaii shipping costs and how the Jones Act impacts local prices.
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The cost of outages, power generation and energy grid resilience
The state secured $18.5 million in federal funding aimed to help safeguard the state’s electrical grids against disasters, partnering with Hawaiian Electric and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA) to complete five major resilience projects between 2027 and 2029 on Maui, Oahu, and…
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The cost of construction permit delays and post-disaster rebuilding
Beginning September 1, 2026, Honolulu County’s Department of Planning and Permitting will require most residential projects to use a CivCheck Guided AI process before submitting their permit application.
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The cost of defense in the Pacific region and competition with China
U.S. Pacific Command Admiral Sam Paparo spoke in depth with Hawaii News Now’s Annalisa Burgos about the cost of ensuring security in the Pacific region amid increasing competition with China.
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The cost of immigration in Hawaii’s economy
Annalisa Burgos talks with the Campaign for Immigrant Justice coalition about the impact of ICE raids across the islands on residents, resources and businesses.
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RIMPAC’s economic impact and military spending in Waikiki
Annalisa Burgos talks to U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Stephen Koehler about hosting the 30th Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) and Trevor Abarzua, president and executive director of the Waikīkī Improvement Association, about the economic impact of military exercises and defense spending...
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The cost of buying and owning a home in Hawaii
Annalisa Burgos sits down with Reina Miyamoto, executive director of the Hawaii HomeOwnership Center, to talk about the cost of owning a home and tips for people looking to buy property in one of the most expensive real estate markets in the world.
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The cost of incarceration and Hawaii’s prison system
Annalisa Burgos sits down with criminal justice reform advocate Kat Brady to talk about the cost of incarceration and the impact of Hawaii’s prison system on its economy.
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How to lower the cost of doing business in Hawaii
Annalisa Burgos sits down with Hawaii Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Sherry Menor and Hawaii Business Magazine editor-in-chief Jennifer Ablan to talk about the cost of doing business in Hawaii.
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The cost of healthcare for patients with serious and terminal illnesses
Annalisa Burgos talks with Dan Haire, president and CEO, Navian Hawaii, about the cost of healthcare for those suffering from serious and terminal illnesses. Navian is a non-profit that provides hospice and palliative care for patients with serious illnesses, like dementia or cancer, focusing on...
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Covering the Cost: How to lower the cost of construction and remodeling your home in Hawaii
In this episode of “Covering the Cost” on April 29 at 12:30 p.m., Annalisa Burgos digs into Hawaii’s high cost of home construction with Evan K. Fujimoto, president of local custom residential design-build firm Graham Builders, and Honolulu City Council member Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, who represents...
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Covering the Cost: How to lower the cost of construction and remodeling your home in Hawaii
In this episode of “Covering the Cost” on April 29 at 12:30 p.m., Annalisa Burgos digs into Hawaii’s high cost of home construction with Evan K. Fujimoto, president of local custom residential design-build firm Graham Builders, and Honolulu City Council member Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, who represents...
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The potential cost of the HMSA-HPH merger
Annalisa Burgos talks to Ray Vara, President/CEO of Hawaii Pacific Health (HPH), and Mark Mugiishi, President/CEO of Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA), about their proposed partnership known as “One Health Hawaii.” UHERO health economist Tim Halliday will also weigh in on the impact of…
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The cost of AI-driven scams after Kona low storms, disaster recovery
Annalisa Burgos talks with Blair Bautista, a cybersecurity and AI governance expert with GR Consultants (Governance, Risk & Compliance), about the cost of AI-driven scams that rise after disasters, including the current recovery efforts after the recent Kona low storms.
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The cost of Hawaii residents having the highest tax burden in the U.S.
Annalisa Burgos talks with Tom Yamachika from the Tax Foundation of Hawaii about finding savings in our tax returns.
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The cost of energy and the highest electric bills in the U.S.
Annalisa Burgos sits down with energy policy expert Henry Curtis of nonprofit Life of the Land
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The cost of consumer fraud
Annalisa Burgos sits down with Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) to disucss the cost of consumer fraud and deceptive business practices.
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The cost of keeping local working families in Hawaii
Annalisa Burgos talks to Josh Wisch of nonprofit Holomua Collective, who says the outmigration of middle-income workers negatively impacts the local economy.
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The cost of building truly affordable housing
In this episode of “Covering the Cost with Annalisa Burgos,” Annalisa talks with Kimo Carvalho, executive director of HomeAid Hawaii, a local nonprofit developer that builds deeply affordable housing solutions for those experiencing or at-risk of homelessness. She also talks to Dean Minakami,...
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The cost of starting a business in Hawaii
Annalisa Burgos sits down with Meli James from Hawaii Venture Capital Association and Mana Up to discuss what it takes to be an entrepreneur in Hawaii.
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New online tool shows disparities between communities on basic needs
Annalisa Burgos sits down with Hawaii Appleseed to find out how its Economic Justice Data Dashboard can help focus government spending in Hawaii.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Locals say we’re “lucky we live Hawaii,” but at what cost? Join Annalisa Burgos as she breaks down the numbers behind Hawaii’s affordability crisis in candid conversations with financial experts, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. From skyrocketing housing prices to the country’s highest tax burden, Annalisa is covering the cost of aloha in America’s most expensive state and offering practical strategies, policy insights, and honest talk about what it really takes to call Hawaii home.
HOSTED BY
Hawaii News Now
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Covering the Cost have?
Covering the Cost currently has 25 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Covering the Cost about?
Locals say we’re “lucky we live Hawaii,” but at what cost? Join Annalisa Burgos as she breaks down the numbers behind Hawaii’s affordability crisis in candid conversations with financial experts, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. From skyrocketing housing prices to the country’s highest tax...
How often does Covering the Cost release new episodes?
Covering the Cost has 25 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Covering the Cost?
You can listen to Covering the Cost on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Covering the Cost?
Covering the Cost is created and hosted by Hawaii News Now.
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