Mark Ladao
News ProducerMark Ladao moved to Hawaiʻi as a teenager and graduated from Moanalua High School. He graduated from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa with a bachelor's in biology and, later, in journalism. He was a general assignment reporter at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser for four years before coming to Hawaiʻi Public Radio as a news producer in 2023. He usually spends his free time rewatching Amélie.
Contact him at mladao@hawaiipublicradio.org.
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The state Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the University of Hawaiʻi recently signed a memorandum of understanding to handle major pests — namely little fire ants, coconut rhinoceros beetles and coqui frogs.
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Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi has signed a resolution creating a new Ocean Safety Department. In his March state of the city address, Blangiardi said he wanted to separate ocean safety services from ambulance services. Both were housed in the Honolulu Emergency Services Department.
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The survey of just over 900 residents showed that the demand for food is approaching 2021 levels when the COVID-19 pandemic led to record unemployment and disruptions in the food supply chain. The report stated that nearly 40% of participants worried about running out of food before their next paycheck. HPR's Mark Ladao has more.
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Local officials and advocates are celebrating the passage of significant housing reform bills that made it through the state legislative session. Perhaps the most notable — and controversial — of those measures is a bill that forces the counties to increase the number of accessory dwelling units allowed on residential properties in urban areas by 2026. HPR's Mark Ladao has more.
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Ulupono Initiative — a firm that invests in sustainability efforts across the state —surveyed 2,000 adult residents across the state on renewable energy and found over 90% support its expansion.
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A “bad actor” accused of giving away plants infested with little fire ants has had its name cleared by the state Department of Agriculture — but that's done little to satisfy concerns that the department isn’t doing enough to stop invasive species. Meanwhile, the business is trying to recover from the hit to its reputation. HPR's Mark Ladao has more.
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Alaska Airlines is offering more than 3,000 free flights to those impacted by the Maui fires last August. The Maui CARE Flights program is a collaboration between the airline, Gov. Josh Green, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement.
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State and federal agencies are preparing for the influx of plant or animal products arriving from different regions for the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture next month. DOA officials are working with festival organizers on possible replacements for invasive plants that can be used during the festival.
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The Honolulu City Council has approved a measure to establish a separate Ocean Safety department for Oʻahu. Prior to this, ocean safety services currently fall within the Honolulu Emergency Services Department, along with ambulance services.
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Elected officials, health experts and others celebrated the groundbreaking of construction and renaming of the Straub Benioff Medical Center, following a $100 million donation from tech billionaire and philanthropist Marc Benioff.
