PBS Hawai’i Monthly Newsletter – Hawaii News Journal

“We’re talking story: Home is Here-a look at the history of the beloved palaka and rice bag fashion.”

Views expressed in this PBS Hawai’i Newsletter are those of the reporters and correspondents.

Accessed on 31 January 2026, 0144 UTC.

Content and Source: “PBS Hawai’i-February 2026 Newsletter.”

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Russ Roberts (https://hawaiinewsjournal.com).

February 2026

When it comes to music, I am 110% stuck in the 70s, and I am more than okay with that. I listened to a ton of radio growing up and couldn’t get enough of the Eagles, Gerry Rafferty, Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire. When I wasn’t listening to radio, I was spinning my mom’s collection of vinyl records which included Carole King, Engelbert Humperdink and Barry White.

Then there were the local albums: Kalapana, Country Comfort, Cecilio & Kapono and the iconic Sons of Hawaii. I pause here to give Gabby “Pops” Pahinui, Joe Marshall, David “Feet” Rogers and Eddie Kamae, the original foursome, the respect they earned. We had several of their albums, including their very first one, Gabby Pahinui with The Sons of Hawaii, released in 1961. The one I remember playing the most came out in 1973, featuring Uncle Eddie and the group wearing red and white palaka shirts, denim overalls and Ivy flat caps. Vintage. Iconic. An instant classic.

Those palaka shirts weren’t just a fashion choice. In the 70s, The Sons of Hawaii stepped on stage in blue and red palaka to honor and connect their music to plantation labor, long workdays and a deep relationship with the ʻāina. Over time, palaka became a symbol of their authenticity, an unspoken signal that this was honest Hawaiian music rooted in the lives and traditions of the people.

Please join us on the next Home is Here on February 25 as we take a look back at the history of the beloved palaka, rice bag fashion and much more. It will be a trip back to the 70s. Be careful, you may get stuck there.

With aloha and gratitude,

Ron Mizutani
President and CEO

Digital Highlights

Alanui Mele

Aaron “Woes” Martin

Best known for his larger-than-life “Angry Pandas” paintings, Aaron “Woes” Martin has taken his art across the globe, spreading his deep love for hip-hop culture wherever he goes.

Through bold visuals, cultural authenticity and a commitment to the foundations of hip-hop, the Kāneʻohe native helped cultivate and elevate Hawaiʻi’s hip-hop scene, playing a key role in shaping a movement that continues to inspire new generations of artists.

ʻONO! Hawaiʻi’s Food Culture

Hot Topic: Hulihuli Chicken

From fundraising favorite to the focus of foodies, hulihuli chicken draws hungry crowds across the islands. Some are seeking a taste that brings back memories, while others are trying it for the first time.

This month’s episode of ʻONO! Hawaiʻi’s Food Culture takes us from roadside stand to restaurant table to show how the island classic is made and how delicious bites of smoky memories are creating new traditions with each forkful.

Local Program Highlights

Home is Here

Passion and purpose lead two local men on two very different professional journeys in this month’s Home is Here. Keoni Kaholoʻaʻā is an interpretive ranger at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park who helps visitors connect with the area by educating them about spiritual and natural elements within the park. But his job has turned into much more, leading him to a deeper understanding of who he is as a Native Hawaiian and connecting him to his roots.

As a boy, Nick Bradley became intrigued by constellations and astronomy. When life threw him a curve ball, he set his eyes on the skies, turning his hobby into the inspiration for his business, Stargazers of Hawaii.

Born of necessity at a time when traditional fabrics were scarce, palaka prints and rice bag clothing are icons of Hawaiʻi fashion and history. We take a look at the origin and evolution of the trademark threads.

Join us for a brand new episode of Home is Here on Wednesday, February 25 at 7:30 pm on PBS Hawaiʻi and on pbshawaii.org.

National Program Highlights

PHOEBE & JAY is a new PBS KIDS series that follows the adventures of 6-year-old fraternal twins Phoebe and Jay Yarber, who live with their family in the fantastical Tobsy Towers. The program promotes literacy skills through examples of text kids see in their everyday lives, helping them understand and navigate the world around them.

BLACK AND JEWISH AMERICA: AN INTERWOVEN HISTORY traces the complex relationship between Black and Jewish Americans, defined by the solidarity forged during the civil rights era but often strained by division. Dr. Henry Louis Gates (pictured with Billy Crystal) hosts this exploration of the challenges and enduring promise of that alliance.

In a brand-new episode, NOVA asks Can Dogs Talk? Witness amazing moments from a major experiment, as thousands of dogs are given access to speech buttons. Some pet owners are convinced, but are our furry friends really communicating their thoughts and desires with us?

NATURE: Parenthood features Sir David Attenbourough narrating stories of astonishing animal behaviors shaped by the environments they inhabit. Filmed on six continents and in 23 countries, watch as animal parents adapt to a world shaped by humans.

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