PBS Hawai‘i Celebrates 60 Years of Storytelling

“PBS Hawai‘i had a goal right from the start,” says Mary Bitterman, station manager from 1974 to 1979. “Our commitment, in a way, was not to have programming for some people all the time, but having some programming for everyone.”

Recording session in the Hawai‘i Educational Television studio, 1969. Photo: Courtesy of PBS Hawai‘i

To that end, the station, at the time called Hawai‘i Educational Television Network or HETV, produced programs highlighting Native Hawaiian culture, local food, music and sports. There were live forums with panelists discussing local issues and a show dedicated to senior citizens called Pau Hana Years.

Keith Hathaway operates a camera in the HETV studio, 1969. Photo: Courtesy of PBS Hawai‘i

Current programs include Nā Mele, Home Is Here and Hiki Nō on PBS Hawai‘i and ‘Ono! Hawai‘i’s Food Culture on YouTube.

This month marks 60 years of telling Hawai‘i’s stories and the start of a year-long commemoration of that milestone. HETV broadcast its first programs from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Lab School campus on April 15, 1966.

Host Nino Martin, left, HETV Executive Director and General Manager Mary Bitterman, center and HETV anchor Charles Stubblefield stand next to a remote production truck. Photo: Courtesy of PBS Hawai‘i

In 1970, the station joined the Public Broadcasting Service, PBS. To this day, thousands of children watch and learn from Sesame Street and other educational shows on TV and online while adults tune in for favorites like NOVA, Nature, FRONTLINE and Masterpiece classics like Downton Abbey and All Creatures Great and Small.

Entertainer Keola Beamer with his grandmother Louise Beamer in a scene from a Hawai‘i Now Special, “The Beamers,” which was recorded in Nu‘uanu Valley and premiered on Nov. 9, 1976. This was one of the last TV appearances by brothers Keola and Kapono Beamer as a duo. Photo: Courtesy of PBS Hawai‘i

As part of its commitment to education, PBS Hawai‘i hires part-time student employees to teach them TV production skills. Local director/producer Michael C. Harris got hooked when he started at KHET in 1980.

Student-employee Michael Harris on the set of International Kitchen, 1982. Photo: Courtesy of PBS Hawai‘i

“There was a camera up on a platform. Guys were going up on these ladders and the control room. And I was like this is so cool. I’ve got to work in television, and it stayed with me ever since. 40 plus years later.”

Joy Chong-Stannard is a longtime director, producer and filmmaker who started in 1976. “I was a student technician, and when I got into directing, we worked on a program called Dialog, which is the precursor to Insights on PBS Hawai‘i, and it was a live show, one of the only live shows where people could call in and send in their questions to the panel. And what’s important about Insights is that it provides an hour-long perspective that is not provided anywhere else in Hawai‘i.”

Bitterman adds, “I think what’s really important about the continuing attraction of PBS Hawai‘i is that we have so many stories to be shared, and we’re never going to run out of them.”

Generous community support allows PBS Hawai‘i to continue its mission. You can show your support during the upcoming pledge show on April 30 at 7:30 p.m.

PBS Hawai‘i: 60 Years of Storytelling

Thursday, April 30, 7:30 p.m.

Broadcast and streaming on pbshawaii.org and YouTube

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Every month, HONOLULU publishes a blog written by the folks at PBS Hawai‘i, the only locally owned, statewide television station in Hawai‘i that receives support mainly through donations. Visit pbshawaii.org to learn more about exceptional, locally produced shows and the most prominent provider of educational and national programming. Explore music and the arts, discover in-depth documentaries and learn what makes Hawai‘i so special. Follow PBS Hawai‘i on all platforms: @pbshawaii