I received this invitation from PBS Hawaii a short time ago and Monday I flew to O‘ahu to do the taping:

The production staff at PBS Hawaii is thrilled that you’re interested in joining us for an interview with Leslie Wilcox, our President and CEO, for Long Story Short with Leslie Wilcox.

I really like the fact that Leslie Wilcox is the new CEO of PBS. She lives in Waialua and is a real local girl, with local sensibilities, and PBS’s excellent programming shows it. She is so easy to know. It was like I’ve known her all my life.

And the interview was just like talking story. I might have said more than I needed to.

These schedules include time for you to receive HD styling for your hair and make up (which is a lot of fun, really).

I’m a veteran with hair and makeup, having done this for the Howard Dicus show awhile back. But this time I also received an eyebrow trim. I was asked if I minded, and next thing I knew part of my eyebrow was flying half way across the room. I just now came back from looking at it from all angles in the mirror. I guess it’s okay.

Please dress warmly – our studio is very cold (often below 60 degrees).

Yep, the camera people all dressed like the Unabomber.

Hawaii’s only regular program produced and broadcast in HD (high definition), Long Story Short is edited from a full interview into a half-hour program that we hope goes beyond the usual who-you-are, what-you-do Q&A to really reveal people’s character – beyond their accomplishments. We hope to share your story with our viewers in such a way that we expose your inner drive and personal passions.

I did not mean to, but I told some stories I had not thought of for 40 years. Something to do with running full-blast past the ghosts just in time to get dirty licking. It was Leslie’s fault.

Still in its first year, the program has already featured in-depth, one-on-one interviews with a diverse group of guests: Keali’i Reichel, Nona Beamer, Anne Namba, Brian Keaulana, Judge Sam King and Mayor Harry Kim. Coming up, we’ll feature Skylark Rossetti and Pat Saiki, two women from Hawai’i Island. Now we’re thrilled to include your name on that list.

The only reason I can figure why they called me is that “sustainability” must be top of mind. That is what I’ve been spending most of my time on recently. Maybe they were looking for Richard HO? Or Richard Hall? And got me by mistake?

I hope you’ll take the time to visit our website, where you’ll see dedicated web pages for each of our local programs, Leslie Wilcox’s new blog and our mission:

PBS Hawaii is a private non-profit organization whose mission is, “to inform, inspire and entertain by sharing high-quality programming and services that add value to our diverse island community.”

PBS Hawaii has a rich history of presenting educational and enlightening series like Sesame Street and Nova alongside award-winning, local productions like Na Mele: Traditions in Hawaiian Song. No organization in Hawai’i provides the quality and quantity of instructional and cultural programming at no charge to viewers statewide as PBS Hawaii.

I found out that PBS bought the national Chefs Afield series. That’s the one that featured Chef Alan Wong at Keaukaha School, where the students welcomed him with a chant, and where we cooked several pigs in the imu. Chef Alan made some really special dishes that evening – imagine taking home leftovers from Chef Alan Wong. And Kapono gave the blessing in Hawaiian with family and farmers in attendance. Really local style.

The season will premier this spring featuring Chef Alan, the cookout at Hamakua Springs and other Big Island venues. And, the special part – Keaukaha Elementary School goes national!

The invitation continues:

Just to make sure you know where and when to find Long Story Short, here are a few tips:

• Long Story Short with Leslie Wilcox is broadcast at 7:30pm on Tuesdays and 2:30pm on Sundays on PBS Hawaii. The audio portion of the program is broadcast on the radio on KUMU 94.7 FM at 7:00am on Sundays. And you can also download audio files and written transcripts of Long Story Short programs on our website at www.pbshawaii.org.

• PBS Hawaii can be viewed over-the-air on Channel 11 and on Oceanic Channel 10, Digital Channel 84 and HD Digital Channel 1010. The program may also be available “on demand” to Oceanic digital cable subscribers on Channel 110 (click Tuesday then KHET) for up to a week.

Wendy Suite, the show’s producer, sent me the above invitation. Now I know what producers do. She said, “Leslie will be here to meet and chat with you. Don’t tell her too many stories. I don’t want you to end up on the air just nodding politely after you run out of stories.” She laughed as she said it.

I didn’t tell her, but I don’t run out of things to say.