Hawai‘i is entering what experts call a “news desert”—a period where communities have less access to reliable, consistent, and locally produced news. A new report from the Hawai‘i Institute for Public Affairs (HIPA) warns that this decline poses serious threats to democracy, public trust, and civic engagement across the islands.

The report, authored by investigative journalist Sophie Cocke, documents the steady erosion of local journalism over the past two decades. Hawai‘i once had more than 50 newspapers. Today, that number has dropped to 13, with many neighbor island papers operating with minimal staff. As coverage shrinks, so does voter participation: Hawai‘i’s turnout fell from 73% in 1960 to 32% in 2024.

Digital outlets such as Honolulu Civil Beat and Pacific Media Group’s Kaua‘i Now, Maui Now, and Big Island Now have helped fill some gaps, but not enough to counter the loss of investigative and community reporters. Consolidation in TV and radio has further reduced local storytelling.

Ethnic Media Highlighted — Including The Hawai‘i Herald

The report also highlights the critical role of ethnic media, including The Hawai‘i Herald, one of the state’s most enduring Japanese American publications. With mainstream newspapers shrinking, ethnic media outlets are increasingly essential sources of cultural, historical, and community-specific news.

This recognition underscores the importance of San Times as part of Hawai‘i’s ethnic media ecosystem. By uplifting Hawai‘i’s Japanese and Okinawan communities and highlighting stories often overlooked by larger outlets, San Times is helping fill the widening information gap the report warns about.

Community Discussion Panel: What Comes Next

To accompany the report, HIPA hosted a panel discussion featuring journalists, educators, and civic leaders. Topics included:

• how to rebuild local reporting capacity
• the need for stronger media literacy and civic education
• new nonprofit and local ownership models
• and the importance of ethnic and community news outlets in restoring trust

Panelists agreed that Hawai‘i needs more collaboration, more local storytellers, and more investment in independent reporting.

A Call to Reinvest in Local Stories

As newsrooms shrink and misinformation spreads, community-based journalism becomes even more vital. Ethnic media like The Hawai‘i Herald and San Times play a crucial role in preserving cultural narratives, documenting community history, and providing trustworthy information at a time when Hawai‘i needs it most.

The full HIPA report, Hawai‘i’s News Desert: Overcoming a Threat to Democracy and Civic Engagement, is available at hipa.org.