April 2023 Newsletter
Welcome to AAJA Hawai‘i’s monthly newsletter! Here, you’ll find chapter updates, upcoming events, member bylines and more.
If you have a story or career update you want to share with our AAJA family, let us know at hawaii@aaja.org!
Chapter Updates
March 15 Pau Hana
Mahalo for attending our March 15 pau hana at Waikiki Brewing Company! Attendees got to meet Jeff MacIntyre and ABC7-Los Angeles News Anchor David Ono, the filmmakers behind “Defining Courage,” a live performance about the legacy of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team and Military Intelligence Service.
We plan to hold more events this year. Check back here or on our social media pages (Twitter / Facebook) for updates!
Chapter Statement on Using Proper Hawaiian Name for Windward O‘ahu Islet
AAJA Hawai‘i recently released a statement to encourage media to use “Mokoli‘i” whenever referencing the popular islet off Kualoa Regional Park in Windward O‘ahu.
The islet has long been known and referenced to by a nickname (because of its resemblance to a Chinese laborer’s hat) that can have racial overtones, especially in other states. Although the nickname may not seem offensive to many longtime Chinese-American residents here, it is not the official name of the islet and referencing the nickname in the media could perpetuate the idea that it is an acceptable phrase to everyone, including visitors to Hawai‘i who will return to their hometowns on the U.S. Continent.
The Chinese Chamber of Commerce, members of the state legislature and over 30 businesses have encouraged local and national organizations to use the islet’s proper name, Mokoli‘i, on their websites and publications. Read the full statement here.
Member News
Welcome to our new/returning members: Jill Kuramoto, Chris Aguinaldo, Reece Nagaoka, John Hill, Emily Lourdes Cristobal, Christina Jedra, Marisa Yamane and April Estrellon!
Congratulations to member Anita Hofschneider on joining Grist’s Indigenous Affairs desk as a staff writer. Anita will be covering climate change and environmental stories in the Pacific and beyond starting this summer.
Member Bylines
‘Forever Chemicals’ Have Been Found In Hawai‘i’s Environment. Now What?
Honolulu Civil Beat’s Christina Jedra reports on toxic chemicals known as PFAS found in Waiawa and other places around Hawai‘i. “As awareness of their toxicity grows, water purveyors, the military and government agencies in Hawai‘i are starting to test for PFAS, and more testing is on the way.”
Embrace Equity
Building Management Hawaii’s Chris Aguinaldo profiles women working in the local property management field. “With the growth of commercial real estate in Hawai‘i, the future is bright for women to continue to succeed and for the younger generations to rise up and embark on this exciting career path,” says Alohilani Shatto, a property manager at Alexander & Baldwin.
Private Equity Helps Build Needed Housing in Hawai‘i
Hawaii Business Magazine’s Noelle Fujii-Oride wrote an explainer on the role private equity plays in building much needed affordable and workforce housing. “Housing developers have relied on private equity for a long time, and many in the local community say it will play an increasingly important role in helping to solve Hawai‘i’s housing shortage.”
What does it take to build a community of tiny homes in Hawaiʻi?
Hawai‘i Public Radio’s Casey Harlow reports on kauhale communities being built for low-income residents. “It puts community at the center in the heart of addressing homelessness and houselessness, which is not an approach that has been really embraced before,” said Nani Medeiros, the state’s chief housing officer.
Here’s What Hawai‘i Can Learn From Other States About Universal Preschool
Honolulu Civil Beat’s Cassie Ordonio reports on the ways that other states have rolled out their universal preschool programs and the advice they have for Hawai‘i’s. “Jade Jenkins, an associate professor at the University of California, Irvine, who studies early childhood policies, found states rolling out universal pre-K have grappled with similar challenges — teacher shortages, appropriate curriculum and deciding between full- or half-day programs.”
Feds Could Guarantee All Silicon Valley Bank Deposits: Report
Decrypt’s Ryan Ozawa reports on how federal authorities are considering safeguarding all uninsured deposits at Silicon Valley Bank, which failed on Friday after a bank run by customers. “Among the Federal Reserve, U.S. Treasury, FDIC, and White House, an outright buyer for the failed bank is the best-case scenario.”
O‘ahu’s Pig Farmers Want To Change The Conversation On Food Security
Honolulu Civil Beat’s Thomas Heaton reports on Hawai‘i’s small network of slaughterhouses, which prevent the local pork industry from growing. “Hawai‘i’s focus on beef has left the small livestock sector behind, but even if there was more production of pigs, sheep and goats, there’s no way to get that livestock onto the market.”
Honolulu Fireworks Cases Almost Always Get Dismissed. Here’s What We Found About Why They Fizzle
Honolulu Civil Beat’s John Hill analyzed fireworks citation data on O‘ahu to see whether many are prosecuted. “Prosecutions are hard because they require witnesses to identify the person who set off the fireworks, Brooks Baehr, a spokesman for Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm, said in a written statement.”
Honoring the memory of an HPD officer killed in the line of duty 20 years ago
KITV4’s Marisa Yamane reports on Honolulu Police Department Officer Glen Gaspar, who died on March 4, 2003 while looking for a man wanted for attempted murder. HPD Chief Joe Logan told KITV4 in a statement: “Years and decades can pass after an officer is killed, but the grief that his family suffers never goes away.”
Local Job Openings
Lāna‘i Today is seeking a managing editor, publisher and lead reporter with a Bachelor’s in English or Journalism. This combined position will be responsible for working with a variety of contributing journalists and a series of amateur writers from the community to create a community newspaper. More information here.
Honolulu Star-Advertiser is seeking a general assignment reporter to join its city desk. Reporting experience at a daily newspaper is essential, as is evidence of strong news writing and critical thinking, and a willingness to tackle any assignment. More information here.
Updates from AAJA National
2023 NAJA-AAJA Journalism Scholarship
The AAJA Pacific Islander Task Force has also opened applications for its 2023 NAJA-AAJA Journalism Scholarship. The funding is intended to help Indigenous peoples of the Pacific, including Polynesians, Micronesians and Melanesians, pursue careers in journalism, especially in the U.S. and U.S.-affiliated Pacific islands. Up to two scholarships of $5,000 each will be awarded this year. Deadline is May 1. Apply here.
AAJA National Looking for Volunteers to Update its Style Guide
AAJA is currently revising its style guide, including what is okay to say and not, defining everything from AAPI to Yellow Peril, and countering stereotypes to carve how our communities are covered. The guide will be sent to media nationwide, other journalism organizations and AAPI nonprofits, and will be a living resource of standards to which we can hold newsrooms accountable.
National is looking for co-leads and volunteers – at whatever capacity you’re willing to help – to read, write, check spelling, conduct light research, add thoughts, make calls, and advise on AAPI terms, history, and culture. Contact our VP of Civic Engagement Marian Chia-Ming Liu at themarianliu@gmail.com if you’re interested.
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