May 2023 Newsletter

 

Happy Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! 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

Congratulations to McKinley High School junior Shane Kaneshiro on being accepted into AAJA National’s 2023 JCamp program! Shane will join 29 other high school students for a six-day training camp, where they will receive hands-on training and produce multiplatform news packages for the program’s news site.

Member News

Congratulations to Board Member Cassie Ordonio on your new role as Hawai‘i Public Radio’s culture and arts reporter!

Member Bylines

Hawaiʻi Filipino tattooists help locals reconnect with their culture
Hawai‘i Public Radio’s Cassie Ordonio documents local Filipino tattooists’ efforts to preserve and perpetuate traditional Filipino tattoos.

Decentralized Twitter Alternatives Bluesky and Nostr Are Growing, With Some Growing Pains
Decrypt Media’s Ryan Ozawa reports on early adopters’ embrace of Twitter alternatives like Bluesky, Nostr and Mastodon as Elon Musk makes controversial changes to Twitter.

A milestone victory for ‘Iolani School’s math team
KTIV4’s Marisa Yamane reports on the math team’s 30th consecutive state championship title. The school said its math team’s 30th state title in a row breaks the current all-time streak of 29 by the Punahou Boys’ Swim Team from 1958-1986.

Teachers to vote on new union contract that raises starting salary to $50K
Hawai‘i Public Radio’s Casey Harlow reports on the Hawai‘i State Teachers Association’s new four-year contract, which will cost $577 million and provide annual pay raises of 3.4% for teachers.

Reviving Hawai‘i’s Meat Inspection Program Could Also Take Aim At Axis Deer
Honolulu Civil Beat’s Thomas Heaton reports on an effort to reboot the meat inspection program, which could get the invasive deer into Hawai‘i’s mainstream food system at a more affordable price than currently available under the federal USDA inspection regime.

This Nonprofit Helps Kaua‘i’s Farmers Start Up and Grow
Hawaii Business Magazine’s Noelle Fujii-Oride reports on Mālama Kaua‘i, whose staff of 10, along with hundreds of volunteers, distribute food through an online food hub, keiki and kūpuna programs, and food pantries.

Red Hill Families File New Class Action Lawsuit Against Navy
Honolulu Civil Beat’s Christina Jedra reports on a new lawsuit against the Navy. The lawsuit argues that the Navy failed to exercise reasonable care in its operation of its World War II-era Red Hill fuel facility.

How A Reverse Mortgage Lender Took A Hawai‘i Man’s Home Over A $500 Repair
Honolulu Civil Beat’s John Hill reports on a Hawai‘i Supreme Court ruling that Joseph B. Nutter & Co. and its lawyer committed fraud on the court by failing to give a full picture of their foreclosure on Elton Namahoe’s Big Island house.

Innovative Project Marks a Year of Successful Operations
Building Management Hawaii’s Chris Aguinaldo reports on the mixed-used Hale Kalele/Hilinai project, which added 200 affordable rental units at a formerly underutilized location in lower Makiki.

 

Other Events

UH Mānoa is hosting a discussion (virtual and in-person) about Indigenous press freedom challenges with Bryan Pollard today, May 2, from 12-1:30 p.m. RSVP here.

 

Local Job Openings

Honolulu Star-Advertiser is hiring for a general assignment reporter to join its City Desk. If interested, send an email with a résumé and a few clips to Marsha McFadden, managing editor/news, at mmcfadden@staradvertiser.com. More information here.

Honolulu Civil Beat is hiring for a general assignment reporter, education reporter, and opinions editor. Anticipated salary range for the three roles: $75,000 to $95,000. The nonprofit news room is offering a relocation benefit for hired candidates outside of Hawai‘i and a housing assistance purchase option. More information available here.

Updates from AAJA National

AAJA 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.

#AAJA23

AAJA’s room block at the Capital Hilton is sold out. Check AAJA’s FAQ page for other nearby hotel options.

Panels include discussions on:

• A Guide to Reporting on Homelessness
• Confronting the Model Minority Myth as Asian American Journalists
• Reclaiming Asian Cuisine and its Coverage
• Search Smart through Archives and Digital Databases

Registration deadlines:

• Early Bird Deadline: May 31
• Pre-Registration Deadline: June 15
• Regular Deadline: July 22

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