Hawaii News and Stories: Islands, Culture, and Current Events

When you think of Hawaii, a U.S. state in the central Pacific Ocean made up of volcanic islands known for its unique Indigenous culture, tropical ecosystems, and heavy tourism. Also known as the Aloha State, it's the only U.S. state that isn't geographically in North America, and it's one of the most culturally distinct regions in the country. Hawaii isn’t just beaches and luaus. It’s a place where sovereignty movements, climate change impacts, and rising living costs are reshaping daily life for Native Hawaiians and long-term residents alike.

What happens in Hawaii doesn’t stay in Hawaii. The islands are a testing ground for environmental policy—rising sea levels are swallowing sacred sites, and invasive species are choking native forests. At the same time, tourism drives the economy but also pushes out locals from housing. The state’s push to ban certain sunscreen chemicals to protect coral reefs? That started here. The fight over Mauna Kea and telescope construction? That’s about land rights, science, and spiritual heritage—all at once. And when big companies set up data centers or luxury resorts, they’re not just building infrastructure—they’re changing who gets to live here.

You’ll find stories here that connect Hawaii to the wider world. From the Pacific Islander communities in California and Arizona tracing roots back to Oahu, to how Hawaiian language immersion schools are becoming models for Indigenous education across the Americas. You’ll see how weather patterns in Hawaii affect global fishing routes, how Hawaiian music influences pop culture from TikTok to Broadway, and how the state’s unique legal status impacts everything from voting rights to military presence.

What you won’t find here are generic travel guides or stock photos of sunsets. This collection is about real people, real struggles, and real change. You’ll read about protests in Hilo, new laws affecting short-term rentals in Maui, the return of traditional fishing practices in Kauai, and how Native Hawaiians are reclaiming control over their food systems. These aren’t distant headlines—they’re daily realities for over 1.4 million residents.

Below are articles that dig into Hawaii’s complex identity—not as a vacation spot, but as a living, breathing place with history, conflict, resilience, and deep cultural roots. Whether you’re planning a trip, researching Indigenous rights, or just curious about what’s really going on in the Pacific, these stories will show you the islands beyond the brochures.