The Hawaii Herald, “Hawaii’s Japanese-American Journal in English,” which has been a cultural cornerstone for 43 years, is coming to a close, with its final issue set for December 1, according to Hawaii News Now.
Editor Kristen Nemoto Jay, who received the news last month, expressed her personal devastation at the newspaper’s closure, emphasizing the loss of years of stories, writers, history, and culture.
“For me personally, it was devastating,” said Jay to Hawaii News Now. “You are talking about years of stories, writers, history and culture.”
Over the past few years, many newspapers have shut down. A study “The State of Local News in 2022″ from Northwestern University, Medill, also highlights how 360 newspapers have shut down since the end of 2019, and only 24 of them weeklies serve small communities.
Additionally, the Hawaii Herald subscriptions had been on the decline, prompting the decision. Approximately 10 people worked for The Hawaii Herald, along with its sister Japanese-language newspaper, Hawaii Hochi, which was established 111 years ago.
Hawaii Hochi is also expected to shut down in December, though there is yet to be an official confirmation from management.
Both newspapers have played crucial roles in preserving the cultural heritage of Hawaii, with Hawaii Hochi founded by Fred Kinsaburo Makino to be a voice for immigrant plantation workers.
Over the years, The Hawaii Herald covered groundbreaking stories, including its first Pride issue last year and a Black History Month issue this year. The Hawaii Herald is now commemorated by its fans through social media tributes.
“I’m honored and happy to know that I think we did the best we could,” said Jay to Hawaii News Now.
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Recommend contacting state of Hawaii reps. There are a lot of Asians in Hawaii. Perhaps the state will contribute if it knows the state of CA is a supporter.