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| Malia Zimmerman |
This Friday evening, Hawaii Reporter is celebrating its 5th birthday.
The last 5 years have brought a priceless journey that has taught the people in our media organization invaluable lessons. We’re proud that we have told stories that otherwise would have gone unreported, made government and business more accountable and elections more interesting, and given more people a voice. In the end, by shining the light, we hope we’ve made Hawaii a better place in which to live.
Looking back to where and why Jay McWilliams and I launched Hawaii Reporter in February 2002, is a reminder of Hawaii’s recent political history. Back then, Gov. Benjamin Cayetano was in his eighth year in the governor’s office. He wasn’t friendly to inquisitive or aggressive press and made it his mission to target reporters (like this one) or media entities that he did not agree with. It was not uncommon for critics we quoted to tell me they’d received a personal call from him -- or his appointees -- afterward.
Cayetano was leaving a legacy of retaliation and building the long-standing climate of fear in Hawaii. But he wasn’t the only government leader with a third world dictator-like attitude. Not far behind him: the Bishop Estate trustees, Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris, disgraced University of Hawaii President Evan Dobelle, former DOE superintendent Paul LeMahieu, and other powerful government and business leaders who believed they didn’t deserve scrutiny or criticism.
Without accountability, Hawaii’s economy, business climate, small business survival rate and standard of living were spiraling downward, while property taxes, general excise taxes, government fees and the cost of living were shooting upward. There were few alternatives in Honolulu to the two daily papers, and if they ignored a story, quite often no one heard about it. That happened all too often. Television stations -- with a few exceptions -- settled for 10 second sound bites for issues they carefully selected and more entertainment than investigative or enterprise reporting.
The national and international news media recognized our problem, calling us a “bamboo republic” and “banana republic” -- Forbes titled a piece: “"Trouble in Paradise ... Why doing business in Honolulu has become nearly equivalent to suicide." Often while Hawaii made national news for its troubles, there was only silence in the media here.
Quotes like this 1940 statement from Winston Churchill became all too relevant: "A free press is the unsleeping guardian of every other right that free men prize. It is the most dangerous foe of tyranny.”
We decided rather than complaining about the climate of fear, lack of education and retaliation, we had the talent and means to do something about it. We planned to create a venue for more investigative and enterprising reporting, to establish a news entity (first print, then television and radio shows) without restrictive ties to advertisers, and to let more people publish their views. We offered the public a chance to print their entire letters or opeds. We also published public record and audits with our reports so people could read more for themselves. We are the only local media to do so.
Backed by a handful of investors, we built an online daily newspaper that today still offers news, views from all perspectives, political analysis, opinion and original investigative reporting on government, business, education and politics. A second division in Hawaii Reporter offers vital local public record and a tracking system that allows lawyers, investors, accountants, real estate and mortgage professionals, marketers and small business owners to watch and track their competition with minimal time investment.
The biggest rewards come each day with the many stories we document that would have gone untold had we not uncovered and reported them and the grateful readers who write in to say they had not seen these stories anywhere else.
Whether about heroes or scoundrels, the Hawaii Reporter stories help to expose good deeds and wrongdoing. We'd like to think these stories empower the public and make them more aware of the actions by legislators and those in the executive branch, in the county governments, in the public education system, in the judiciary and in the media.
Some of the many successes in the last 5 years: Millions of people have logged onto Hawaii Reporter and hundreds have sent letters and opeds from around the world as far away as Africa and Pakistan and as close as Kailua.
Hawaii Reporter was hired as consultants to ABC 20/20 for the network's March 2007 investigative report on the Ka Loko Dam Breach. Wall Street Journal, Washington Times, UPI, Fox News, National Review, The American Journalism Review, the Associated Press in Tokyo and the U.S., and other publications across the world have published or quoted Hawaii Reporter.
This week alone, stories about Hawaii Reporter were published in Forbes, Business Week, Houston Chronicle, The Honolulu Advertiser, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, the Hawaii Tribune Herald, the Garden Isle News, the First Amendment Center, MSNBC, KHNL TV News 8, KSSK Radio and Small Business News.
The most recent coverage comes because we are challenging in court two subpoenas for our journalism records and sources and testimony by one of Hawaii’s most rich and powerful people, James Pflueger, and his team of attorneys led by William McCorriston. This is a case that could result in precedent setting First Amendment guarantees to the newest form of journalism -- electronic media and is gaining national attention.
Two articles in The Honolulu Advertiser by Derrick DePledge and Associated Press by Mark Niesse sum up the important fight over journalism privilege and protection of journalism integrity that we are in.
Hawaii Reporter’s small news staff has been recognized with numerous awards in the last 5 years including the top investigative reporting award from the Society of Professional Journalists in 2002. For this 2002 story, "Exposing a Garment Factory (in American Samoa)," Hawaii Reporter was praised by the judges: “In a very difficult category to judge, Malia Zimmerman noses out the competition because of the extraordinary effort it took to report this story. This story exposed the horrendous treatment of Vietnamese workers in a garment factory in American Samoa. Most reporters would be unwilling to go to the great lengths Zimmerman did to get interviews – hiring a translator, going undercover and calming frightened workers. Superb work.”
Hawaii Reporter won the highest journalism prize from the Second Amendment Foundation in North Carolina in 2006. In June 2006, Hawaii Reporter received two awards from the Society of Professional Journalists. In June 2005, Hawaii Reporter received three awards from the SPJ. In January 2005 and 2003, Hawaii Reporter won best business publication from Small Business Hawaii and best business reporter in 2004. Education reporter Laura Brown was given awards from the Eagle Forum, Small Business Hawaii and the Society of Professional Journalists.
We’ve also continued to fight for more openness in government, better laws to protect journalists’ confidential sources, and more accountability from Hawaii’s government leaders.
When we first proposed the idea of Hawaii Reporter, there were dozens of people who told us why we couldn’t or wouldn’t succeed and that things in Hawaii would never change. But fortunately there were also a number of people who believed in us and stood by us and to them we are grateful.
The lessons we’ve learned and the financial struggles in the first 5 years were difficult. But with Hawaii Reporter.com, the recently launched television show, “News Behind the News,” and frequent radio interviews, Hawaii Reporter has become an institutionalized media entity in the state. We look forward to more successes in the next 5 years -- and in the next 50.
To attend the 5th anniversary party this Friday, May 25th, at 5:30 p.m. at the Waialae Country Club at a cost of $100, call Jay McWilliams at (808) 524-4500.
Readers Praise Hawaii Reporter
Hawaii Reporter has proven that an alternative news outlet in Hawaii can quickly become the news source of choice for thousands of Hawaiians every day. Malia Zimmerman and her crack staff of contributors have proved you can cover City Hall, and the State Capitol and the business community with fearless and fair reporting. Hawaii Reporter is on the rise and it's no surprise that Old Media outlets are now struggling to compete with it. John Fund, Wall Street Journal
"There is no good guy who does not like the HR." Paul Smith, Co-chair, Let Honolulu Vote
" Hawaii Reporter is a valuable source of information for me to keep in touch with reality in Hawaii. My compliments to Malia Zimmerman for her persistent, courageous and quality efforts at keeping the truth highly visible in Hawaii." Orson Swindle, Former Commissioner, Federal Trade Commission
"I hope you realize that a growing segment of the public values and appreciates the job Hawaii Reporter is doing. … By elevating both the public's understanding of this and the resulting public dialogue, Hawaii Reporter is helping to pave the way to a future where school communities thrive and students reach their full potential. Keep up the good work." Randy Roth, co-author, “Broken Trust: Greed, Mismanagement & Political Manipulation at America’s Largest Charitable Trust”
" Hawaii Reporter is the essential source of information for people who are interested in what is really happening in our state. Hawaii Reporter provides the depth and perspective the daily papers wish they could do. I can't start my day without Hawaii Reporter.com." Rick Hamada, Morning talk show host, KHVH News Radio
" Hawaii Reporter provides a point of view, hard facts and incisive analysis that simply can not be found anywhere else in Hawaii media." Jeffrey.P.Schmidt, Insurance Commissioner, State of Hawaii
"I'm a reader of the Hawaii Reporter because I want to find out what's going on in our Honolulu, important stories that would never be reported by the dailies or other mainstream media. You need to report the contrary views." Bob Watada, former executive director, Campaign Spending Commission, State of Hawaii
"For the same reason that we rely on Internet sources to counter sloppiness and bias in the national media, we need Hawaii Reporter to give the seldom-heard "other side of the story" in our local Media. Malia and the gang are must-reads for me everyday." Michael W. Perry, Radio Personality, KSSK Morning Show
"I read HawaiiReporter.com for news stories others don't cover, commentaries others won't print, and the full text of speeches and viewpoints other media can't fit." Sen. Les Ihara, Jr., D-Kapahulu
“Your paper has made a tremendous difference to our businesses and personal awareness. I can't think of what this community would be without your weekly report and the guest editorials. Thank you for your courage to speak the truth and to set the standard for the rest of your competition. Mahalo and many evermore success." Dale Evans, owner, Charley’s Taxi, Small Business Person of the Year -- Small Business Hawaii
"The future, someone once said, is now. No where is this more true, thanks to the Internet, than in the news business. The Hawaii Reporter is ahead of the curve, getting stories out in real time that the print and broadcast media can only get later if at all." Peter Roff, former political columnist, United Press International
" Hawaii Reporter is an excellent source for up-to-date information and news other sources are not reporting." Bette Tatum, National Federation of Independent Business
"We at Hawaii Rifle Association value the Hawaii Reporter most because it's the only source of real news in the state. Subscribers can be sure there is no filter through reporter bias, editorial policy, or agenda, to distort the facts." Dr. Max Cooper, Hawaii Rifle Association
" Hawaii Reporter. What, when, where, why, how? Real news reporting from Hawaii, five days per week, by Internet all over the world (maybe the moon), the only way to get the real news that the mainstream media shuns. As to how -- beats the hell out of me, but they get it done, and well." Dick Rowland, President, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
"While Hawaii Reporter has long been the best news source in Hawaii, it surely ranks among the rising stars in the nation as a source of intellectual discussion. Hawaii Reporter is the juggernaut of fresh, independent thought in the islands. Exposing the dark side of our political and economic landscape, Hawaii Reporter will eventually compel the other media to shape up or shut down. Hawaii Reporter is to the Pacific what samizdat was to a decaying Soviet Union." Ken Schoolland, associate professor of economics and political science at Hawaii Pacific University, and author of The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible, A Free Market Odyssey.
"I wouldn't miss a day without my Hawaii Reporter so I can keep up with the juicy buzz about town." Beverly Keever, professor of Journalism, University of Hawaii
" Hawaii Reporter is a valuable, credible source for up to the minute information on current issues affecting our island State. I visit Hawaii Reporter daily and often use it as a part of my morning show prep for The Rick Hamada Program on AM 830 KHVH. Hawaii Reporter keeps their readers informed with news that perhaps would not be reported anywhere else. Their truth empowers those same readers with the knowledge to make healthy, conscientious choices for the betterment of our Hawaii." Roz Makaula, KHNL Television News/Midweek columnist
" Hawaii Reporter offers me the news and insights that other newspapers can't or won't. Whether its politics, culture or business readers of Hawaii Reporter have the advantage of knowing the real story behind the story, and that is a perspective that I value." Bud Stonebraker, former state Representative, R-Hawaii Kai
"Congratulations to you for your persistence and your newsgathering skills. Time after time, stories that first appear on the "pages" of Hawaii Reporter are then, and only then, reported in the two daily papers. This seems to be especially true when the story exposes corruption or incompetence in the Democrat-controlled Legislature or their corrupt cronies. You made a significant contribution in the election of Gov. Linda Lingle, and she is making a major contribution in the clean-up of this state and 40 years of "old boy" politics. Keep up the good work." Bud Weisbrod, Long time supporter
"I start every day by logging on to your Web site. I have told everyone I know about your site because it is a lone voice of reason in this political wilderness we know as Hawaii. Please do not stop bringing the truth to light." Wesley, Pukalani
"Aloha! Simply said, your publication is excellent and a breath of fresh air. It is very informative and easy to use. I like being able to email your authors and you make that easy too. Much Mahalo and keep it up!" Colin Stillwagen, Broker In Charge, Elite Mortgage, Maui
"Mahalo for all of your good, honest work." Bruce Olsten, resident of Wailuku, Maui
"We recently returned to the mainland from the islands but can't give up the Hawaiireporter.com addiction." Angela Rickabaugh Shears, CURE International, Lemoyne, PA
"As a source of news and commentary, the Hawaii Reporter is an invaluable resource, even to those of us who live on the mainland. With so much of the "mainstream" media seeking to further a political agenda instead of informing the public, the Hawaii Reporter provides the sort of insight and information that is so necessary for a balanced understanding of the events of the day." Chris Adamo, columnist
"I just found out about the Hawaii Reporter while listening to Rick Hamada. Thank You for reporting the news that the local papers either bias or refuse to print. I have been a long-time subscriber to the Washington Times Weekly edition and keep up with the real national and world news. Now I have the Hawaii Reporter to keep up with the local news." Stan Hayashi, resident of Hawaii
"Congratulations, Malia Zimmerman, on the Hawaii Reporter's continuing success." H. William Burgess, Aloha for All
"To all who have put in hard work to make Hawaii Reporter possible, congratulations, and may your future be as bright as the past. I know for a fact that I, as well as my associates from around the globe, look to the Hawaii Reporter for the real deal on Hawaiian issues of the day." Daniel Lloyd, resident of Wailuku, Maui
"Most news sources seem to be run by their legal departments; they pull their punches out of fear that the bad guys will lash out at them. Not so, Hawaii Reporter. They "out" corrupt politicians and inept bureaucrats without hesitation or fear, covering all sorts of news Hawaiians and the world won't get anywhere else. Bravo!" Louis James, founder, Free-Market.net, Utah, USA
" Hawaii Reporter has well-researched informative reporting on issues that concern the community that are not always otherwise reported." Michelle Matson, community activist
"What I admire most about Hawaii Reporter is its honesty. Damn near impossible to find the truth in mainstream media. No surprise, they have an ax to grind and certainly have no incentive to tell the truth about them selves. And the owners are reluctant to pay for the cost of investigative reporting as happened in days of yore. Easier just to follow the party line. That is very sad as if we don’t keep an eye on government it will destroy our republic. Unfortunately we can only find the truth on the Internet in publications such as the Hawaii Reporter. No one else seems to give a damn. Or has the guts to print it." Loy Weston, entrepreneur and author, Honolulu, Hawaii
" Hawaii Reporter is a must read for me every morning. I get the news that doesn’t show up anywhere else and I appreciate the hard hitting reporting and guest editorials." Walt Harvey, Realtor, Hawaii Kai
" Hawaii Reporter provides information which is not available in any other media, especially by the liberal media. The Hawaii Reporter provides information in a concise, to the point fashion which gives the reader a quick grasp of the message being presented without consuming excessive time. And finally, I believe the Hawaii Reporter presents balanced reporting of both sides of the issues. Please keep up your good work." Howard S. Okada, Hawaii businessman
"Take the current gas "crisis" in Hawaii, where state officials are getting ready to institute the same failed policies Nixon implemented back in the gas-rationing/price-capped '70s. Malia Zimmerman of the Hawaii Reporter remains the sole member of the media in Hawaii who isn't blaming Chevron and other usual suspects, but instead points out that perhaps, just perhaps, Hawaii's 60-cent-per-gallon tax might have something to do with the state's higher than mainland gas prices (by comparison, Zimmerman points out, Alaska's per-gallon gas tax is 29 cents). Rather than reiterate her eloquent Wall Street Journal essay, I'll just provide a link to it. Read it and weep that she doesn't run the Associated Press. Or the Denver Post. My point being Zimmerman didn't accept what she and all the other Hawaiian journalists are being handed by the "newsmakers." She looked beyond that; she researched it -- and she discovered the truth. That's journalism." Jim Paine, PirateBallerina.com
"Hawaii without Hawaii Reporter? What would small business, taxpayers and voters in Hawaii do without your no nonsense, take-no-prisoners, tell-it-like-it-is, freedom philosophy, real news reporting about the state Legislature, taxation and government corruption? Hawaii Reporter found a need and filled it during the past 5 years; the community is far better because of HR. You will only shine brighter and achieve greater accomplishments during the next 5 years. Shaloha!" Sam Slom, state Senator
Reach Malia Zimmerman, editor of Hawaii Reporter, at mailto:Malia@hawaiireporter.com
