Hawaii News Now

Hawaii News Now
Name	Hawaii News Now
Caption	Broadcast center in Honolulu
Country	United States
Founded	2009
Headquarters	Honolulu, Hawaii
Language	English
Owner	Allen Media Broadcasting
Affiliates	KGMB, KHNL, KFVE

Hawaii News Now is a regional broadcast news operation serving the state of Hawaii from Honolulu. Launched in 2009 through a consolidation of legacy stations, the service provides local television newscasts, digital reporting, weather forecasting, and investigative journalism covering neighborhoods across Oʻahu, Maui County, Hawaii (island), and Kauaʻi County. Its broadcasts intersect with statewide issues including tourism, natural disasters, and military activity centered on installations such as Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam and Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

History

The service emerged after a complex affiliation and ownership reshuffle that involved legacy stations with ties to major networks such as CBS, NBC, and MyNetworkTV. The 2009 consolidation followed corporate maneuvers by companies including Raycom Media, Morris Communications, and later acquisitions by groups such as Sinclair Broadcast Group and Apollo Global Management intermediaries. Ownership transitions later brought the operation under Allen Media Group, part of entrepreneur Byron Allen's expanding portfolio that also includes national outlets like TheGrio and regional stations in markets such as Los Angeles, Miami, and Atlanta. The consolidation reflected broader trends seen in markets with duopolies involving companies like LIN Media and Media General.

Operations and Programming

The operation produces multiple daily newscasts, specialty segments, and digital content aimed at viewers in urban and rural districts including Waikīkī, Kailua, Hilo, and Līhuʻe. Programming mixes traditional local reporting with weather coverage using meteorological sources like the National Weather Service and marine forecasts relevant to stakeholders such as the University of Hawaii at Manoa research community and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Community-oriented segments have featured subjects linked to institutions such as Hawaii Pacific University, Kamehameha Schools, and Honolulu Hale. Coverage has extended to statewide events including the annual Merrie Monarch Festival, legislative sessions at the Hawaii State Capitol, volcanic activity at Kīlauea, and hurricane threats tied to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

Newsrooms and Personnel

The consolidated newsroom drew talent from legacy stations with backgrounds spanning national outlets like ABC News, CBS News, and regional papers including the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Anchors, meteorologists, and reporters have included veterans trained at institutions such as Kapiʻolani Community College and Leeward Community College, and collaborated with investigative producers who have pursued stories involving agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Photographers and technical crews operate from studios in Downtown Honolulu while also maintaining bureaus to serve outlying districts and military communities such as Schofield Barracks.

Technology and Distribution

Broadcast operations utilize transmission facilities and towers serving the Pacific, with partnerships involving satellite services and multicast arrangements similar to other markets using standards from organizations such as the Advanced Television Systems Committee. The service distributes content across over-the-air channels tied to licensees, as well as streaming platforms and social media networks including YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and mobile apps used by audiences in resort hubs like Wailea and commuter corridors such as Interstate H-1. Weather and traffic segments rely on radar and remote sensing technologies supported by agencies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Awards and Recognition

Reporting has been recognized by regional and national organizations such as the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists, and broadcasting industry groups like the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for work on investigative pieces, breaking news coverage, and weather reporting. Coverage of events impacting the islands—earthquakes related to Kīlauea eruptions, tropical storm impacts, and public safety incidents—has earned accolades reflecting collaboration with academic researchers from institutions like the University of Hawaii System and public safety partners including the Hawaii Department of Health.

Community Involvement and Controversies

The operation has engaged in charitable and civic initiatives with partners such as Aloha United Way, Hawaii Foodbank, and cultural organizations including the Honolulu Museum of Art and educational outreach with schools like Punahou School. It has also been the focus of controversies common to consolidations, including debates over newsroom layoffs tied to corporate restructuring and affiliation switches that affected carriage on cable systems managed by companies such as Spectrum (company) and Hawaiian Telcom. Regulatory and public-interest discussions have involved the Federal Communications Commission and local elected officials representing districts across Honolulu County and neighbor island constituencies.

Category:Television stations in Hawaii