Civil Beat Staff

Brittany Lyte

Brittany Lyte is a general assignment reporter for Civil Beat who specializes in watchdog reporting, narrative storytelling and coverage of neighbor island and social issues. Prior to joining the Honolulu newsroom in March 2018, Brittany lived on the north shore of Kaua’i, where she juggled a freelance writing career. Her writing during this period appeared in publications including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Atlantic and Hana Hou! magazine. In 2021 she moved back to Kaua’i to help expand Civil Beat’s coverage on the outer islands. Previously, she worked for Hearst Newspapers in Connecticut. An Upstate New York native, she has a degree in journalism from Boston University.

In a decade of reporting, Brittany has traveled to Russia, Poland and across the U.S., interviewing subjects ranging from the Dalai Lama to Ghostface Killah of the Wu-Tang Clan. Her writing has explored a similarly vast range of topics, from the plight of an accused cannibal on the run from police to an investigation into undocumented toxic waste buried beneath suburban Connecticut homes. Her series on the latter subject earned national accolades and inspired the state legislature to adopt a new real estate disclosure law to better protect homebuyers.

In pursuit of a good story, Brittany has learned to fly an M-26 Air Wolf and chased down a suspected killer while wearing heels and a silk dress.

Going Home To Lahaina Won’t Happen Anytime Soon For Many Fire Victims David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Going Home To Lahaina Won’t Happen Anytime Soon For Many Fire Victims

Clearing toxic debris from the fires is a complex task that makes even getting back to survey destroyed structures a complicated process.

Maui Mayor Clarifies What He Knew On The Day Lahaina Burned — And When Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2023

Maui Mayor Clarifies What He Knew On The Day Lahaina Burned — And When

Bissen walked back a comment earlier this week that he was "not sure" of the command structure in the county's wildfire response.

Kauai Utility Cuts Power To Kokee Amid Fire Watch Flickr: Deb Nystrom

Kauai Utility Cuts Power To Kokee Amid Fire Watch

The member-owned utility announced precautionary measures it would take to reduce the risk of fire.

‘Return To Lahaina Phase’ Begins After Removal Of Hazardous Materials Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2023

‘Return To Lahaina Phase’ Begins After Removal Of Hazardous Materials

EPA officials have launched a decontamination effort as investigators wrap up their search-and-recovery mission.

Polihale Park Is Poised For A $4.3 Million Makeover Brittany Lyte/Civil Beat/2023

Polihale Park Is Poised For A $4.3 Million Makeover

The remote park that is the site of Native Hawaiian burials and a popular camping spot has suffered years of neglect.

Who Are Lahaina’s Dead? Feds Step Up ID Effort With DNA Forensics David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Who Are Lahaina’s Dead? Feds Step Up ID Effort With DNA Forensics

Many of the remains were burned beyond recognition, complicating the effort to give closure to loved ones.

Many Maui Fire Survivors Are Struggling To Find Aid Even As It Pours In Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023

Many Maui Fire Survivors Are Struggling To Find Aid Even As It Pours In

Connectivity improved with the arrival of a pair of Wi-Fi trucks equipped with cell phone charging stations and power was restored for a few thousand people.

Maui Crews Search For Survivors Of ‘Likely The Largest Natural Disaster’ In Hawaii Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023

Maui Crews Search For Survivors Of ‘Likely The Largest Natural Disaster’ In Hawaii

Officials estimated that some 1,000 were unaccounted for, 1,700 buildings burned and 2,000 people were in shelters as the Lahaina wildfire continued to burn.

Troubling Trajectory Of Hawaii Newspapers Has ‘Deep Implications’ For Democracy Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Troubling Trajectory Of Hawaii Newspapers Has ‘Deep Implications’ For Democracy

Ongoing cutbacks at local publications mean there are fewer watchdogs for the public's interest.