Reporter

Hikari Mae Hida

Hikari Mae Hida writes for Honolulu Civil Beat. Her first journalism job was in 2020 as a reporter-researcher in The New York Times’ Tokyo bureau, where she worked alongside foreign correspondents to report on gender, shifting demographics, and nuclear power from across Japan. She is a graduate of the Toni Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism at Columbia University and is a 2026 Pulitzer Center Reporting Fellow.

Hikari grew up in Tokyo and spent summers in the Isan region of Thailand where her maternal family lives. During her time at Civil Beat, she hopes to reflect and honor the history, culture, and lived experiences of the people of Hawaiʻi through her stories.

You can reach Hikari at hhida@civilbeat.org

Hawaiʻi Mormon Population Growing, Diversifying In U.S. Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Hawaiʻi Mormon Population Growing, Diversifying In U.S.

The history of Latter-day Saints in Hawaiʻi can be traced back to the 1850s.

HMSA’s Medicare Changes Could Increase Costs For Thousands Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023

HMSA’s Medicare Changes Could Increase Costs For Thousands

HMSA sent a letter to 16,000 kūpuna saying they will no longer have access to their current insurance plan.

Happier Days Coming For Neighbors Of Collapsed ‘So Stink’ Dim Sum Restaurant Jamm Aquino/Civil Beat/2026

Happier Days Coming For Neighbors Of Collapsed ‘So Stink’ Dim Sum Restaurant

Some clean-up is underway at Kaimukī’s longtime dim sum eatery where the ceiling collapsed, food rotted.

‘So Stink’: Flies And Stench Overwhelm Collapsed Dim Sum Restaurant Jamm Aquino/Civil Beat/2026

‘So Stink’: Flies And Stench Overwhelm Collapsed Dim Sum Restaurant

The ceiling of a Kaimukī eatery caved-in, leaving diners to evacuate. A month later, the leftover food remains untouched, swarming with flies.

Hawaiʻi Has A Physician Shortage – But A Lot Of Dermatologists Craig Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Hawaiʻi Has A Physician Shortage – But A Lot Of Dermatologists

The number of physicians in Hawaiʻi rose last year, but so did demand.

Fewer Tourists, But They’re Spending More. Is This What Hawaiʻi Wanted? Jamm Aquino/Civil Beat/2026

Fewer Tourists, But They’re Spending More. Is This What Hawaiʻi Wanted?

Hawai‘i has long struggled with issues surrounding overtourism, but recent visitor trends may signal long-term problems for the state’s biggest industry.

Abortion Pill Use Has Tripled In Hawaiʻi Over Past Decade AP

Abortion Pill Use Has Tripled In Hawaiʻi Over Past Decade

Medication abortion has nearly tripled compared to procedural abortion over the past decade. The Trump administration is pushing to restrict access. 

Accused Of Violating Patients, A Hawaiʻi Doctor Still Practices Getty Images

Accused Of Violating Patients, A Hawaiʻi Doctor Still Practices

Nine women accused Dr. Gregory Yim of performing unnecessary breast exams that violated their sense of trust. The Hawaiʻi Medical Board has taken no action.

This Form Of Japanese Buddhism In Hawaiʻi Could Disappear Craig Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

This Form Of Japanese Buddhism In Hawaiʻi Could Disappear

Hongwanji temples were valued by early immigrants from Japan. But as congregations age, some say ties to Japan must be watered down for the sect to have a future in the islands.