Guest Contributor

Makana Eyre

Makana Eyre has written features, criticism, and essays for the New York Times Magazine, The New Republic, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Foreign Policy, The Guardian, The Nation and Politico, among other national publications.

In 2023, W.W. Norton published “Sing, Memory,” Eyre’s debut. “Sing, Memory” tells the true story of the effort to save a huge cache of culture created by prisoners in the Nazi camps during World War II. In a review of the book, The Economist described Eyre as a “deft storyteller, with a limpid style” and lauded the book for its “compelling, well-informed narrative.” “Sing, Memory” was also praised by The Wall Street Journal, The BBC, The Forward, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and The Jewish Book Council, which described it as “riveting” and “masterfully written.” The book has been translated into Italian and Dutch.

Eyre is a graduate of the Columbia Journalism School where he was a Stabile Fellow in investigative journalism. He teaches journalism and media history at Sciences Po in Paris. Currently based in Paris, he was born and raised on the island of Oʻahu.

You can reach him by email at columnists@civilbeat.org. Opinions are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Civil Beat’s views.

Makana Eyre: Noir May Be Just What Hawaiʻi Needs Right Now Sterling Higa/Civil Beat

Makana Eyre: Noir May Be Just What Hawaiʻi Needs Right Now

A new young adult novel at an island resort is the latest dark take on life in Paradise.

Makana Eyre: Hawaiʻi Has Felt The Sting Of Mosquitoes For 200 Years Courtesy: Burt Lum

Makana Eyre: Hawaiʻi Has Felt The Sting Of Mosquitoes For 200 Years

They transformed Hawaii’s ecology, helping to spread disease that sickened native birds. Now they carry viruses deadly to humans.

Replanting Limu: A Civic Ritual To Save The Species — And Ourselves Courtesy: Waimānalo Limu Hui

Replanting Limu: A Civic Ritual To Save The Species — And Ourselves

The nonprofit hui is entirely funded by a mix of state conservation grants and support from foundations.

Makana Eyre: What Do We Want Hawaiʻi To Be Like In 20 Years? Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2019

Makana Eyre: What Do We Want Hawaiʻi To Be Like In 20 Years?

We need a frank discussion about ideas that could make material improvements to the islands, even if it means more development and easing certain regulatory restrictions. 

Makana Eyre: The Closing Of Tamashiro Market Marks Something Much Deeper Craig Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Makana Eyre: The Closing Of Tamashiro Market Marks Something Much Deeper

The family shop has been a landmark of Kalihi for 85 years. The community will feel the loss.

Makana Eyre: Who Really Owns Hawaiʻi’s Antiquities? (Courtesy: The Trustees of the British Museum, Photo by MKH)

Makana Eyre: Who Really Owns Hawaiʻi’s Antiquities?

An exhibit at The British Museum, “Hawaiʻi: a kingdom crossing oceans,” poses questions that have historically been uncomfortable for museums.

Makana Eyre: An Inspiring Exhibit On Native Hawaiians That Most Of Us Won’t See (Makana Eyre/Civil Beat/2026)

Makana Eyre: An Inspiring Exhibit On Native Hawaiians That Most Of Us Won’t See

The British Museum has mounted an exhibit in collaboration with Indigenous people. But when invaluable Hawaiian artifacts are held in collections so far from home, how many people from here will get to go see it?

Makana Eyre: Why Did We Stop Caring About The Ala Wai Canal? David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025

Makana Eyre: Why Did We Stop Caring About The Ala Wai Canal?

We need to demand real and lasting change for the iconic waterway.

Makana Eyre: We Deserve To Know Who’s Challenging Kamehameha Schools’ Policy AP Photo/Mengshin Lin/2025

Makana Eyre: We Deserve To Know Who’s Challenging Kamehameha Schools’ Policy

It seems only fair that the process should unfold with full transparency.