Civil Beat Staff

Thomas Heaton

Thomas is a reporter for Civil Beat. He joined the news outlet in 2021 as a Li Center for Global Journalism Fellow at Honolulu Civil Beat, position supported by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and the Institute for Nonprofit News. The Li Center was established to prepare journalists to work, think and report globally.

At Civil Beat, Thomas focuses on issues in and around the Pacific.

Having recently completed a Master of Arts at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Thomas has previously worked in regional and national news organizations in New Zealand and Nepal. 

A Kiwi by birth, Thomas made his start with a regional daily newspaper in New Zealand, where he covered social issues, health, local politics and general news. He was a finalist for Regional Reporter of the Year at the national media awards for his coverage of regional flooding, and regional health care issues, in his first year of reporting.

Later working for Cuisine magazine and Stuff.co.nz as a food reporter, Thomas wrote about everything from fisheries and agriculture to Filipino pinoy and the country’s national pie awards. 

He eventually followed his stomach to the base of the Himalayas, where he worked for The Nepali Times and The Kathmandu Post. At the Post he was deputy culture and arts editor, and wrote long-form pieces about the food industry, culture, tourism, travel, and restaurant reviews. He spent a few weeks trekking too.

Thomas has a propensity for slow travel and secondary fun, and he is always planning the next meal. Despite his army brat upbringing and nomadic life, the Pacific has always been home. He is glad to be back.

Feel free to contact him with tips and ideas at theaton@civilbeat.org, or find him on Twitter and Instagram

Federal Wildfire Grant Opportunities Open For Hawaii Courtesy: DLNR/2023

Federal Wildfire Grant Opportunities Open For Hawaii

Three grants are now available to help Hawaii's landowners fortify their wildfire defenses.

Hawaii Will Receive Another $3.5 Million For Food Security Microgrants Ronen Zilberman/Civil Beat

Hawaii Will Receive Another $3.5 Million For Food Security Microgrants

The money will be distributed across Hawaii to bolster community-level food security.

Fast-Growing And Fire-Resistant Grasses Are Flourishing In Hawaii Thomas Heaton/Civil Beat/2023

Fast-Growing And Fire-Resistant Grasses Are Flourishing In Hawaii

Grass from East Indian sugarcane to African Guinea grass have been introduced to Hawaii for centuries, predating the state's increased risk of wildfire.

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Found On Maui David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Found On Maui

The beetle was found dead in a bag of compost at a Maui big box store during routine survey work.

Hawaii Needs To Build Hundreds More Miles Of Firebreaks To Protect Against Wildfire Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2023

Hawaii Needs To Build Hundreds More Miles Of Firebreaks To Protect Against Wildfire

Fire officials and landowners have known for years about gaps in Hawaii's firebreaks and fuelbreaks. The problem boils down to money and cooperation.

Hawaii Is The Only State Without A Fire Marshal, Leaving Gaps In Prevention David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Hawaii Is The Only State Without A Fire Marshal, Leaving Gaps In Prevention

Instead, Hawaii has a relatively powerless State Fire Council. But fire agencies want that to change.

Maui’s Fire And Winds Also Took A Toll On Farmers And Ranchers David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Maui’s Fire And Winds Also Took A Toll On Farmers And Ranchers

The state's ag industry mobilized to provide aid and the state bought feed, but ranchers need rain to grow grass soon.

Big Island Farmers Held Back A Fire Until Help Arrived: ‘It Could Have Been Another Lahaina’ Thomas Heaton/Civil Beat/2023

Big Island Farmers Held Back A Fire Until Help Arrived: ‘It Could Have Been Another Lahaina’

That same fateful day, a couple of farmers, a troop of cowboys and fire crews were all that stood between a Waimea wildfire and potential catastrophe.

Hawaii Has Long Shortchanged Wildfire Protection: ‘We Could Have Saved Lives’ Provided: Air Force Master Sgt. Andrew Jackson/U.S. National Guard

Hawaii Has Long Shortchanged Wildfire Protection: ‘We Could Have Saved Lives’

The average annual investment is about $2 per Hawaii resident, far short of what other fire-prone states spend per capita.