Catherine Cluett Pactol
General Assignment ReporterCatherine Cluett Pactol is Hawaiʻi Public Radio’s Maui Nui reporter. She lives on Molokaʻi and is HPR’s first full-time employee based on a neighbor island. Having served as a contributing HPR reporter on and off since 2008, she officially joined the HPR newsroom in summer 2023.
Previously, she worked at The Molokai Dispatch, Molokaʻi’s only newspaper, for 15 years and served as its editor for more than a decade. During that time, she led the paper’s small team to win more than 30 Excellence in Journalism awards from the Society of Professional Journalists Hawaiʻi chapter, while also freelancing for magazines and publications across the state. She has a degree in creative writing from Bates College, and her work has been led by a passion for storytelling through community journalism.
Contact her at cpactol@hawaiipublicradio.org.
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The last year in Maui County marked the deadliest fire in modern U.S. history, and Mayor Richard Bissen described the state of the county as "heartbroken" in his annual address. HPR's Catherine Cluett Pactol reports from Maui Nui.
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Air travel is a lifeline for the community of Lānaʻi. However, the primary airline for the island's residents says it will need federal subsidies to continue the service. Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi were deemed Essential Air Service airports in 1983 but have never had subsidized service. As HPR's Catherine Cluett Pactol reports, that's about to change.
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A recently passed ordinance requires all Maui County wastewater to be disinfected by 2039, promoting water efficiency. Last year, the county experienced severe drought and multiple water shortages.
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After waiting months to see specialists off-island, Moloka’i and Lāna’i residents say they often miss their appointments because of delayed or canceled flights. What's on the horizon to help? HPR's Catherine Cluett Pactol looks at possible solutions.
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Kamalei Kawa’a wowed judges on the music competition show with his emotional rendition of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song.” The 26-year-old Hawaiian musician is from Paukūkalo, where his ‘ohana has lived for generations. Kawaʻa said the goal is to represent all Native people. HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol has more.
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A young Lahaina resident and her partner survived the August wildfire and were housed in a hotel — only to be kicked out days before Christmas. She said they were told that they weren't eligible for housing anymore because they were "pre-disaster homeless." She is due with their first baby any day now. HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol has more.
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Rural island residents say they can’t count on flights because frequent airline delays are causing them to miss critical medical appointments. A bill moving through the state legislature seeks to improve air service reliability for Moloka’i and Lana’i patients. HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol reports.
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Lahaina's air is safe. That's the word from the Department of Health's first Ambient Community Air Sampling of 2024. HPR's Catherine Cluett Pactol has more.
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From drug addict to drug counselor, a Maui woman is showing that recovery is possible. HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol reports on how she’s helping others on their recovery journey.
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Some Maui renters say they're experiencing evictions or eviction threats from landlords who want to get more rental money through lease programs for fire victims. Though many renters say they can’t prove their landlords are evicting them for that reason, one man's landlord came out and told him just that. HPR's Catherine Cluett Pactol reports.