Catherine Cluett Pactol
Maui Nui 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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With a March 1 deadline for fire survivors in FEMA housing to start paying rent, HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol talked with one family facing what feels like insurmountable challenges. -
A Ka Ike Ranch lease of more than 1,000 acres of West Maui land from Maui Land & Pineapple Company marks the company's "renewed mission." -
On Maui, a big change is coming for fire survivors who have been living in FEMA’s direct lease housing program. In two weeks, they have to start paying rent. HPR's Catherine Cluett Pactol reports. -
Maui County is taking another step to speed up rebuilding in Lahaina. HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol explains. -
Trying to buy eggs but finding store shelves empty? You’re not the only one scrambling to find eggs. Amid a national egg shortage, small farmers in Maui County say they can’t keep up with the recent local demand. HPR's Catherine Cluett Pactol has more. -
FEMA’s temporary housing site for fire survivors in West Maui is now finished. HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol reports. -
After a weeklong shutdown of Mokulele Airlines service earlier this month, flight cancellations continue. HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol reports the situation is leaving some neighbor island residents with no choice but to make risky crossings by boat for medical care. -
The Maui Emergency Management Agency has released its After-Action Report on the 2023 wildfires. Administrator Amos Lonokailua-Hewett said the agency is committed to learning from the past and strengthening Maui to better prepare for the future. -
A movie theater is coming soon to the island of Molokaʻi for the first time since 2008. HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol reports on the community’s excitement for what’s to come. -
Fire debris cleanup is still ongoing, and amid the many losses, the Lahaina Restoration Foundation just discovered what they call a “bright light.” HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol reports on the miraculous find.
