Jayna Omaye
Born and raised on Oʻahu, Jayna Omaye loves writing about the communities she grew up in and highlighting the challenges and successes that make Hawaiʻi so special.
Before joining Hawaiʻi Public Radio, Jayna was the ethnic and cultural affairs reporter at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. While at the newspaper, she mentored and taught high school students about journalism as part of a youth storytelling project that she spearheaded about Hawaiʻi’s Japanese American veterans.
Jayna has also worked as a reporter at the Orlando Sentinel newspaper in Florida and as a staff writer at Honolulu Magazine, where she won numerous local and national awards for her stories on arts, culture and history.
A Moanalua High School graduate, she earned her master’s degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon. When she’s not chasing a story, Jayna enjoys dancing hula and playing taiko.
She covered culture and arts for Hawaiʻi Public Radio from 2022 to early 2023.
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Several Hawaiian Telcom electrical boxes were painted by three Kauaʻi artists.
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The guided hikes seek to educate people about the area’s natural and cultural resources. HPR's Jayna Omaye has more.
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The $37 million building features a 100-seat screening room and mixing stage, an esports arena, post-production suites and a media lab. HPR's Jayna Omaye has more.
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The National Association of State Foresters recently honored the stewards of a nature preserve deep in Kalihi Valley on Oʻahu. As HPR's Jayna Omaye reports, the forest has served as a place of healing for thousands of people for many years.
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"unspecified" is based on the personal stories and experiences of cast members not conforming to identity norms. It opens on Friday, Nov. 18, and will run through Sunday, Nov. 20, at UH Mānoaʻs Kennedy Theatre. HPR's Jayna Omaye has more.
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The annual ʻŌhiʻa Love Fest returns in person this month after two years of virtual events. It features potting workshops, a seed collecting hike, tree planting and more. HPR's Jayna Omaye has more.
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Researchers say it’s important to understand both the biological and social factors that affect the overall health of our diverse communities. The grant funds three projects. HPRʻs Jayna Omaye has more.
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The exhibit chronicles the history of hana keaka and its growing presence at UH Mānoa. It features costumes, instruments, props, photos and videos of past hana keaka productions. HPR's Jayna Omaye has more.
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Longtime bandmaster Clarke Bright said their private event fees haven’t changed since the 1990s. HPR's Jayna Omaye has more.
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The 10-day festival celebrates the culture and heritage of Kona coffee. HPR's Jayna Omaye has more.