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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An electric mobile clinic just launched service on Maui, focusing on maternal, child and reproductive health care. It is equipped with an intake area, adjustable bed for exams, kitchenette, toilet, storage and refrigerated storage for medication.
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An up-and-coming food truck market on Maui is more than just a place to grab a bite. As HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol reports, Maika’i Market is where some vendors from Lahaina have found hope.
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The O‘ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association has announced that after a 4-year hiatus, Nā Wāhine O Ke Kai and Moloka‘i Hoe races will be held in the fall.
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We've been hearing a lot about Maui's Minatoya List of short-term rental units that would be phased out under proposed county legislation. But what's actually on the list? HPR's Catherine Cluett Pactol walks us through the numbers with a researcher who has been compiling housing data since the August fires.
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It's graduation season across the islands — and on one island, the celebrations have been particularly noteworthy. Over 40 graduates of the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College Molokaʻi campus recently received their diplomas, marking the first in-person college commencement the island has seen since 2016. HPR's Catherine Cluett Pactol has that story from Molokaʻi.
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The pandemic shut down many educational programs, but it didn't stop the Molokaʻi High School robotics team. They recently returned from the VEX Robotics World Championships with the Community Award. Despite their limited resources, Molokaʻi robotics teams have been recognized nationally and internationally. HPR's Catherine Cluett Pactol reports.
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A final extension has been announced for non-congregate sheltering, specifically for those still in hotels after being displaced by the Maui wildfires. HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol has the details.
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Interim housing developments taking shape on Maui offer a sense of hope to fire survivors. HPR's Catherine Cluett Pactol spoke with one family who just moved into their new modular home. But no matter where fire survivors find housing, there's no place like home.
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With the landmark passage of a state law addressing short-term rentals, Maui County has already announced legislation to phase out vacation rentals in apartment-zoned areas. Mayor Richard Bissen said the county is prepared for legal pushback. If passed, the bill would go into effect in July 2025 for West Maui and in 2026 for the rest of the island. HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol explains.
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Local organizations are reporting a huge increase in the need for food on Maui. HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol has more.
