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In November, the University of Hawaii Library brought a vital piece of Hawaii’s history into the digital age by releasing a complete online of the Hawaii Observer. This trailblazing magazine, known for its investigations into the dynamics of power in the islands, stands as a powerful reminder of the transformative impact of independent journalism.

Published between January 1973 and March 1978, the Observer was the brainchild of Tuck Newport, a former press secretary to U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye. Frustrated by the media’s reliance on sanitized press releases and predictable stories, Newport envisioned something different. His magazine would not chase breaking news. It would interrogate “.”

For five years, the Observer lived up to this ambition. It tackled some of the most complex and controversial issues of the 1970s, many of which remain relevant today. The magazine covered the rise of the Hawaiian Renaissance, conflicts between development and community resistance, and the pervasive grip of political corruption. Its reporting raised fundamental questions about land, power, and identity — questions that are still at the heart of Hawaii’s policy debates and community struggles.

What set the Observer apart wasn’t just its fearless approach to journalism but its ability to make even the most complex issues accessible and engaging. Combining careful reporting with sharp wit, the magazine cut through the noise of daily events to help readers understand the mechanisms of power that shaped their lives.

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The ’70s: A Decade Of Political And Cultural Transformation

The 1970s in Hawaii were marked by pivotal struggles over land, identity, and environmental preservation. The Hawaii Observer was at the forefront of documenting these battles.

In , the magazine chronicled the battle among state officials, the U.S. Navy, and community activists over the island’s military use. The Observer’s journalists, known for their respectful relationships with activists, also published an with Richard B. Sawyer and Walter Ritte while the two were incarcerated for visiting Kaho‘olawe. In June 1977, the Observer dedicated an to the controversies surrounding Makua Valley, where the U.S. Navy clashed with communities on Oahu’s Leeward Coast over land use and military operations.

The magazine also played a pivotal role in exposing the deeper conflicts at the heart of Hawaii’s debates over development and preservation. In one early , it provocatively asked: Who owns Hawaii’s water? Five years before the 1978 Constitutional Convention began to resolve this question, the Observer dared to explore the implications of water ownership for Hawaii’s future.

Writers like Byron Baker, Pam Smith, and Brian Sullam (to name a few) used the Observer to pen influential articles on the relationship between land and power, most notably as activists and developers fought over sites like and . Their reporting made even seemingly arcane topics deeply relevant to readers’ daily lives.

’s coverage of the City and County of Honolulu’s exemplified this approach, demystifying bureaucratic policies to reveal their impacts on communities. Thompson’s style, focused on exposing the intersections of capital and political power, laid the groundwork for future investigative work. “Pete was the first person from whom I learned anything about how to research political and economic power in Hawaii,” admitted the late George Cooper, the eventual author of “Land and Power in Hawaii.”

The Observer became an essential base for confronting the state’s most pressing problems and documenting the mechanics of power in a rapidly changing Hawaii. Fifteen years before the Bishop Estate scandal rocked Hawaii politics, the magazine began profiling the of the trust and the backgrounds of its trustees. Another unraveled the appointment process for new trustees. These fearless investigations made the Observer a vital forum for accountability.

The Observer’s Short Life And Lasting Legacy

Despite its many contributions, the Hawaii Observer was ultimately short-lived. On March 1, 1978, the magazine announced its closure, citing insurmountable financial losses. Although its readership had grown to 10,000, the Observer operated at an annual deficit of $15,000 to $20,000, losing approximately $100,000 during its five-year run — equivalent to nearly $500,000 today.

Reflecting on its closure, Tuck Newport offered a to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin in 1978: “Liberals were chagrined by our failure to consistently espouse ‘progressive causes.’ Politicians thought us over-critical. Businessmen found us naive. And readers regularly complained we were too serious.” Yet it was precisely this refusal to conform — its commitment to independence and rigor — that made the Observer unique and valuable.

Its reporting on public boards, commissions, private trusts, and other power structures revealed the hidden mechanisms of governance in Hawaii, forcing difficult conversations that left many people uncomfortable. This made it influential, but ultimately contributed to its closure.

Nevertheless, in its final days, the Observer’s significance was obvious even to rival news outlets. In March 1978, the Honolulu Advertiser lamented its closure, writing, “If the Observer didn’t make it economically in a system where survival requires profits, that does not mean there is any less need for careful analysis and intelligent comment on events in Hawai‘i. On the contrary, the Observer’s death must be seen as a challenge for the rest of the media.”

Today, more than four decades later, that challenge remains. The digitization of the Hawaii Observer is more than just a preservation project. It’s an invitation to reflect on debates of the 1970s over land, identity, and corruption. Reading old issues of the Observer reveals both the progress made and the challenges that still demand attention. The Observer was a bold experiment in journalism, and its legacy endures as a reminder of what a magazine can achieve when it dares to question, investigate, and provoke.