Civil Beat Staff

Jeremy Hay

Jeremy Hay covers economic inequality for Honolulu Civil Beat.

He started in journalism in 1992 at The Tenderloin Times in San Francisco, covering city government, homelessness and nonprofits. He comes to Civil Beat from The Press Democrat in Santa Rosa, Calif., where since 2001, he reported on immigration, local politics, business and, most recently, homelessness and social services. At The Press Democrat, he was on a team that won a George Polk award for reporting on globalization; he has also won two Associated Press Fairbanks Public Service awards and Best of the West awards for writing and explanatory reporting. He was a 2015 JSK Journalism Fellow at Stanford University.

He enjoys cooking with a wok, exploring Hawaiʻi and spending time with his family. You can reach Jeremy at 808-978-6605 and jhay@civilbeat.org.

Third Non-Citizen This Year Charged With Voting Illegally In Hawaiʻi AP Photo/Jenny Kane

Third Non-Citizen This Year Charged With Voting Illegally In Hawaiʻi

In the previous cases, one defendant changed her plea to guilty and another faces a December trial

Housing Shortage Driving Poverty In Hawaiʻi More Than Anywhere Ludwig Laab/Civil Beat/2022

Housing Shortage Driving Poverty In Hawaiʻi More Than Anywhere

A new study says lowering rents could substantially cut poverty in the Aloha State.

Judges’ Crackdown On Virtual Hearings Adds Hurdles For Immigrants In Court Craig Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Judges’ Crackdown On Virtual Hearings Adds Hurdles For Immigrants In Court

Hawaiʻi-based immigration judges have ordered attorneys and their clients from as far as Texas and Alaska to travel to appear in person in Honolulu’s court.

What Happens To Your Affordable Housing When Income Rules Run Out? Jeremy Hay

What Happens To Your Affordable Housing When Income Rules Run Out?

Seniors at a state-owned affordable housing complex in Kakaʻako are scared about rising rents as the development authority seeks to recoup losses at the financially troubled project.

More Money For Housing Vouchers Has Not Helped Enough Renters, Study Says Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

More Money For Housing Vouchers Has Not Helped Enough Renters, Study Says

Economist says Hawaiʻi needs to build more housing and help people earn enough to leave the program and free up vouchers for others.

Hurricane Lowell: Parts Of Kaua‘i ‘Like A War Scene’ Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Hurricane Lowell: Parts Of Kaua‘i ‘Like A War Scene’

The brunt of storm damage was still being assessed on Kauaʻi. One person was killed on Oʻahu from a falling tree.

Hurricane Lowell Hit Kauaʻi Hard, But Worst Fears Averted Courtesy: Joel Guy/2026

Hurricane Lowell Hit Kauaʻi Hard, But Worst Fears Averted

Almost all of Kauaʻi was without power Tuesday, as officials assess damage and community members start to clean up.

Second Maui Immigrant Pleads Not Guilty To Illegal Voting Christina Jedra/Civil Beat/2026

Second Maui Immigrant Pleads Not Guilty To Illegal Voting

Just two people have been charged with voting as noncitizens in Hawaiʻi in at least the last 40 years.

As Federal Government Stirs Illegal Voting Fears, Two Cases Arise In Hawaiʻi Erin Nolan/Civil Beat/2026

As Federal Government Stirs Illegal Voting Fears, Two Cases Arise In Hawaiʻi

Two noncitizens told the Maui County Clerk that they had voted. She relayed that information to the FBI.