Guest Contributor

Makana Eyre

Makana Eyre has written features, criticism, and essays for the New York Times Magazine, The New Republic, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Foreign Policy, The Guardian, The Nation and Politico, among other national publications.

In 2023, W.W. Norton published “Sing, Memory,” Eyre’s debut. “Sing, Memory” tells the true story of the effort to save a huge cache of culture created by prisoners in the Nazi camps during World War II. In a review of the book, The Economist described Eyre as a “deft storyteller, with a limpid style” and lauded the book for its “compelling, well-informed narrative.” “Sing, Memory” was also praised by The Wall Street Journal, The BBC, The Forward, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and The Jewish Book Council, which described it as “riveting” and “masterfully written.” The book has been translated into Italian and Dutch.

Eyre is a graduate of the Columbia Journalism School where he was a Stabile Fellow in investigative journalism. He teaches journalism and media history at Sciences Po in Paris. Currently based in Paris, he was born and raised on the island of Oʻahu.

You can reach him by email at columnists@civilbeat.org. Opinions are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Civil Beat’s views.

Makana Eyre: How An 1896 Ban Failed To Kill The Hawaiian Language Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023

Makana Eyre: How An 1896 Ban Failed To Kill The Hawaiian Language

The demand for learning ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is high, but immersion schools can’t find enough teachers.

Makana Eyre: Can Social Media Fill A Growing News Void? Screenshot/2026

Makana Eyre: Can Social Media Fill A Growing News Void?

These pages have immense reach. For crime news, they are one of the top sources of community information.

Makana Eyre: State Seeks Traditional Canoe Builders For Koa Wood Logs Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025

Makana Eyre: State Seeks Traditional Canoe Builders For Koa Wood Logs

Applications require a plan not just for building a canoe but for deepening connections between the logs, trees and waʻa and their beneficiaries.

Makana Eyre: What’s Behind Hawaiʻi’s Love Affair With Toyota Tacomas? Courtesy photo

Makana Eyre: What’s Behind Hawaiʻi’s Love Affair With Toyota Tacomas?

I thought I was immune to the lure of the pickup. Then I hopped behind the wheel of my dad’s red stick shift.

Makana Eyre: Noir May Be Just What Hawaiʻi Needs Right Now Sterling Higa/Civil Beat

Makana Eyre: Noir May Be Just What Hawaiʻi Needs Right Now

A new young adult novel at an island resort is the latest dark take on life in Paradise.

Makana Eyre: Hawaiʻi Has Felt The Sting Of Mosquitoes For 200 Years Courtesy: Burt Lum

Makana Eyre: Hawaiʻi Has Felt The Sting Of Mosquitoes For 200 Years

They transformed Hawaii’s ecology, helping to spread disease that sickened native birds. Now they carry viruses deadly to humans.

Replanting Limu: A Civic Ritual To Save The Species — And Ourselves Courtesy: Waimānalo Limu Hui

Replanting Limu: A Civic Ritual To Save The Species — And Ourselves

The nonprofit hui is entirely funded by a mix of state conservation grants and support from foundations.

Makana Eyre: What Do We Want Hawaiʻi To Be Like In 20 Years? Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2019

Makana Eyre: What Do We Want Hawaiʻi To Be Like In 20 Years?

We need a frank discussion about ideas that could make material improvements to the islands, even if it means more development and easing certain regulatory restrictions. 

Makana Eyre: The Closing Of Tamashiro Market Marks Something Much Deeper Craig Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Makana Eyre: The Closing Of Tamashiro Market Marks Something Much Deeper

The family shop has been a landmark of Kalihi for 85 years. The community will feel the loss.