Christine Hitt

Los Angeles

Freelance Writer and Editor at Freelance

Contributor at SFGate

Hawaiian writer from Oʻahu. Former EIC of Mana and Hawaiʻi magazines. Hawaiʻi contributing editor for @sfgate. Kamehameha and UH grad. IG: @hwnroots

Articles

How Hawaii is tackling a leading cause of visitor fatalities

3 days ago | sfgate.com | Christine Hitt

Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related deaths for visitors in Hawaii, according to a “Drownings in Hawaii” report by the Hawaii Department of Health. For nonresident victims, snorkeling is the main activity that leads to drowning, followed by swimming, free diving and surfing.
ICE raids in Hawaii rattle communities, threaten Kona coffee harvest

6 days ago | sfgate.com | Christine Hitt

On Maui, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents questioned in early May several Filipino teachers who are employed through a work visa program as part of a cultural and educational exchange, detaining some briefly while they were interviewed. No arrests were made in that instance, but Homeland Security Investigations Honolulu, along with federal partners, later arrested 50 people in one week during several raids across the islands of Oahu, Kauai and Hawaii.
The ‘Lilo and Stitch’ backlash reveals how little America understands Hawaiians

1 week ago | sacbee.com | Christine Hitt

May 30-This article contains plot spoilers for 2025's "Lilo & Stitch."While Disney's new live-action movie "Lilo & Stitch" sets records at the box office, it's sparking discussion among theatergoers about how much it differs from the original. One of the biggest changes is the ending, which has upset both critics and fans. But the scene is being misinterpreted, as it is deeply rooted in a Native Hawaiian cultural practice.
The ending of 'Lilo and Stitch' is controversial. It shouldn't be.

1 week ago | sfgate.com | Christine Hitt

While Disney’s new live-action movie “Lilo & Stitch” sets records at the box office, it’s sparking discussion among theatergoers about how much it differs from the original. One of the biggest changes is the ending, which has upset both critics and fans. But the scene is being misinterpreted, as it is deeply rooted in a Native Hawaiian cultural practice. In both “Lilo & Stitch” movies, the main theme repeated often is ohana (family) and how family must stick together.
Hawaii's economy faces mild recession: Travel Weekly

1 week ago | travelweekly.com | Christine Hitt

“The Hawaii outlook has deteriorated since the time of our last report,” the report states. “This is primarily due to actual and threatened U.S. tariff hikes that are much larger than anticipated, as well as adverse effects on increased federal policy uncertainty around trade, immigration, spending and tax cuts, and other areas.”UHERO believes the local economy will fall into a mild recession by the end of the year.
How a couple of newlyweds founded Hawaii's oldest remaining Tiki bar

1 week ago | sfgate.com | Christine Hitt

Tucked away at Sand Island on the industrial side of Honolulu, La Mariana Sailing Club is one of the few Hawaii restaurants remaining from a bygone era when Tiki culture boomed. A restaurant and marina, La Mariana appears to be in an unusual location, hidden by surrounding large warehouses, until you learn that it was founded in 1955, before the industrial facilities and container terminals were built around it.
Hawaii Roundtable: Headwinds and change in the air

1 week ago | travelweekly.com | Christine Hitt

Arnie Weissmann: What developments have you seen in the past year in the way of attractions, hospitality developments, things at the airport, etc.? Ray Snisky, group president, ALG Vacations: The great things that we're continuing to see is that ownership groups are reinvesting in products and renovations, and hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent on the quality of experiences. It's good to see that kind of investment. It's vital to this destination.
One of Hawaii's most visible aloha wear brands enters a new era

2 weeks ago | sfgate.com | Christine Hitt

Known as one of Hawaii’s iconic aloha wear destinations, Hilo Hattie has dressed generations in its made-in-Hawaii aloha print shirts, dresses, muumuu and kid’s clothing. Now after more than 60 years of operation and after changing ownership twice, the company has returned to its roots with the founder’s third generation at the helm. “This isn’t just a business acquisition. It’s a full-circle return to my family’s legacy,” 46-year-old owner Josh Margolis told SFGATE.
The Hawaii trail where a WWII plane crashed tells a tragic story

2 weeks ago | sfgate.com | Christine Hitt

In Hawaii, the Aiea Loop Trail is a beautiful ridge hike in the forested mountains above Halawa Valley on the island of Oahu. It has sweeping vistas and faraway views of Honolulu, but it also was the site of a terrible crash that happened on May 5, 1944, three years after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The Things I Carried

3 weeks ago | honolulumagazine.com | Christine Hitt

After seven years away, I can say this: The continent is nothing like Hawai‘i. In my first week in Southern California’s Orange County, a drunken driver crashed into parked cars in front of my apartment building. It was a fiery end to a multicity car chase, like the ones you see on TV. A few days later, a school shooting erupted across the street from me, or so I thought. Turns out the school was conducting a drill that included someone shooting a gun loaded with blanks while alarms blared.