Hawaii News Now is a regional news and weather app for Hawaii residents, providing live streaming and local headlines on iOS and Android.
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
The app removes the cable subscription barrier for local news access, serving residents who rely on specific broadcast anchors for daily information.
For Hawaii residents and individuals interested in local news, weather, and community events in the islands.
What does it look like?
Key features
Broadcasts live newscasts without requiring a cable subscription.
Localized weather updates and hurricane tracking tools.
Allows users to upload photos and videos directly to the newsroom.
How much does it cost?
The app operates as a free, ad-supported distribution channel for the publisher's broadcast content.
Velocity
Maintenance developmentUX improvementsperformanceShow more...
With only two releases identified in the recent window, the app operates at a maintenance cadence of approximately 0.07 releases per week. Development is currently focused on minor UX improvements and bug fixes rather than significant feature expansion. The latest release occurred 21 days ago, following a similar update pattern on the other platform. The development trend remains stable, prioritizing stability and interface polish over frequent feature iteration.
Who built it?
Gray Media
13+ apps tracked · News & Magazines
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WFSBUser Sentiment
What do users think recently?
Review voice lately leans frustrated. Users appreciate local news coverage and specific newscasters maintain a loyal audience despite recent technical frustrations, but report aggressive ad placement and auto-playing video commercials disrupt the core news reading and viewing experience.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- Local news coverage and specific newscasters maintain a loyal audience despite recent technical frustrations
- Aggressive ad placement and auto-playing video commercials disrupt the core news reading and viewing experience
62 of 100 recent reviews analyzed · high confidence · Frustrated overall
Read the full review analysisUnlock 2 more frustration themes and 1 user request, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for Hawaii News Now
How's the News & Magazines market?
Hawaii News Now holds the #172 position on the US News & Magazines chart, reflecting a significant decline in visibility. The 2.83 Android rating across 3,131 reviews indicates substantial friction compared to the 4.26 iOS rating.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
Unlock the deeper market read.
Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for Hawaii News Now
Where is it heading?
The local news market in Hawaii is consolidating, and Hawaii News Now's maintenance-mode update cadence leaves it exposed to technical decay. Unless the publisher prioritizes stability over ad-inventory volume, the current rating drag will continue to depress organic discovery.
- Frequent app crashes and loading failures prevent access to live content, which compounds the negative sentiment already visible on Android.
- Aggressive, unmuted ad placement disrupts the core reading experience, which accelerates user churn and lowers the overall platform rating.
The SWOT
- Localized weather and hurricane tracking tools maintain a daily habit among island residents
- Implementing user-requested font and image scaling could improve accessibility for the core older demographic
Next best moves
Audit ad-delivery logic because unmuted auto-playing ads are a top-tier complaint → reduce churn rate
+ 1 more prioritized moveThe counter-intuitive read
The app's reliance on local broadcast anchors is a double-edged sword…
Read the full takeBottom line
Addressing the technical instability and aggressive ad-delivery is required to stabilize the user base, as the current experience is actively eroding the loyalty generated by the publisher's local broadcast content.
Unlock 2 critical frictions, 1 market threat, 1 more prioritized move and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeFAQ
Is Hawaii News Now free to use?
Does Hawaii News Now have intrusive ads?
Is Hawaii News Now good for weather updates?
Sources
Report last updated