The First Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that Congress shall make no law abridging (curtailing) the freedom of the press. Thus, freedom of the press prohibits censorship by the government in the reporting of news and the publication of opinions.
In Hawaii, as in all states, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees freedom of the press. This fundamental right prevents the government from imposing censorship on the media, ensuring that news reporting and the publication of opinions are protected from government interference. This means that journalists, newspapers, and other media outlets in Hawaii can gather, report, and comment on news and issues without fear of government punishment or control, subject to certain limitations that the Supreme Court has recognized, such as national security concerns, incitement to violence, and certain other narrowly defined areas. Hawaii's state constitution also reinforces these protections by providing its citizens with the right to free speech and press in alignment with the First Amendment.