# Hawaii News Now — user reviews > 217 indexed App Store user reviews of Hawaii News Now by Gray Television Group, Inc., rated 4.30/5 from 8,193 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hawaii-news-now/id450571908/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hawaii-news-now/id450571908.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 5,654 · 4★ 1,005 · 3★ 423 · 2★ 319 · 1★ 792 ## What do users think of Hawaii News Now? Overall sentiment: neutral **Pros** - 🚀 Excellent up-to-date and reliable news source - 🔥 Great for local news and weather updates - 👍 Helpful for staying informed about Hawaii **Cons** - 🐛 Notifications don't link to the correct articles - 📺 Live stream issues, often freezing or not working - 💤 Outdated and confusing app design - 📢 Too many ads and intrusive monetization - 🔍 Difficult to find specific news articles **Commonly reported bugs** - Notifications not working as expected - App crashing or freezing during use - Compatibility issues with newer devices **Most requested features** - Improve notification functionality to directly open articles - Enhance live stream reliability and stability - Redesign the app for a more modern and user-friendly experience - Reduce the number of ads and improve monetization approach - Improve search and navigation to easily find news content ## Newest reviews (20 of 217) ### 4/5 — Some of the photos are far too large once you click on the story. *2026-08-24, version 8.0.7* Some of the normal looking photos are just HUGE once you click on the story. You should have someone who checks out each link once the story is posted. This is for the stories from the Big Island. Please fix these. Mahalo for your great storm coverage! ### 2/5 — App problems *2026-08-12, version 8.0.7* The live broadcast constantly freezes during commercials. There is no refresh button. And when you do get back in, there’s a commercial. It is in addition to the ones during the broadcast. And it drops you in the middle of a story. ### 2/5 — Motorcycle accident near Mac nut rd shipman 7/30 *2026-08-01, version 8.0.7* Local news has the Motorcycle being rear ended. You’re reporting that the motorcyclist reared the vehicle? Which is it? ### 2/5 — App got worse *2026-07-10, version 8.0.6* The new updated app is junk.. Layout not good.. Cannot share the article no more.. Bring back the old style app ### 3/5 — Very touchy app for live news *2026-07-07, version 8.0.6* The app is very touchy on iPhone and iPad when watching live. One wrong move or touch on my device and I lose the live and have to go back. The mandatory ads that pop up first mean I miss a chunk of news. Today the audio is about 30 seconds ahead of the video. Never would I rely on their weather app since they can’t even get the news app sorted out. ### 1/5 — Switch to another news station *2026-06-15, version 8.0.6* Terrible. Never works. The live feed is always down and somehow, if you don’t touch the exact right spot on your phone to enlarge the screen or turn up volume, it will show commercial after commercial. ### 1/5 — Live previous newscasts *2026-06-14, version 8.0.6* Disappointed with the app upgrade. While I am stationed overseas in Japan, I try to watch the morning newscast while getting ready. The new app fails to play, constantly says that it’s unavailable, and I can’t pause to check on other apps while watching the video. It will restart all the time once, I close the app. 😢 ### 1/5 — Ads *2026-06-09, version 8.0.4* The new update makes using the app a pain. Every chance it gets, it forces a ad and you have to click out of it. Gets old ### 2/5 — Unable to go full screen *2026-05-29, version 8.0.4* try to watch news broadcast at full screen and would not go into full screen mode on iPad ### 2/5 — App *2026-05-27, version 8.0.4* This app is inaccurate especially when we receive notifications. Please work on this app so we can read in detail about the notifications sent to us . Someone in the new room spells certain words incorrectly which throws us off reading certain phrases. Mahalo ### 1/5 — False and misleading information, presented as factual news *2026-05-19, version 8.0.4* Misinformation - not accurate - biased reporting - unreliable Fabricated stories - misleading headlines - propaganda - political agendas Videos don’t play, links attached to alerts do not work - lots of ads & popups ### 1/5 — FBI Director’s snorkeling trip as “Breaking News!” *2026-05-14, version 8.0.3* That’s it, I’m done with deep blue HNN. They report the FBI Director’s snorkeling trip as breaking news, yet are completely silent on the fact that Hawaii has spent none of the fraud investigation funding received from the federal government as intended, and with ZERO indictments. It’s probably lining the pockets of any number of corrupt Hawaii officials and politicians. Buh-bye. ### 3/5 — Title font size *2026-05-13, version 8.0.3* Font size for titles on the new update on my iPad are way small. Really hard to read. Any way to make font size larger? Thanks! ### 1/5 — Falling apart *2026-05-13, version 8.0.3* Constant blackouts Poor sports coverage Ever since Rick Blangiardi left the quality of the station has fallen apart. ### 1/5 — Nothing is Shareable *2026-05-12, version 8.0.3* The news stories are good but nothing can be shared. ### 1/5 — User unfriendly news site *2026-05-09, version 8.0.3* This “upgraded” is a pain in the brain to use. It’s is so covered with ads that slows it down and make so frustrating, I hate to check on what’s going on around here and the world. ### 1/5 — Poor app *2026-05-04, version 8.0.3* Hawaii news now doesn’t work for iPhone 16pro and iPad since the latest iOS updates. ### 1/5 — App always crashing *2026-05-02, version 8.0.3* Does not open . Brand new iPad ### 2/5 — WAY too many ads!! *2026-05-01, version 8.0.3* Ads pop up everywhere. You have to click out of at least 2-3 ads before you even get to the home screen. And the footer of every page is filled with ads. Very annoying. ### 1/5 — Live doesn’t work *2026-04-30, version 8.0.3* Loved this app til love stopped working. Now just ads. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Terrible *2026-08-29, version 8.0.7* Bad ### 1/5 — Ads ads ads and more ads *2026-08-17, version 8.0.7* New update and ads make this once great app completely unusable. Maybe you guys should cut back on the long, ridiculous, and repetitive ads.. at least in the middle of a hurricane. No? Gotta make that sweet ad money, eh? Priorities ### 1/5 — False and misleading information, presented as factual news *2026-07-13, version 8.0.6* Misinformation - not accurate - biased reporting - unreliable Fabricated stories - misleading headlines - propaganda - political agendas Videos don’t play, links attached to alerts do not work - lots of ads & popups Terrible reporting- does not provide or will leave out crucial details to help solve crime ### 1/5 — Not Good *2026-07-12, version 8.0.6* Where do I get the old app back. It was easy to see and read. I probably will not watch HNN anymore if this is my only option. At least make the tiny pictures expandable so they can be seen. ### 1/5 — Poor app *2026-07-01, version 8.0.6* Hawaii news now doesn’t work for iPhone 16pro and iPad since the latest iOS updates. ### 1/5 — Show the whole headline *2026-06-28, version 8.0.6* You can only see a few words of the headline, which makes it hard to know if you want to click on the article or not. There is plenty of room to fit the entire headline. ### 1/5 — Can’t open the news articles! *2026-06-26, version 8.0.6* Can’t open the news articles. Happens alot! Yes app up to date. Yes strong wifi. Etc etc. The videos are on a whole other level… ### 1/5 — This App sucks *2026-06-17, version 8.0.6* I guess commercials are more important than reporting the news. Especially the App on Roku as soon as you start watching they have to play a commercial. It’s very frustrating to say the least! ### 1/5 — Advertising Only *2026-06-17, version 8.0.6* What the hell? It was already almost purely ads, now in June 2026 you have to watch an ad just to click on a story, after navigating through more ads! ### 1/5 — Not Good *2026-06-16, version 8.0.6* Where do I get the old app back. It was easy to see and read. I probably will not watch HNN anymore if this is my only option. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Notification Issue *2024-11-19* Excellent app, very reliable. I got an emergency notification from here before the alert went out!!! The traffic updates are also very timely. I used to have an issue with the articles not opening from the notifications but it seems like it was fixed. ### 5/5 — My go To’s in the mornings! *2024-11-15, version 7.0.14* Excellent up to date;reliable&accurate daily resource and always fresh. Mahalo nui HNN! ### 5/5 — Red/ *2024-03-10, version 7.0.13* Great________| ### 5/5 — 5 stars *2024-02-09, version 7.0.13* Absolutely the best in Hawaii nei! ### 5/5 — Please add Waikii to radar! *2023-12-12, version 7.0.13* Big Island needs more representation- it's not easy to contact Y'all- our weather is much different than Kamuela, we are at 5000' and it would be appreciated if we can get accurate weather ### 5/5 — Go to News Island Source *2023-08-12, version 7.0.9* This is my go to news source for everything on the islands. The app has tons of good features too. I highly recommend. ### 5/5 — Full In Depth News Coverage *2023-08-10* When I wanted the best full in-depth news coverage by knowledgeable people on the ground about the Maui wildfires, specifically the extent of the actual devastation of Lahaina, what is gone and what remains, where the Lahaina townspeople are, and how to effectively and realistically help - I went to Hawaii News Now! You can trust the hometown News people and their news coverage! The legacy media? Not very much! ### 5/5 — Weather *2023-08-08, version 7.0.9* Any Fish & wildlife people on Johnston Island? Are they evacuated. Dora headed there. Do weather reporters even know it is there, 750 miles SW of HNL. ### 5/5 — Hawaii News Now is an All Star *2021-03-29, version 6.6.4* With family on Maui and our being in SoCal, this app brings such peace of mind. We are able to keep up with all pertinent news and weather concerning our land of Aloha. Using this app helps keep our love of Hawaii just that much closer to our hearts. It also helps us know what our Hawaiian family is experiencing. We love the app🤙🏽❤️ ### 5/5 — Issues with the app *2020-07-16* I have been experiencing issues with this app recently. Possibly caused by an update. As far as I can tell, the app now appears to be continuously updating in the background. The battery consumption charts show the background activity of this app is through the roof, accounting for more then 60% of my phones total power consumption. Outdrawing more power then actively used streaming apps based on time used. The streaming apps are only being used for a limited time, as opposed to this app continually being on in the background. Even with background app refresh being turned off, it is still doing things in the background and burning a ton of battery power. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-04.*