Longtime Honolulu Columnist Charley Memminger Dies at 72

The former Star-Bulletin reporter and humor writer was known for his witty, award-winning 'Honolulu Lite' column.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 10:05am

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A high-contrast, silkscreen-style illustration of a vintage typewriter repeated in a grid pattern, rendered in a bold, neon color palette with heavy black outlines, conceptually representing the iconic tools and creative spirit of a longtime journalist.The vibrant, pop art-inspired illustration captures the essence of Charley Memminger's prolific writing career and enduring legacy as a beloved Honolulu columnist.Honolulu Today

Charley Memminger, a longtime columnist and reporter for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, died on Tuesday at the age of 72. Memminger's writing career spanned three decades, during which he covered crime, served as an investigative reporter, and launched his popular 'Honolulu Lite' humor column that earned national recognition.

Why it matters

Memminger was a beloved and respected figure in the Honolulu journalism community, known for his versatile writing skills, sharp wit, and dedication to his craft. His passing marks the end of an era for the Star-Bulletin and the local media landscape.

The details

Memminger started his career at the Wheeling Intelligencer in West Virginia and the Pacific Daily News in Guam before joining the Star-Bulletin. He initially covered crime and served as an investigative reporter before transitioning to feature writing. In 1992, he launched the 'Honolulu Lite' humor column, which ran three times a week and earned national awards. After leaving daily journalism in 2009, Memminger worked in public relations and as a freelance writer, publishing two books of his columns and a mystery novel set in Hawaii.

  • Memminger died on Tuesday, April 2, 2026.
  • He launched the 'Honolulu Lite' column in 1992.

The players

Charley Memminger

A longtime columnist and reporter for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, known for his witty 'Honolulu Lite' humor column.

Ken Kobayashi

A longtime courts reporter at The Honolulu Advertiser who worked alongside Memminger and became his brother-in-law.

Dave Shapiro

The former managing editor of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin who oversaw the launch of Memminger's 'Honolulu Lite' column.

June Watanabe

A retired longtime reporter and columnist at the Star-Bulletin and the Star-Advertiser who worked with Memminger.

Stephanie Kendrick

The vice president of community engagement at the Hawaiian Humane Society, which Memminger supported.

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What they’re saying

“He was the most versatile and dedicated writer I've known. He was a worthy competitor!”

— Ken Kobayashi, Longtime courts reporter at The Honolulu Advertiser

“He was a funny, funny guy and a talented writer. Under his feet-on-the-desk persona, he was one of the hardest working people I knew.”

— Dave Shapiro, Former managing editor of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin

“As I told Margie, we were just privileged to have known him, worked with him and to call him a friend. He was a funny, gifted writer and truly one of a kind.”

— June Watanabe, Retired longtime reporter and columnist at the Star-Bulletin and the Star-Advertiser

What’s next

Memminger's family is planning a memorial service, the details of which have not yet been announced.

The takeaway

Charley Memminger's passing marks the end of an era for Honolulu journalism, as the community mourns the loss of a beloved and respected writer known for his wit, versatility, and dedication to his craft.