The Society of Professional Journalists at UH-Mānoa has been active on campus since 1970. Student members uphold SPJ national standards of protecting the public's right-to-know through the First Amendment, as well as accurately representing society with more cultural diversity in newsrooms.
Chapter members during the late 1990s won a court battle against the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers (SHOPO). The case went up to the Hawai‘i Supreme Court, in which the judge ordered SHOPO to disclose the names of disciplined officers. UHM Professor Gerald Kato led the effort as the chapterʻs adviser.
In 1985, 1988, 1992, 1994, SPJ-UHM was named the "Chapter of the Year" in the four-state Western region. In 1987 and 1995, it won the award for "Best Freedom of Information Programs" in the 14 states of District D. In 1989 and 1992, it received Executive Director's Awards. And in 1989 and 1992, it won the "National Campus Chapter of the Year" award.