Sonya Hamasaki is a newsgathering producer based in Los Angeles, helping outlook breaking news coverage across the Western and Central regions of the U.S. She joined CNN in 2007, as a News Editor, covering major stories and events in California.

Throughout her tenure at CNN, she’s covered dozens of record-breaking heatwaves, wildfires, mudslides, and earthquakes. She has also covered high-profile stories in the West, including the death of Michael Jackson, the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, the Riverside “House of Horrors” case, the death of Kobe Bryant, the Britney Spears conservatorship case, California’s response to COVID-19, and the 2021 California Gubernatorial Recall Election.

Previously, she was a news writer for KNX 1070 News Radio and an assignment editor for KABC-TV in Los Angeles. She started her career at NBC Universal - first as a production assistant at KNBC-TV, and then as a Researcher for Access Hollywood.

Hamasaki is a California native, born and raised in San Diego. She graduated from Mount Saint Mary’s University with a degree in English Literature.