Shootz! Painting The Town Green, The Mayor’s Big Speech And More

Education events at the Capitol and Civil Beat’s office, the State of the City and a contentious police commission hearing on Maui captured the attention of our photographers this week.

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Education events at the Capitol and Civil Beat’s office, the State of the City and a contentious police commission hearing on Maui captured the attention of our photographers this week.

At noon on March 17th the Friends of St Patrick started its 58th Waikiki State Patricks Day Parade. The event lasted until approximately 12:45 and included a car carrying Ms. United States, Angie Martinez and Mrs. Hawaii, Melissa Filek. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
The Society of the Friends of St. Patrick Hawaiʻi held its 58th St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Waikīkī on Monday. The celebration of all things Irish included a car carrying Ms. United States Angie Martinez and Mrs. Hawaii Melissa Filek. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
The Friends of St. Patrick’s Day 58th Waikiki Parade attracted several forms of local transportation including Motorcycle Club enthusiasts showing off their rides. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
Motorcycle enthusiasts showed off their rides in the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
Mayor Rick Blangiardi focuses on Kumu Hula Vicky Holt Takamine as she opens the State of The City address with her 'Oli. David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025
Mayor Rick Blangiardi and his communications director, Scott Humber, watch Kumu Hula Vicky Holt Takamine as she opens the State of The City address with an oli. David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025
Kumu Hula Vicky Holt Takamine opens the festivities at the State Of The City address with her 'Oli. at Mission Auditorium on March 18th, 2025 David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025
Kumu Hula Vicky Holt Takamine performs an oli ahead of the mayor’s annual State of the City address at the Mission Auditorium on March 18th. David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025
Coconut Kuleana arborists trim coconut palm trees at Maui Golf & Sports Park early Wednesday morning, March 19, 2025, in Wailuku. Because of time sensitivity, approximately eight arborists began trimming the 57 trees at 4:00 a.m. to finish before 9:00. They protect the trees by climbing without spikes on their shoes. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
Coconut Kuleana arborists trim trees at the Maui Golf & Sports Park in Wailuku. More than half a dozen arborists began trimming the 57 trees at 4 a.m. to finish before 9 a.m. They protect the trees by climbing without spikes on their shoes. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
Honouliuli Middle School seventh-graders Isabelle Closa, from left, and Gia Averion surprise Department of Education Superintendent Keith Hayashi with their Education Day display of “Growing Difference Makers in the World Who Know Love, Give Love and Accept Love” at the Capitol Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Honolulu. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
Honouliuli Middle School students Isabelle Closa, from left, and Gia Averion had an upbeat conversation with Department of Education Superintendent Keith Hayashi at the State Capitol. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
Honouliuli Middle School’s Education Day display of “Growing Difference Makers in the World Who Know Love, Give Love and Accept Love” is displayed in a cool and shady spot at the Capitol Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Honolulu. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
Students from across Hawaiʻi created displays for Education Week at the Capitol. Honouliuli Middle School had a particularly cool and shady spot on the fourth floor. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
Fern Elementary School’s Chuukese Dance Club performs a dance they created for Education Day at the Capitol Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Honolulu. Their display “Creating a Sense of School Belonging” included a dance they choreographed to include modern and traditional dances. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
Fern Elementary School’s Chuukese Dance Club performs a dance that the group choreographed for Education Week at the Capitol. The school’s display was on “Creating a Sense of School Belonging” and their dance included both modern and traditional moves. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
At a tour of the newly renovated Blaisdell Concert Hall local press agencies were shown both behind the scenes renovations as well as those in the front of the house. Bathrooms and dressing rooms have all be updated as have the lighting and the equipment that allows manipulation and changes of scenery during presentations. All to the tune of $10m (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
A media tour of the renovated Blaisdell Concert Hall included a glimpse of renovations backstage, in addition to the upgrades that audiences will see during future shows. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
At a tour of the newly renovated Blaisdell Concert Hall local press agencies were shown both behind the scenes renovations as well as those in the front of the house. Bathrooms and dressing rooms have all be updated as have the lighting and the equipment that allows manipulation and changes of scenery during presentations. All to the tune of $10m (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
The $10 million renovations at the Blaisdell Concert Hall include lighting in the main concert hall and improvements backstage that allow for scenery changes during shows. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
Maui Police Chief John Pelletier addresses the media after the Police Commission rejected putting him on administrative leave because of a civil lawsuit alleging his involvement with rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Kahalui. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
Maui Police Chief John Pelletier addresses the media after the police commission rejected a proposal to put him on administrative leave because of a civil lawsuit alleging his involvement with rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
Maui Police Commissioner Frank De Rego, Jr., wipes away a tear after speaking about his relationship with Maui Mayor Richard Bissen Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Kahalui. The Police Commission rejected putting Chief John Pelletier on administrative leave because of a civil lawsuit alleging his involvement with rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
Maui Police Commissioner Frank De Rego Jr. wipes away a tear after speaking about his relationship with Mayor Richard Bissen and the rift between the mayor and police chief. The commission rejected Bissen’s recommendation to put the chief on leave. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
During the Civil Beat Editorial Board Meeting at CBHQ on Tuesday March 18th, Audrey Lin, a student who was attending the High School Journalism Boot Camp is photographed through the glasses of Economist Stephen Bond-Smith during discussions that were taking place. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
Audrey Lin, a participant in Civil Beat’s journalism boot camp for high school students, listens to economist Stephen Bond-Smith during an editorial board meeting at Civil Beat’s Kaimukī office. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)
Youth journalism bootcamp participant Camille Irurita-Corpuz, center, listens intently Monday, March 17, 2025, in Honolulu. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
High school students listen intently to a presentation by Civil Beat staff during a multi-day event aimed at giving budding journalists in Hawaiʻi a foundation in key reporting skills. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
Winners in the Windward Orchid Society 42nd Annual Spring Orchid Show are displayed Friday, March 21, 2025, at S.W. King Intermediate School in Kāneʻohe. A contest for the variety of orchids were judged and awarded. Visitors could also buy orchids and plants. The show continues Saturday and Sunday. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
Winners of the Windward Orchid Society’s Spring Orchid Show on vibrant display at the 42nd annual event, which continues though Sunday. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
Donna Kimble of Waialua, photographs orchards at the Windward Orchid Society 42nd Annual Spring Orchid Show Friday, March 21, 2025, at S.W. King Intermediate School in Kāneʻohe. A contest for the variety of orchids were judged and awarded. Visitors could also buy orchids and plants. The show continues Saturday and Sunday. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
Donna Kimble of Waialua photographs orchids at the Windward Orchid Society’s annual spring show in Kāneʻohe. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)

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