Civil Beat Staff

April Estrellon

As Civil Beat’s interactive developer and multimedia producer, April Estrellon designs and develops web applications to help bring news stories to life.

Since joining Civil Beat, she has created numerous videos, graphics and animation for the website, as well as produced Civil Beat’s award winning Offshore podcast.

April has degrees in journalism and anthropology from the University of Hawaii Manoa. She once had dreams of being an archaeologist, but soon realized that it’s nothing like Indiana Jones and that she prefers telling stories to digging and lab work.

April is often glued to her headphones, but you can get her attention by emailing her at april@civilbeat.org.

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Game: How Long Does It Take To Get A Permit From Honolulu?

Game: How Long Does It Take To Get A Permit From Honolulu?

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Civil Beat built a game to allow players to step into the shoes of a DPP permit applicant and gain a sense of the challenges and choices that appear throughout the process.

The ‘Mauka Shift’ Could Solve Rail’s Utility Woes. Why Did It Happen So Late? Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2020

The ‘Mauka Shift’ Could Solve Rail’s Utility Woes. Why Did It Happen So Late?

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HART’s inability to relocate utilities along Dillingham is central to rail’s latest staggering cost spikes. Now, the agency says it finally has a “good plan.”

What We Can Learn From Hawaii’s Past Pandemics Hawaii State Archives

What We Can Learn From Hawaii’s Past Pandemics

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Hawaii’s monarchy was ahead of its time when it came to addressing public health.

Hawaii Civics 101: All-Mail Voting

Hawaii Civics 101: All-Mail Voting

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The 2020 primary election will be the first statewide election in Hawaii history to be done entirely through mail-in voting.

Hawaii Civics 101: All-Mail Voting

Hawaii Civics 101: All-Mail Voting

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The 2020 primary election will be the first statewide election in Hawaii history to be done entirely through mail-in voting.

Stories Of Pain And Success From The Hawaiian Diaspora Kuʻu Kauanoe/Civil Beat

Stories Of Pain And Success From The Hawaiian Diaspora

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A few months ago we asked Native Hawaiian readers outside of Hawaii to tell us why they left the islands. Here’s what they had to say.

What Does It Mean To Be Hawaiian Outside Of Hawaii? Kuʻu Kauanoe/Civil Beat

What Does It Mean To Be Hawaiian Outside Of Hawaii?

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Nearly half of all Native Hawaiians live outside Hawaii. But, as we discover in the new season of Offshore, Hawaiians carry the islands with them to far-flung places.

Here’s How The Coronavirus Has Transformed Hawaii Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2020

Here’s How The Coronavirus Has Transformed Hawaii

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The pandemic is having a big impact on everything from traffic to stress levels. Don’t expect a baby boom next year.

Hawaii Civics 101: How To Testify On A Bill At The Legislature

Hawaii Civics 101: How To Testify On A Bill At The Legislature

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Letting lawmakers know what you think about local issues is an important part of the democratic process. Here are ways to get your voice heard.