Civil Beat Staff

Ben Angarone

Ben Angarone is a reporter for Civil Beat. He recently earned a master’s degree at Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, focusing on politics and writing his magazine-length thesis on a virtual cryptocurrency community.

Ben was born in New Jersey and earned his bachelor’s degree at Princeton. He bounced between different STEM majors before landing on politics, and decided to pursue journalism senior year during a covid-driven virtual semester. Ben wrote feature stories for the Daily Princetonian, chronicling how communities adjusted to the pandemic.

In college, Ben led backpacking orientation trips along the East Coast, bringing unsuspecting frosh face-to-face with bears, rocky inclines and cheesy campfire songs. His eternal fun fact is that he used to operate rollercoasters at Six Flags Great Adventure.

Children Play At Their Own Risk In This Mililani Park Ben Angarone/Civil Beat/2026

Children Play At Their Own Risk In This Mililani Park

The city has no timeline for when it can be fully repaired.

Honolulu Forced To Rehire Fired Paramedics After Botched Investigation Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024

Honolulu Forced To Rehire Fired Paramedics After Botched Investigation

The paramedics, who were removed from their posts in August 2023 and brought back per an arbitrator’s order in 2025, are owed two years of backpay each.

He Holo Kaʻa ʻŌhua Manuahi No Nā Keiki? Aloha Nō Craig Fujii for Civil Beat

He Holo Kaʻa ʻŌhua Manuahi No Nā Keiki? Aloha Nō

Hōʻike kahi mea kākoʻo i ka lana o kona manaʻo i ka puka hou o kēia hana i kekahi makahiki.

Salary Increases Approved For Honolulu Politicians Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Salary Increases Approved For Honolulu Politicians

Salary commissioners say the pay bumps are necessary to keep pace with public sector union raises and to ensure salaries are on par with officials’ job duties.

‘Renovation Aloha’ Sued For Filming Native Hawaiian Bones Christina Jedra/Civil Beat/2026

‘Renovation Aloha’ Sued For Filming Native Hawaiian Bones

HGTV is releasing a re-edited version of the episode “Bones On The Big Island” after a Hawaiʻi judge ordered the original taken down.

Honolulu Council Criticizes Slow City Response To North Shore Flooding Craig Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Honolulu Council Criticizes Slow City Response To North Shore Flooding

City officials didn’t immediately have a clear picture of conditions on the ground. By the time they did, they said evacuation might not have been the safest option. 

Kaimukī’s Queen Theater Is Falling Apart. Honolulu Doesn’t Want To Step In David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

Kaimukī’s Queen Theater Is Falling Apart. Honolulu Doesn’t Want To Step In

The venue, which over the decades went from family friendly theater to purveyor of pornographic films, will likely continue to sit empty.

Another Raise For Honolulu Politicians? Salary Group Says Yes Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Another Raise For Honolulu Politicians? Salary Group Says Yes

If approved, it would be the third raise in three years for top city officials. 

After Floods, Otake Camp Cleans Up Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

After Floods, Otake Camp Cleans Up

Otake Camp, situated on the bank of Kaukonahua Stream, was among Oʻahu’s hardest hit areas after a recent storm devastated the island’s North Shore.