Civil Beat Staff

John Hill

John Hill is the Investigations Editor at Honolulu Civil Beat. He meandered back and forth across the U.S. for two-plus decades as a newspaper reporter — with stops in Northern California, New York City, New Orleans, Albuquerque and back to Northern California — before abandoning the mainland altogether to come to Civil Beat in July 2016.

In 2005, he won the George Polk Award for documenting abuses of the California pension and disability systems, most notably by the top brass of the California Highway Patrol. In New Orleans, he was part of a team of reporters that did a year-long series on race relations honored for public service by the Society of Professional Journalists and the National Headliner Awards.

In 2009, John left journalism to work for a California Senate office that investigated shortcomings in state government. His reports focused on the state’s failure to prevent elder abuse and monitor deaths in residential drug treatment programs, among other topics, and led to legislation and administrative reforms.

In 2014, the Senate eliminated his office and he worked for a year-and-a-half as press secretary for the California State Controller.

John recognizes that the best investigations start with tips, and encourages Civil Beat readers to contact him with stories of skullduggery, malfeasance and garden-variety ineptitude.

John Hill: Hawaii Agencies Flout The Law By Ignoring Maui Fire Records Requests Marina Riker/Civil Beat/2022

John Hill: Hawaii Agencies Flout The Law By Ignoring Maui Fire Records Requests

They have much else to contend with, but when the government does not provide information, people come up with more sinister narratives.

John Hill: Hawaii Should Come Clean About Its Actions In A Notorious Child Abuse Case Hawaii News Now/2021

John Hill: Hawaii Should Come Clean About Its Actions In A Notorious Child Abuse Case

Almost nothing is known about the actions of the public officials who handed over Ariel Sellers to the Waimanalo couple accused of killing her.

Hawaii Said This Big Island Dad Abused His Son — Then Three Years Later Changed Its Mind Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Hawaii Said This Big Island Dad Abused His Son — Then Three Years Later Changed Its Mind

In the meantime, Carlos Valdez lost custody of his son in a case that sheds light on the state's procedure for deciding whether to label parents as abusers.

Bare-Knuckle Reporting On Maui Fires Runs Headlong Into Culture of ‘Aloha And Kindness’ Christina Jedra/Civil Beat/2023

Bare-Knuckle Reporting On Maui Fires Runs Headlong Into Culture of ‘Aloha And Kindness’

Reporters from outside the state can throw elbows in ways that do not play well in Hawaii -- and maybe both sides have a point.

A Hawaii Mother Haunted By The Brutal Killing Of One Child Tries To Hold Onto Another David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

A Hawaii Mother Haunted By The Brutal Killing Of One Child Tries To Hold Onto Another

The mother of a Waimanalo girl allegedly murdered by the couple who adopted her says she is sober and working to prevent the state from putting her newborn son into the same system.

HECO Kept The Power Flowing In Lahaina Even As Poles Toppled Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023

HECO Kept The Power Flowing In Lahaina Even As Poles Toppled

The Hawaii utility has acknowledged the growing danger of wildfires and made some changes. But lawsuits are already pointing to the live power lines as a cause in Maui.

Hawaii, You Are Part Of The 1 Percent — At Least When It Comes To Being In The Dark Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2021

Hawaii, You Are Part Of The 1 Percent — At Least When It Comes To Being In The Dark

For brief moments 60 days of the year, Hawaii is in darkness while 99% of the Earth's population is experiencing some sunlight.

This ‘Retired’ Big Island Attorney Is Still A Fierce Advocate For The Little Guy John Hill/Civil Beat/2023

This ‘Retired’ Big Island Attorney Is Still A Fierce Advocate For The Little Guy

Will Rosdil came out of retirement to take on the case of a man who lost his home to foreclosure. He's still at it.

This State Investigator Has A Long History Of Questionable Behavior. And He’s Still At It Screenshot/Civil Beat/2023

This State Investigator Has A Long History Of Questionable Behavior. And He’s Still At It

Bobby Aiu, the ex-husband of Sen. Donna Kim, disregarded procedures at the DEA, blasted his bosses to the governor, dressed down members of the public and even sued his brother over a horse.