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.

Legislature Kills Measures To Protect Parental Rights In Child Welfare Cases Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2019

Legislature Kills Measures To Protect Parental Rights In Child Welfare Cases

Critics say Hawaii's current policy flouts federal precedent and leaves it vulnerable to lawsuits.

Honolulu Rehab With Lucrative Pay For Top Staff Stiffed Regular Workers, Federal Probe Finds Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2019

Honolulu Rehab With Lucrative Pay For Top Staff Stiffed Regular Workers, Federal Probe Finds

The agreement with the Department of Labor requires Sand Island Treatment Center to pay back wages of almost $452,000 by Wednesday.

Honolulu Fireworks Cases Almost Always Get Dismissed. Here’s What We Found About Why They Fizzle David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Honolulu Fireworks Cases Almost Always Get Dismissed. Here’s What We Found About Why They Fizzle

A Civil Beat analysis shows 94% of citations are dropped, but the records paint a portrait of where police try to crack down on the alleged perpetrators.

Bills Would Force Hawaii To Seek Court Orders In Many Child Welfare Cases Ludwig Laab/Civil Beat/2021

Bills Would Force Hawaii To Seek Court Orders In Many Child Welfare Cases

The measures would dramatically narrow the rules for when children can be taken from their parents absent a judge's order.

Hawaii Ordered An Acupuncturist To Stop Practicing. Three Years Later, He Still Was John Hill/Civil Beat/2019

Hawaii Ordered An Acupuncturist To Stop Practicing. Three Years Later, He Still Was

Mike Hashimoto, an architect of the state's regulation of acupuncture, asked the state to intervene in a billing dispute last year despite his agreement to not treat patients.

The Storms Hitting California Start Near Hawaii. So Why Is It So Calm In The Islands? NASA Worldview

The Storms Hitting California Start Near Hawaii. So Why Is It So Calm In The Islands?

Atmospheric rivers like the "Pineapple Express" originate in the subtropics but can have paradoxical effects on Hawaii's weather.
A Gag Order In A Foster Death: When Child Welfare Secrecy Goes Too Far Hawaii News Now

A Gag Order In A Foster Death: When Child Welfare Secrecy Goes Too Far

The child welfare system is shrouded in secrecy to protect children. Does it also block scrutiny and reform?
Hawaii Sent At Least 10 Foster Children To An Abusive Home At The Center Of A Drug Ring Hawaii News Now

Hawaii Sent At Least 10 Foster Children To An Abusive Home At The Center Of A Drug Ring

Hawaii Child Welfare Services may have had no reason not to approve Yvonne and Paul Caitano as foster parents. But when did it find out that things had gone wrong?
Hawaii Judges Were Trained To Run Better Child Welfare Hearings. Their Performance Plummeted Ludwig Laab/Civil Beat/2021

Hawaii Judges Were Trained To Run Better Child Welfare Hearings. Their Performance Plummeted

The hearings can determine whether parents lose their children, but topics that could help avoid that are rarely or never discussed.