Senior Reporter

Kevin Dayton

Kevin Dayton is the former Capitol Bureau chief for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. He was formerly Capitol Bureau chief and Big Island Bureau chief for The Honolulu Advertiser, which was Hawaii’s largest circulation daily newspaper until it closed.

He also reported for the Hawaii Tribune-Herald in Hilo, the Honolulu bureau of the Associated Press, Sun Press weekly newspapers in Kaneohe, and the Tucson Citizen.

He also worked as an executive assistant and executive director for Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi, and is a former U.S. Army sergeant and infantry fire team leader.

He holds a master’s degree in political science from the University of Hawaii Manoa, and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Arizona.

He and his wife Mahealani live in Hilo and have seven children, five of them grown. They have been state-licensed foster parents since 2009.

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A ‘Wealth Asset Tax’ On Hawaii’s Richest Residents Advances In The Legislature Cory Lum/Civil Beat

A ‘Wealth Asset Tax’ On Hawaii’s Richest Residents Advances In The Legislature

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The new tax would apply to people with a net worth of more than $20 million.

Lawmakers Want More Information Made Public On Inmate Deaths In State Prisons And Jails Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Lawmakers Want More Information Made Public On Inmate Deaths In State Prisons And Jails

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House and Senate measures would require corrections officials to announce each prisoner death on a website, and include information on what caused each fatality.

Death Of An 87-Year-Old Inmate At Halawa Prison Was Covid-Related Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2017

Death Of An 87-Year-Old Inmate At Halawa Prison Was Covid-Related

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The death on Christmas Day is the 11th fatality in a state prison or jail that is being linked to the pandemic.
Gov. Josh Green Wants ‘A Better Proposal’ For New Oahu Jail Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Gov. Josh Green Wants ‘A Better Proposal’ For New Oahu Jail

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The facility would replace the aging and crowded Oahu Community Correctional Center in Kalihi, but critics say criminal justice reform should be the priority.
Council Members, Nonprofit Director Nominated To Fill Kauai House Seat PF Bentley/Civil Beat

Council Members, Nonprofit Director Nominated To Fill Kauai House Seat

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The governor will appoint new Democratic lawmakers to fill Tokioka's empty seat on Kauai and Yamane's vacant seat on Oahu.
Hawaii Legislature Opens With Show Of Goodwill By Green, Lawmakers Blaze Lovell/Civil Beat/2023

Hawaii Legislature Opens With Show Of Goodwill By Green, Lawmakers

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Tax relief, mental health woes and an affordable housing crisis top the agenda for the 2023 session.
Hawaii Lawmakers Are Usually A Cautious Bunch, But The New Governor Wants Action Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Hawaii Lawmakers Are Usually A Cautious Bunch, But The New Governor Wants Action

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Gov. Josh Green is expected to push hard for his agenda, and may make an appeal to the public if his proposals stall at the Legislature. But lawmakers have their own plans.
Death Penalty Phase Begins For Hawaii Prisoner In Arizona Paul Ingram/Civil Beat/2023

Death Penalty Phase Begins For Hawaii Prisoner In Arizona

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Miti Maugaotega Jr. was convicted of murdering a fellow inmate in the Arizona prison where they were both being held.
Hawaii Is Struggling To Meet A Deadline To Reduce Leased Office Space Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Hawaii Is Struggling To Meet A Deadline To Reduce Leased Office Space

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Despite a new law mandating a 10% reduction by 2026, the amount of office space leased by the state has increased.