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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Honolulu Rail: Trains, Tracks And Base Yard To Be Officially Turned Over To The City David Croxford/Civil Beat/2022

Honolulu Rail: Trains, Tracks And Base Yard To Be Officially Turned Over To The City

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The transfer of billions of dollars in assets clears the way for the Department of Transportation Services to open the Honolulu rail system to the public onJune 30.

Rail Authority Board To Consider A Hefty Contract Increase For Electrical Connections Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2021

Rail Authority Board To Consider A Hefty Contract Increase For Electrical Connections

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HART's Project Oversight Committee on Thursday will hear a request for an additional $21.8 million for contractor Frank V. Coluccio Co. for work in downtown and Kakaako.

The Last-Minute Budget Scrum At The Capitol May Cause An Odd Problem: Too Much Cash Chad Blair/Civil Beat/2023

The Last-Minute Budget Scrum At The Capitol May Cause An Odd Problem: Too Much Cash

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Hundreds of millions of dollars were dumped on the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, which now has one year to spend most of it.

State Will Pay $2 Million To Settle Lawsuit Over Sex Abuse Of Women Inmates Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2017

State Will Pay $2 Million To Settle Lawsuit Over Sex Abuse Of Women Inmates

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The settlement is surprising because a federal court jury refused to award any damages to the women after a trial last fall.

Lawmakers End Session Amid Criticism Of The Budget And Use Of Surplus David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Lawmakers End Session Amid Criticism Of The Budget And Use Of Surplus

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Gov. Green was given the power to restore funding to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, but some Democrats decried budget cuts to public schools and the University of Hawaii.

Green’s First Veto Override: A Condo Bill That Could Increase The Cost Of Housing David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Green’s First Veto Override: A Condo Bill That Could Increase The Cost Of Housing

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Besides the Senate override, lawmakers in both chambers worked through numerous bills Tuesday, including some dealing with taxes and guns.

Green Wanted Tax Relief, Housing and Action On Homelessness. Lawmakers Mostly Agreed Cassie Ordonio/Civil Beat/2023

Green Wanted Tax Relief, Housing and Action On Homelessness. Lawmakers Mostly Agreed

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But the "green fee" to slap extra charges on tourists failed, and bills to change the state tax code turned out to be more modest than the governor proposed in January.

Hawaii House And Senate Give Nod To Sweeping Tax Relief Bill David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Hawaii House And Senate Give Nod To Sweeping Tax Relief Bill

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Lawmakers agreed to double tax credits for working families, limit guns in sensitive places and tax e-cigarettes but failed to reach consensus on HTA.

Plan For Dramatic Increase In Preschool Slots for Low-Income Kids Moves Forward Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2021

Plan For Dramatic Increase In Preschool Slots for Low-Income Kids Moves Forward

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The decision raises hopes that Hawaii can boost the number of children participating in the Open Doors program from about 1,200 to about 4,000.