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 six children, five of them grown. They have been state-licensed foster parents since 2009.

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Mass Testing Begins As More OCCC Inmates Test Positive For COVID-19 Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Mass Testing Begins As More OCCC Inmates Test Positive For COVID-19

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Data shows nine inmates and seven staff at the state’s largest jail have tested positive so far in the coronavirus outbreak.

Election Recounts Don’t Change Outcomes Of 3 Races

Election Recounts Don’t Change Outcomes Of 3 Races

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DeCoite, Quilingking remain the winners of their primaries, and the Kauai County Council lineup stays the same.

Hawaii Corrections Workers Fear Infection As COVID-19 Outbreak Grows Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Hawaii Corrections Workers Fear Infection As COVID-19 Outbreak Grows

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With six inmates and three staff already testing positive, OCCC staff worry the prison system is unprepared to control the virus.

Public Defender Wants Inmates Released As Outbreak Grows At Oahu Jail Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Public Defender Wants Inmates Released As Outbreak Grows At Oahu Jail

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The state Public Defender’s Office will again ask the Hawaii Supreme Court to expedite prisoner releases to lower the inmate population.

Hawaii Legislature: House Speaker Saiki Defeats Iwamoto Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Hawaii Legislature: House Speaker Saiki Defeats Iwamoto

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Reps. Brower and Cachola lose, but San Buenaventura and Cabanilla move ahead in their efforts to claim Senate seats.

First Hawaii Inmate Tests Positive for COVID-19 Along With 4 Corrections Officers Cory Lum/Civil Beat

First Hawaii Inmate Tests Positive for COVID-19 Along With 4 Corrections Officers

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A staff member at the Honolulu Federal Detention Facility also tested positive.

State To Publish New COVID-19 Prevention And Testing Data Ronen Zilberman/Civil Beat

State To Publish New COVID-19 Prevention And Testing Data

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New metrics will include face mask compliance and turnaround times for lab tests.

Iwamoto Challenges Speaker Saiki For Hawaii House Seat Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Iwamoto Challenges Speaker Saiki For Hawaii House Seat

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It’s the first time in eight years that the race has been contested in the Democratic primary.

Federal Jail In Honolulu Reports 2nd COVID-19 Case Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Federal Jail In Honolulu Reports 2nd COVID-19 Case

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The Federal Detention Center reports one of the inmates testing positive was released and the other is in isolation.