Civil Beat Staff

Marina Starleaf Riker

Marina Starleaf Riker is a reporter covering Maui for Civil Beat.

She grew up in Haiku and graduated from University of Hawaii Manoa in 2015. While in college, she got her start in journalism working as an intern for Civil Beat. In the years that followed, she wrote about the Hawaii Legislature for the Associated Press and covered local government for newspapers in Bend, Oregon and Victoria, Texas.

Most recently, Marina worked on the San Antonio Express-News’ projects team, where she produced investigations that ranged from examining officials’ lack of communication during Texas’ deadly winter freeze to identifying the city’s most prolific evictors, including landlords who profited from taxpayer-funded programs. She has extensive experience reporting on affordable housing, disaster recovery and health care equity.

You can get in touch with Marina by emailing mriker@civilbeat.org or follow her on Twitter at @marinastarleaf.

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Maui Condo Owners Are Trying To Buy Time In The Fight Against Rising Seas Ludwig Laab/Civil Beat/2022

Maui Condo Owners Are Trying To Buy Time In The Fight Against Rising Seas

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A lengthy hearing Monday left County Council members with unanswered questions about using a new financing tool to replenish the beach.

Residents Have Another Chance To Join East Maui’s New Water Authority Marina Riker/Civil Beat/2022

Residents Have Another Chance To Join East Maui’s New Water Authority

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County officials are extending the application process for another week.

Hawaii Lawmakers Did Not Fund The Overpass To Kihei’s New High School Courtesy: Hawaii DOE

Hawaii Lawmakers Did Not Fund The Overpass To Kihei’s New High School

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This could mean yet another delay in the decade-long debacle to construct a safe crossing for students.

Officers Raid Maui Antique Shop For Allegedly Selling Illegal Ivory Courtesy: Department of Land and Natural Resources/2023

Officers Raid Maui Antique Shop For Allegedly Selling Illegal Ivory

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State lawmakers barred the sale of most ivory years ago in hopes of preventing poaching across the globe.

Maui’s Zoning Code Is More Than 60 Years Old. Where’s The Update? Screenshot/2023

Maui’s Zoning Code Is More Than 60 Years Old. Where’s The Update?

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Property owners and government officials are stuck in a continued state of “confusion, conflicting interpretations and complex layers of administration.”

Community Groups Are Trying To Learn Just How Clean — Or Dirty — Maui’s Beaches Really Are Marina Riker/Civil Beat/2023

Community Groups Are Trying To Learn Just How Clean — Or Dirty — Maui’s Beaches Really Are

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The public is filling in the gaps because the government lacks the resources to regularly test most beaches.

A Big Pay Boost For Maui County’s Summer Child Care Workers Will Take Effect In June Courtesy of Maui County

A Big Pay Boost For Maui County’s Summer Child Care Workers Will Take Effect In June

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The Summer PALS program serves as a lifeline for working families but is in jeopardy because of staffing shortages.

Maui Is Closing Part Of Hana Highway For Up To A Month Because Of Falling Rocks Courtesy: Maui County/2023

Maui Is Closing Part Of Hana Highway For Up To A Month Because Of Falling Rocks

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Drivers won't be able to travel from Hana to Kaupo during the closure.

Looking For A Job? Maui County Has More Than 700 Openings Marina Riker/Civil Beat/2022

Looking For A Job? Maui County Has More Than 700 Openings

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There are also dozens of vacancies on boards and commissions.