Civil Beat Staff

Nick Grube

Nick Grube is the Washington, D.C. correspondent for Honolulu Civil Beat. Prior to that he was an investigative reporter focusing on criminal justice and legal affairs, a position that led him to one of the largest public corruption scandals in Hawaii history. The case, which is still ongoing, resulted in the federal indictment of a former police chief, his prosecutor wife and several police officers.

Nick’s coverage of police misconduct has resulted in several changes to Hawaii law, including the creation of a new oversight agency to make sure officers meet minimum training standards and requirements. His series on problem officers in the Honolulu Police Department helped spur the creation of the Civil Beat Law Center for the Public Interest, a nonprofit law firm that helps citizens and journalists get access to public records. The law center has represented Civil Beat in several cases some of which have been argued before the Hawaii Supreme Court.

In 2015, Nick and a colleague undertook a investigative project that uncovered major shortcomings in financial oversight of Honolulu’s multi-billion dollar rail project that was both behind schedule and over-budget. As a result, the Honolulu City Council changed city law to require the agency overseeing the project to provide more detailed financial information to the public about the subcontractors working on the project.

Nick’s career in journalism began at the University of Wisconsin—Madison and took him to California, Oregon, Hawaii and Washington, D.C. He’s covered everything from prison gangs to politics. His work has been recognized by several organizations, including the California Newspaper Publishers Association, Society of Professional Journalists and Online News Association. He was selected in 2018 by the National Press Foundation for the Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship, a nine month program for promising young journalists based in the nation’s capital.

News tips are welcome and appreciated. Send them directly to nick@civilbeat.org or anonymously using this Tipbox link, which uses automatic encryption. (NOTE: If you send a tip through Tipbox Nick cannot respond unless there’s contact information in the body of the message.)

A Historic Vote: Senate Confirms First Native Hawaiian Woman As US District Court Judge Screenshot (2023)

A Historic Vote: Senate Confirms First Native Hawaiian Woman As US District Court Judge

Shanlyn Park, a former federal defender and current state court judge, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a bipartisan vote.

US Senate Confirms Miske Prosecutor To Federal Bench Screenshot/2023

US Senate Confirms Miske Prosecutor To Federal Bench

Micah Smith started working in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Hawaii in 2018 and has handled some of the state’s highest profile criminal cases.

‘We’re Winging It Right Now’: Hawaii State Hospital Struggles Despite $160M Upgrade PFBentley/Civil Beat/2014

‘We’re Winging It Right Now’: Hawaii State Hospital Struggles Despite $160M Upgrade

Construction of a state-of-the-art psychiatric hospital was supposed to mark a new era in worker and patient safety. Instead, a familiar set of problems emerged.

Hawaii’s State-Run Psychiatric Hospital Is So Crowded Patients Sleep In Conference Rooms Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023

Hawaii’s State-Run Psychiatric Hospital Is So Crowded Patients Sleep In Conference Rooms

The killing of a nurse last week happened outside the main secure facility, but it cast a spotlight on concerns about staff safety.

Patient Charged In Fatal Stabbing Of Nurse At Hawaii State Hospital Anita Hofschneider/Civil Beat/2021

Patient Charged In Fatal Stabbing Of Nurse At Hawaii State Hospital

UPDATES: The suspect had been stable enough to be placed in a supervised residential program after being discharged from the hospital's acute care unit, officials said.

The Power Was Out Before The Fires Started. Then Hawaiian Electric Flipped The Switch DLNR

The Power Was Out Before The Fires Started. Then Hawaiian Electric Flipped The Switch

In congressional testimony, Hawaiian Electric President and CEO Shelee Kimura confirmed what some already suspected — that the utility re-energized its lines just before an early morning fire.

$150 Million Fund Is Established For  Families Of Maui Wildfire Victims David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

$150 Million Fund Is Established For Families Of Maui Wildfire Victims

The fund is the start of what Gov. Josh Green described as a multi-part plan to compensate survivors and help them rebuild.

Schatz: ‘A Lot Of People Are Going To Be Forced To Leave Maui’ Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Schatz: ‘A Lot Of People Are Going To Be Forced To Leave Maui’

Hawaii’s senior senator worries that victims of the wildfires will leave the islands. He wants the federal government to help make sure that doesn’t happen.

Lahaina’s Filipino Community Is Fighting For Its Voice Courtesy of Rick Nava

Lahaina’s Filipino Community Is Fighting For Its Voice

The Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce applied for money from the Hawaii Community Foundation but did not get approval for funding.