Budget director tells lawmakers that she estimates state has lost $240 million over the past two years from its investment of $1 billion in student-loan-backed auction-rate securities, or SLARS.

Hawaii lawmakers heard Tuesday that for the second straight year the state closed its fiscal year in the red, a violation of the Constitutional requirement. But officials face no consequences for the error.

As a California State worker, anyone could look up my salary with a few easy clicks.

The lowest paid state worker makes as little as $21,948, or $1,829 a month. The bottom salary goes to an office assistant.

Neil Abercrombie's critics say it cost the state as much as $1 million to put on a special election for the 1st Congressional District. Abercrombie says federal money covered it.

In the governor's race, Neil Abercrombie spent the most money during the first half of the year, followed by Mufi Hannemann and James "Duke" Aiona. But where did it go? Civil Beat did the digging.

The former Honolulu mayor brought in the most contributions among all governor candidates in the first half of 2010, and has more than four times as much money on hand as his Sept. 18 primary opponent, former congressman Abercrombie. Hannemann doubles Lt. Gov. Aiona's totals.