Sharing more detailed data with the public, improving communications and providing more oversight of the state’s coronavirus response are long overdue.

The public needs to have complete confidence that city business, including the virus response, is being handled with absolute integrity. 

After nearly five months of the pandemic, Gov. David Ige and his top health officials have yet to articulate an effective response strategy that gets the public behind them.

With the state's economic health in severe decline, now is not the time to give public employees more money and the governor should veto that bill.

For too many years, lawmakers have turned aside efforts to allow public scrutiny of police misconduct. Now outrage over abuse of power should outweigh any pushback by the police union.

If the economy tanks further, it will be necessary to cut salaries, implement furloughs, skip pay raises and reduce payments to health plans and pensions.

Other governments and agencies are meeting using technology. Our lawmakers should too. There is just too much pressing business that demands attention.

But tracking the possible spread of COVID-19 will require resources, sensitivity and an openness to new ideas and technology.

Hawaii officials must act now in light of the rising pandemic. It's a matter of public safety.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige needs to immediately lift his blanket suspension of the state's public records and open meetings laws.