Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2026
These Trees Wreaked Havoc During Storms. Hawaiʻi Is Fed Up
As the islands brace for yet another hurricane, community members push for better management of albizia and other fast-growing invasive species that break easily.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat
She Governs A US Territory. But She Has No Say In Who Mines Its Waters
Modern-day colonialism is enabling Trump’s deep-sea mining ambitions in the Pacific.
Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2026
Painful Lessons From ʻIniki Help Kauaʻi Homes Weather Hurricane Lowell
Requiring hurricane clips to prevent roofs from blowing off and other updates to the building code were hard-fought victories 30 years ago. Some are searching for more safeguards as cleanup continues on the Garden Isle.
Jamm Aquino/Civil Beat/2026
Oʻahu’s Shade Trees Could Take Decades To Grow Back After Storms
Forest stewards say Honolulu’s tree canopy is natural infrastructure worth investing in with more extreme weather around the corner.
Craig Fujii/Civil Beat/2026
Hawaiʻi Can’t Catch A Break From Storms. It Has To Adapt
As the state recovers from multiple natural disasters, residents and officials are starting to talk about what needs to change to make the islands more resilient.
Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2026
Hurricane Lowell: Parts Of Kaua‘i ‘Like A War Scene’
The brunt of storm damage was still being assessed on Kauaʻi. One person was killed on Oʻahu from a falling tree.
Courtesy: Joel Guy/2026
Hurricane Lowell Hit Kauaʻi Hard, But Worst Fears Averted
Almost all of Kauaʻi was without power Tuesday, as officials assess damage and community members start to clean up.
‘You’re On Your Own’: Rural Parts Of Big Island Reckon With Lala
After the storm, remote neighborhoods from Ocean View to ʻĀhualoa were largely left to deal with the damage on their own.
Rumored Lala ‘Dam Burst’ Was Likely Invasive Trees, Officials Say
Kaʻū residents are bringing a new level of scrutiny to the hills above Nāʻālehu after Hurricane Lala prompted questions about the aging water systems above the town.
Courtesy: Andrew Sullivan-Haskins/2026
Rare Hawaiian Birds Weather Hurricane Lala But More Storms Loom
The birds and ecosystems of Kamole are in recovery after Hurricane Lala passed over the remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.