Jamm Aquino/Civil Beat/2026
Beth Fukumoto: Hawaiʻi Voters Wanting Change Didn’t Get It Tuesday
The big turnout and number of election “firsts” nationwide contrasted with what happened in our state – more voter apathy and more of the same politicians, with one exception.
Courtesy: Prospect PR
Jeta: This Tongan NFL Star Pivoted To Opera, Then Found His Voice
After a career-ending football injury, Taʻu Pupuʻa reinvented himself. Now, he’s telling his story in a new film, hoping to inspire more Polynesians to take the stage.
Olin Lagon: David And Goliath On A Hawaiʻi Basketball Court
Underdog stories show us how Davids win. We need more about how Goliaths lose with aloha.
Musée De l'Homme (Frédéric Picard/Wikimedia Commons)
Makana Eyre: France Stalls Return Of Hawaiian Ancestral Remains
“So offensive,” said a senior cultural officer from Hawaiʻi, describing the Musée de l’Homme negotiations. Others say the story is more nuanced.
Craig Fujii/Civil Beat/2026
Neal Milner: Hawaiʻi’s Riot Prevention Plan – Crummy Public Spaces
What a local stadium, playground and convention center say about deferred maintenance.
Flickr: Nick Amoscato
Beth Fukumoto: Bet On It – Hawaiʻi’s Lawmakers Will Again Mull Gambling
Kalshi is writing campaign checks, as are other gaming interests that either want Hawaiʻi to open itself to gambling or stay closed.
Coolcaesar/Wikimedia Commons
Olin Lagon: The Tradeoffs Of Paving Paradise
Roberta Joan Anderson was dismayed by the scene outside her Waikīkī hotel room. I see ʻāina that fed my education, and hard choices that paved the way.
Courtesy: Robert Lopaka Kapanui
Jeta: Hawaiʻi’s Ghost Guy Keeps More Than Spirits Alive
Through ghost tours and storytelling, Lopaka Kapanui preserves the histories of a changing Hawaiʻi. One haunting tale at a time.
Tahitian warrior dugouts, Giulio Ferrario, 1827
Makana Eyre: Polynesian Health Overlooked In Buzz Over Landmark Study
The study provided insights into the origins of Native Hawaiians. More consequential is what this “genetic treasure trove” means for people with rare DNA mutations.
Blake Abes
Lee Cataluna: Songs Of Resistance, Songs Of Hope
As Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana marks a half century of working to save and restore the island, a new album of songs honors that legacy.