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.
Craig Fujii/Civil Beat/2026
Ala Wai ‘Pirate Ship’ Is Pau But Public Is Stuck With The Bill
A derelict party boat is part of a longstanding problem with abandoned vessels that end up as dead weight in the budget of the state’s boating division.
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.
David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025
Honolulu Spilled 27M Gallons Of Sewage In A New System Failure
Heavy rains once again overwhelmed Honolulu’s sewage system last month, leading to spills.
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.
Erin Nolan/Civil Beat/2026
Maui Residents Anxious About More Military Telescopes Atop Haleakalā
The final environmental and cultural review is expected by the end of the year.
J. B. Friday
Forestry Service Reverses Course, Plans To Keep Critical Big Island Hub Open
A Hilo research institute that’s critical in the fight against rapid ʻōhiʻa death will now remain open. It had been set to close this spring under a Trump administration plan to downsize government.
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.
Kawika Lopez/Civil Beat/2024
Making New Kaua‘i Homes Wildfire Resistant May Cost Much More Than Expected
A Kaua‘i County Council committee wants more time to discuss how proposed new building standards could increase construction costs and whether the county should subsidize them.
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.