Environment

Did Boat Salvage Law Save The State Money? Auditor Says No One Knows Courtesy: DLNR/2023

Did Boat Salvage Law Save The State Money? Auditor Says No One Knows

The state’s boating division doesn’t do enough, a new report found, to recover costs from those responsible for stranded and grounded vessels.

‘Just Break The Chicken’s Neck’: Bill Would Let Residents Kill Feral Chickens Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat

‘Just Break The Chicken’s Neck’: Bill Would Let Residents Kill Feral Chickens

Hawaiʻi lawmakers are weighing tougher ways to deal with the feral birds, as residents complain about noise, mess, and growing flocks. 

Hawaiʻi Volcano: Neighborhoods Still Littered With Ash And Debris Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Hawaiʻi Volcano: Neighborhoods Still Littered With Ash And Debris

The Pāhoa Aquatic Center remains closed and communities are still cleaning up.

Governor Asks Lawmakers For $126M In Green Fee Projects Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Governor Asks Lawmakers For $126M In Green Fee Projects

Some lawmakers are questioning the administration’s plan to fund the projects through a combination of the new fee and bonds.

Hawaiʻi Homeowners Need More Options To Get Rid Of All Cesspools By 2050 Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2024

Hawaiʻi Homeowners Need More Options To Get Rid Of All Cesspools By 2050

State lawmakers are taking up a bill this week that would create a low-interest loan program.

Could Hawaiʻi Be The First State To Dump Landfills? Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024

Could Hawaiʻi Be The First State To Dump Landfills?

Honolulu’s only waste incinerator needs fresh investment to bring it up to international standards, council vice-chair says.

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles Are Attacking A Popular Kaua‘i Golf Course Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles Are Attacking A Popular Kaua‘i Golf Course

The county is preparing to go after breeding sites as the invasive species spreads across the island. 

As Palm-Killing Beetles Spread On Big Island, State Action Is Slow David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

As Palm-Killing Beetles Spread On Big Island, State Action Is Slow

Hawaiʻi island residents have been tracking coconut rhinoceros beetles’ destruction throughout the islands. Fearing the same for their home, they’re urging the state to move faster.

50 Years On Kahoʻolawe: Inside The Journey To Rescue Hawaiʻi’s Target Island Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

50 Years On Kahoʻolawe: Inside The Journey To Rescue Hawaiʻi’s Target Island

The goal isn’t just to heal the environment, activists say. It’s to forge an island where Hawaiians can reclaim their culture.

Fire Ant Invasion Has Reached A Tipping Point On Maui Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Fire Ant Invasion Has Reached A Tipping Point On Maui

The population of tiny stinging ants has surged despite efforts to control the invasive species. Experts fear devastating consequences if the infestation spirals out of control.