Craig Fujii for Civil Beat
Free Buses For Keiki? Supporters Hopeful After Statewide Bill Axed
A proposal for statewide free transit died last week at the Legislature, but supporters still have hope for a proposal to make transit free for youth.
Chad Blair/Civil Beat/2024
Tab For Pandemic Hazard Pay Grows As Gov. Green Seeks Another $100 Million
The state teachers’ union is also lobbying for pandemic hazard pay, which was not in their contract, but the Green administration supports the teachers’ plan.
Courtesy of Michael Herscock/2025
Hawaiʻi County Inspectors Missed Illegal Rentals In Factory That Burned
The county subsidized rentals in an office building 30 feet away on the same property, but overlooked illegal units in the adjacent poi factory.
Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2026
Photo Essay: Tournament Elevates The Historic Hawaiian Board Game Kōnane
The final match of the inaugural Ka Mākou Kōnane Championship Tournament was played on the Papamū Kūpuna, one of six known remaining wooden Kōnane boards in existence.
David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025
Special Interests Are Fueling Gov. Josh Green’s Anti-RFK Jr. Super PAC
New filings with the Federal Election Commission include major donations from real estate investors, gambling interests and Turo, the car share company.
Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2026
Hawaiʻi AG Not Giving Up $35K Paper Bag Case
The islands’ chief law enforcement officer asked for patience with her office’s investigation into who received the money.
Lobbyist Under Fire Tied To Taxpayer-Funded Kidney Center That Was Never Built
Records show firms associated with politically connected contractor Dennis Mitsunaga collected nearly $1.8 million for a Kapolei building that has never materialized.
David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025
Hawaiʻi Needs Leadership To Make Energy Affordable, Not ‘Natural’ Gas
There will be no immediate relief by importing LNG, and maybe no relief at all.
Luke Donor And Friends Cashed In On City-Funded Covid Testing Program
In a public health crisis, Tobi Solidum saw a business opportunity, and his company made millions from a Honolulu-funded program. Now he’s at the center of a public corruption scandal.
Screenshot/2026
What 200 Students Taught Me About AI In Schools
The consensus was not that artificial intelligence should be banned forever or embraced, but rather critically understood.