Hawaiʻi

Free Buses For Keiki? Supporters Hopeful After Statewide Bill Axed 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.

Tab For Pandemic Hazard Pay Grows As Gov. Green Seeks Another $100 Million 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.

Hawaiʻi County Inspectors Missed Illegal Rentals In Factory That Burned 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.

Photo Essay: Tournament Elevates The Historic Hawaiian Board Game Kōnane 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.

Special Interests Are Fueling Gov. Josh Green’s Anti-RFK Jr. Super PAC 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.

Hawaiʻi AG Not Giving Up $35K Paper Bag Case   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

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. 

Hawaiʻi Needs Leadership To Make Energy Affordable, Not ‘Natural’ Gas 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

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. 

What 200 Students Taught Me About AI In Schools 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.