Hawaiʻi

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. 

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.

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. 

Hawai‘i Doctor Shortage Has Patients Paying Fees For Fast Care Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Hawai‘i Doctor Shortage Has Patients Paying Fees For Fast Care

Direct primary care is a burgeoning business model that bypasses insurance. If widely adopted, it could lessen the state’s dire shortage of primary care doctors — or make things worse.

The Sad State Of The Arts In Hawaiʻi Photo courtesy Jeta Tang

The Sad State Of The Arts In Hawaiʻi

This election year, policymakers must be pushed to defend and invest in the arts rather than gut them.

Sylvia Luke Quietly Took Thousands From This Lobbyist Linked To Cullen Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025

Sylvia Luke Quietly Took Thousands From This Lobbyist Linked To Cullen

The lieutenant governor is only now reporting money she received four years ago as a bribery scandal continues to roil the Hawaiʻi Legislature.

Hawaiʻi Storm Latest: State Shuts Down, 1,000s Lose Power Courtesy of Natalie Scarborough

Hawaiʻi Storm Latest: State Shuts Down, 1,000s Lose Power

High winds whipped the islands as a storm came through on Sunday, with more expected overnight and into Monday.

Hawaiʻi Mayors Scrap Controversial Tax Pitch In Election Year Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025

Hawaiʻi Mayors Scrap Controversial Tax Pitch In Election Year

The mayors decided against asking the Legislature for a 20-year extension of the general excise tax surcharge for rail and other transportation projects to allow time for more due diligence.

Will Disaster Insurance Overhaul Increase Protections For Future Survivors? Provided: Juliet DiGiovanni and Herb Phillips/2023

Will Disaster Insurance Overhaul Increase Protections For Future Survivors?

Other states impacted by similar disasters are reforming their insurance laws. Legislators here are teeing up bills to follow suit.

State Agrees To Settle Case Over Prison Drug Withdrawal Death Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2015

State Agrees To Settle Case Over Prison Drug Withdrawal Death

The settlement calls for a $600,000 payment to the estate of Brian Kimo O’Gorman after he suffered heart failure while withdrawing from methadone.