Permit delays are linked to increased housing costs and higher rents, as new national research confirms.
Data Dive
Data Dives are Civil Beat’s quick takes on numbers and data sets with a Hawaiʻi angle.
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More Hawaiʻi Students Are Prepped For College. Will They Attend?
Hawaiʻi has been pushing for more college and career readiness for high school students, but college enrollment is stagnant.
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Recent Rains Decrease Drought Across Hawaiʻi
As farmers recover from devastating floods and historic rainfall, drought-stricken areas are soaking in the moisture.
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You’re Right, Hawaiʻi, It Has Been Raining Way More Than Usual
The latest Kona low pummeled the state with record-breaking rainfall, and that was on top of other fierce storms in recent weeks.
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More Local Food? These State Agencies Aren’t Buying It
Few departments met the official 10% goal last year. While cost, quality and lack of consistent supply are concerns, the current pace doesn’t bode well for the larger push to wean the islands off imported food.
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Hawaiʻi Could See Nation’s Highest Drop In High School Graduates
The declining number of graduates from Hawaiʻi schools reflects larger concerns in the DOE about shrinking enrollment and the potential for school closures.
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Hawaiʻi Residents Are Keeping A Keen Eye On Invasive Species
The state pest reporting platform 643Pest received a few hundred reports annually until 2023, when the floodgates opened for coconut rhinoceros beetles.
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Hawaiʻi Road Deaths Hit 18-Year Peak Last Year. Most Other States Dropped
Hawaiʻi was one of just six U.S. states where the rate of road deaths in 2025 rose compared to 2024.
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Hawaiʻi Is Still Releasing Inmates Without IDs Needed To Reenter Society
Lawmakers have made multiple efforts to improve the process of getting incarcerated people the identification they need to access basic services, but little has changed.