Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025
Will Patient Death Halt Kalaupapa Access? ‘No One Really Knows’
The National Park Service is working with the late Meli Watanuki’s estate and tour operators on options to continue.
Chad Blair/Civil Beat/2018
Honolulu’s Airport Has AI Theme Songs. The Internet Is Divided
The AI-generated tunes celebrating the islands are played hourly over the airport sound system. Some travelers think they misrepresent local culture.
AP Photo/Caleb Jones
Vacation Rental Owners Could Face New Hawaiʻi County Rules
Stronger enforcement and better registration requirements are on the horizon on the Big Island.
Courtesy: U.S. Coast Guard/2026
Kaua’i Helicopter Crash: Here’s What We Know One Week Later
Survivors may provide investigators with valuable details about the March accident. That hasn’t been the case in fatal crashes over the past decade.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2020
Makana Eyre: Qualms About Celebrating The Moana Surfrider
Yes, the Waikīkī property about to celebrate its 125th anniversary is a stately icon. But it also tells an uglier story of who profited from the island’s transformation.
Madeleine Valera/Civil Beat/2025
ABC Stores CEO Lags On Fixing Up ‘Eyesore’ In Busy Waikīkī Corridor
UPDATE: The property was the site of a fire Saturday, extinguished in a little more than an hour. Property owner says renovation plans are on hold due to high construction costs, but neighbors are frustrated by the lack of action.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022
The Cruise Industry Gets An 11th Hour Reprieve From Hawaiʻi’s New Green Fee
Appellate court judges say the ships that bring passengers into port don’t have to pay the fee while the dispute plays out in court.
David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025
Makana Eyre: New Hawaiʻi Tourism Marketing Campaign Is Same Old, Same Old
Despite a post-Covid reset to lean into Hawaiian culture and volunteering, those aspects of visiting the islands are sparse in new HTA materials.
Claire Caulfield/Civil Beat
Hawaiian Airlines Changes Surfboard Policy After PR Wipeout
Travelers can now carry 10-foot, 5-inch surfboard bags on Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines flights.
Brittany Lyte/Civil Beat/2025
Mākua Beach Parking Woes May Be Eased Under Kauaʻi Mayor’s Plan
Parking has been a problem for decades at the main access point shared by Mākua Beach and Hāʻena Beach Park. An effort to fix it may be gaining momentum.