Westside Issues

How Far Will $500M Go To Clean Up Army Bombs Left In Hawaiʻi? Thomas Heaton/Civil Beat/2022

How Far Will $500M Go To Clean Up Army Bombs Left In Hawaiʻi?

Gov. Josh Green has requested billions in investments for the military to continue training on state lands, including funds for cleaning military waste. Native Hawaiian groups say the community should spearhead the cleanup. 

This School Wanted Officers On Campus. 3 Others Will Get Them First David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

This School Wanted Officers On Campus. 3 Others Will Get Them First

Representatives of Nānākuli High and Intermediate School say they have been left out of Oʻahu’s upcoming school resource officer pilot program.

Waiʻanae Goes All In With New $17M Facility To Boost Food Security Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025

Waiʻanae Goes All In With New $17M Facility To Boost Food Security

A 15-acre campus is expected to include a food bank, fruit trees, community kitchen, wastewater treatment center and more.

State Development Agency Pitches Final Plan For Westside’s Walkable City Provided: Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority/2025

State Development Agency Pitches Final Plan For Westside’s Walkable City

The Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority is closing in on a final plan for Kalaeloa but major infrastructure needs mean it will be years before new development can begin. 

‘Ready To Die Boys?’ Multiple Oʻahu Shootings Linked To Gang Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

‘Ready To Die Boys?’ Multiple Oʻahu Shootings Linked To Gang

State support for gang intervention efforts has dropped since the 1990s and tracking has been minimal since then, too.

Neal Milner: Kapolei Deserves A Spot On Hawaiʻi’s Cultural Playlist Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025

Neal Milner: Kapolei Deserves A Spot On Hawaiʻi’s Cultural Playlist

The experience of moving to a relatively new community isn’t typical to the islands. But there it is just off H-1.

HPD Is Sending Its Newest Cops To West Oʻahu. Will The Unusual Move Help? Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024

HPD Is Sending Its Newest Cops To West Oʻahu. Will The Unusual Move Help?

The influx of new officers to the Westside is meant to improve response times, but the interim police chief has declined to say how long it currently takes police to respond to calls.

Hawaiian Petroglyphs Reemerge Thanks To Changing Tides And Shifting Sands AP Photo/Mengshin Lin/2025

Hawaiian Petroglyphs Reemerge Thanks To Changing Tides And Shifting Sands

It’s the first time the entire panel of 26 figures has been visible since they were spotted nine years ago. Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner Glen Kila believes it’s a message from his ancestors about rising ocean levels.

July 4th Shootings Elevate Concerns About Westside Violence Madeleine Valera/Civil Beat/2025

July 4th Shootings Elevate Concerns About Westside Violence

Six shootings over two days on Oʻahu made this Fourth of July holiday more violent than last year’s.

DOE Called For 12 New Schools In ‘Ewa A Decade Ago. It’s Built 2 Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025

DOE Called For 12 New Schools In ‘Ewa A Decade Ago. It’s Built 2

The education department has been unable to keep up with the housing boom in ʻEwa and Kapolei – even as developers contribute land and money to help build new schools.