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Let the Sunshine In


Tracking Corruption And Government Accountability

Tracking Corruption And Government Accountability

Civil Beat opinion writers are closely following efforts to bring more transparency and accountability to state and local government — at the Legislature, the county level and in the media. Help us by sending ideas and anecdotes to sunshine@civilbeat.org.

US Territories Have A Voice In Congress But No Vote. Here's Why

Some 3.6 million residents of U.S. territories can vote in presidential primaries but not the general election because of where they live.

By Elliot Mamet, Austin Bussing · June 14, 2026 · 5 min read

The Sunshine Blog: Changing Of The Guard At Hawaiʻi Emergency Management

Short takes, outtakes, our takes and other stuff you should know about public information, government accountability and ethical leadership in Hawai‘i.

By The Sunshine Blog · June 14, 2026 · 6 min read

The Sunshine Blog: Montana Man Charged With Threatening Hawaiʻi Governor

Short takes, outtakes, our takes and other stuff you should know about public information, government accountability and ethical leadership in Hawai‘i.

By The Sunshine Blog · June 11, 2026 · 8 min read

The Sunshine Blog: This Trump Lawyer Just Got A Job With Gov. Josh Green

Short takes, outtakes, our takes and other stuff you should know about public information, government accountability and ethical leadership in Hawai‘i.

By The Sunshine Blog · June 9, 2026 · 9 min read

More Articles

Columns

  • Neal Milner
    Columnist
  • Denby Fawcett
    Columnist
  • Beth Fukumoto
    Columnist
  • Lee Cataluna
    Columnist
  • Kirstin Downey
    Columnist
  • Danny de Gracia
    Columnist
  • Eric Stinton
    Columnist
  • Chad Blair
    Civil Beat Staff
  • Catherine Toth Fox
    Columnist
  • John Hill
    Civil Beat Staff
  • Naka Nathaniel
    Editor-at-Large
  • Jonathan Y. Okamura
    Columnist
  • Ben Lowenthal
    Columnist
  • Matthew Leonard
    Senior Reporter
Ronen Zilberman/Civil Beat/2021

Neal Milner: People In Hawaiʻi May Not Vote But They're Still Engaged

June 17, 2026 · 6 min read

Craig Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Neal Milner: It's Tough To Be A Dog In Hawaiʻi

June 4, 2026 · 6 min read

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Neal Milner: The Trump Trap

May 21, 2026 · 9 min read

Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Neal Milner: The Governor And The Auditor Are Fighting. That's Great

May 7, 2026 · 6 min read

More from Neal Milner
Department of Land and Natural Resources photo

Denby Fawcett: When A Shark Comes To Your Neighborhood

June 16, 2026 · 7 min read

Denby Fawcett/Civil Beat/2026

Denby Fawcett: Governor Plans To Fix Bill That Threatened Park Programs

May 26, 2026 · 5 min read

Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025

Denby Fawcett: Lei Makers Are Struggling To Keep Up With Demand This May Day

May 1, 2026 · 7 min read

Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Denby Fawcett: Respecting Those Who Have Legitimate Concerns

April 28, 2026 · 5 min read

More from Denby Fawcett
Ronen Zilberman/Civil Beat/2022

Beth Fukumoto: New Honolulu Election Proposal Is A Good Small Step

June 9, 2026 · 5 min read

Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Beth Fukumoto: What High School Graduations Ought To Mean To All Of Us

June 1, 2026 · 9 min read

Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024

Beth Fukumoto: Hawaiʻi's New 'Millionaires Tax' Is Good Politics

May 24, 2026 · 5 min read

Kalany Omengkar/Civil Beat/2023

Beth Fukumoto: We Can And Should Do Better Next Session On AI

May 18, 2026 · 5 min read

More from Beth Fukumoto
Screenshot/2026

Lee Cataluna: It's Not What You Say, It's How Often We Have To Hear It

May 31, 2026 · 5 min read

Christina Jedra/Civil Beat/2026

Lee Cataluna: When The Pono Posse Goes Quiet

May 17, 2026 · 6 min read

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Lee Cataluna: Wheelies? Really? Laws Don't Work Without Enforcement

May 10, 2026 · 5 min read

Craig Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Lee Cataluna: Gov. Green Still Can't Leave The State

April 26, 2026 · 5 min read

More from Lee Cataluna
Kirstin Downey/Civil Beat/2026

Kirstin Downey: Saving An Important Historic Site Near ʻAiea

March 20, 2026 · 9 min read

Neil Averitt/Civil Beat/2026

Kirstin Downey: How To Save A Royal Palace From A Punishing Storm

March 13, 2026 · 8 min read

Screenshot/2026

Kirstin Downey: New Insights About Hawaiʻi From An Archive In San Francisco

March 6, 2026 · 10 min read

Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Kirstin Downey: Robocalls Drop Faster In Hawaiʻi Than U.S. — But Not Enough

February 13, 2026 · 7 min read

More from Kirstin Downey
David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

What The Future of Hawaiʻi’s Republican Party Looks Like

January 4, 2026 · 6 min read

Getty Images

Danny De Gracia: You Don't Have The Right To Use AI Deepfakes In Politics

June 15, 2025 · 8 min read

Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2023

Danny De Gracia: The Case For Young People To Stay In Hawaiʻi

June 9, 2025 · 8 min read

Screenshot

Danny De Gracia: Hawaiʻi Needs Serious Leadership From Local Republicans

June 2, 2025 · 7 min read

More from Danny de Gracia
Flickr: The Official CTBTO Photostream

Eric Stinton: Hawaiʻi Is In The Crosshairs Of A Dangerous Nuclear Policy

December 14, 2025 · 7 min read

Ludwig Laab/Civil Beat/2021

Eric Stinton: Be Tough On Public Education, But Also Be Thankful For It

December 1, 2025 · 6 min read

Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2018

Eric Stinton: Can Settlers Ever Be Pono In Hawaiʻi?

August 24, 2025 · 9 min read

AP Photo/Eric Jamison/2008

Eric Stinton: BJ Penn Needs Help, But He Doesn't Seem To Know It

June 1, 2025 · 7 min read

More from Eric Stinton
David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025

We Must Preserve The Human Rights Of Children Who Commit Crimes

May 16, 2025 · 4 min read

The White House/2025

Jacob Aki: Trump’s Address To Congress Wasn’t A Vision — It Was A Warning

March 7, 2025 · 6 min read

Chad Blair/Civil Beat/2024

Chad Blair: Campaign Signs Are Everywhere. Is There Anywhere They're Not Allowed?

July 31, 2024 · 8 min read

David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

Chad Blair: Senate Interrogations And House Lovefests When The Money Committees Meet

May 13, 2024 · 8 min read

More from Chad Blair
David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

Catherine Toth Fox: Closed Since 1979, Waikīkī Natatorium May Be Restored

January 21, 2025 · 5 min read

Catherine Toth Fox/Civil Beat/2024

Catherine Toth Fox: The Big Business Of Pokemon Comes To Honolulu

August 16, 2024 · 5 min read

Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2021

Catherine Toth Fox: There Should Be Such A Thing As A Free Lunch — At Least In Schools

August 9, 2024 · 4 min read

Catherine Toth Fox/Civil Beat/2024

Catherine Toth Fox: This Principal Made A Community Centered On Raising Fish And Vegetables

July 12, 2024 · 5 min read

More from Catherine Toth Fox
Cory Lum/Civil Beat

John Hill: She Begged The State To Save Her Grandkids. Instead, One Is Dead

October 18, 2024 · 6 min read

Screenshot: Multidisciplinary team report/2024

John Hill: An Abused Child's Hidden Death

September 30, 2024 · 6 min read

David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

Danny De Gracia: Government Could Help Make Day-To-Day Life Less Annoying

September 23, 2024 · 7 min read

Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2019

John Hill: The State Keeps Bleeding Money For Failing To Protect Vulnerable Children

September 5, 2024 · 7 min read

More from John Hill
Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2020

Naka Nathaniel: The Military Wants New State Land Leases. What Should We Get In Return?

September 23, 2024 · 6 min read

(Naka Nathaniel/Civil Beat 2024

Naka Nathaniel: Hawaii's Ag System Needs An Overhaul To Promote Food Independence

September 18, 2024 · 6 min read

Jonathan Salvador photo/2024

Naka Nathaniel: The Voyage To Becoming The Breadbasket Of The Pacific

September 11, 2024 · 6 min read

Cory Lum / Civil Beat

Naka Nathaniel: We Need To Foster A Culture Of Belonging In A Land Of Inequality

August 21, 2024 · 6 min read

More from Naka Nathaniel
Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024

Jonathan Okamura: Here's How Some Hawaii Candidates Covet The Japanese Vote

July 28, 2024 · 6 min read

David Croxford/Civil Beat/2022

Jonathan Okamura: Ethnic Names Give Hawaii Candidates An Advantage — And They Know It

July 21, 2024 · 7 min read

Angelo Villagomez

Jonathan Okamura: There May Be No 'Black Jobs,' But What About Micronesian Jobs?

July 14, 2024 · 5 min read

Charlie Kaijo/Civil Beat

Jonathan Okamura: Immigrant Students In Hawaii Defy Stereotypes To Tell Their Own Stories

June 30, 2024 · 6 min read

More from Jonathan Y. Okamura
Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024

Ben Lowenthal: Turning Chronic Unlicensed Drivers Into Felons Is A Bad Idea

May 31, 2024 · 6 min read

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Ben Lowenthal: Hawaii Just Won't Give Up Its Harsh Civil Asset Forfeiture Laws

May 17, 2024 · 6 min read

Ben Lowenthal/Civil Beat/2017

Ben Lowenthal: County Fair's Demise Is Another Loss For Maui

May 3, 2024 · 6 min read

Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024

Ben Lowenthal: Opponents Of Legal Cannabis Say They Want To 'Keep Hawaii, Hawaii.' Which Hawaii Are They Talking About?

April 19, 2024 · 6 min read

More from Ben Lowenthal
Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Ben Lowenthal: Hawaii Just Won't Give Up Its Harsh Civil Asset Forfeiture Laws

May 17, 2024 · 6 min read

Jonathan Okamura/Civil Beat/2024

Jonathan Okamura: Filipino UH Ceremony Creates A Cultural Space To Honor Graduates, Families And Community

May 12, 2024 · 6 min read

Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024

Ben Lowenthal: Opponents Of Legal Cannabis Say They Want To 'Keep Hawaii, Hawaii.' Which Hawaii Are They Talking About?

April 19, 2024 · 6 min read

Courtesy Bernie Llanes/Aggressive Gamefarm

Eric Stinton: Chickens Have Feelings Too, Scientists Say. So Where Does That Leave Cockfighting?

April 2, 2024 · 7 min read

More from Matthew Leonard

Editorials and Interviews


David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

The Civil Beat Editorial Board Interview: US Rep. Ed Case

December 2, 2024 · 31 min read

Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2024

The Civil Beat Editorial Board Interview: Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami

November 21, 2024 · 32 min read

David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

The Civil Beat Editorial Board Interview: Hawaii's Climate Advisory Team

November 11, 2024 · 27 min read

Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024

The Civil Beat Editorial Board Interview: US Sen. Brian Schatz

August 18, 2024 · 25 min read

Danny de Gracia/Civil Beat/2019

Pay-To-Play Politics Is Staring Us In The Face. What Are We Going To Do About It?

May 28, 2024 · 6 min read

Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024

Now We Know The Scale Of Pay-To-Play Politics In Hawaii. It's Long Past Time To Act

April 21, 2024 · 5 min read

More Editorials and Interviews

Political Cartoons


Will Caron/Civil Beat/2026

Will Caron: Dust-Up At The East Oʻahu Corral

By Will Caron · June 14, 2026

Will Caron/Civil Beat/2026

Will Caron: The Burro, The Boss And The Bullwhip

By Will Caron · June 7, 2026

Will Caron/Civil Beat/2026

Will Caron: Della And Goliath

By Will Caron · May 31, 2026

More Political Cartoons

Community Voices


Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2024

Proposed Federal Rule Threatens Hawaiʻi Scientific Research

Weakening the independence of funding decisions risks undermining American innovation and competitiveness.

By Steven Businger · June 16, 2026 · 5 min read

Craig Fujii/Civil Beat/2025

Biki Deserves More Funding And Better Oversight

By Anthony Chang · June 15, 2026 · 4 min read


Erin Nolan/Civil Beat/2026

Hawaiʻi Must Build Smarter After The Floods — With Trees As Infrastructure

By Jennifer Maydan, Kialoa Mossman · June 8, 2026 · 5 min read

Featured
Essays
Columns
Editorials and Interviews
Cartoons
Community
Videos

Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2023

Hawaiʻi Should Stay On The Path To Clean Energy

By John Kawamoto · June 5, 2026 · 4 min read


Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025

UH Mānoa ASL Interpreter Training Program Needs Critical Funding

By Leniker Thomas, Aloë Afo, Yeseul Lee, Anne McCarrey · June 1, 2026 · 8 min read

More Community Voices

Videos


2026 Legislature: Feral Chickens; Insurance Crisis?; Taxes + More Play
2026 Legislature: Feral Chickens; Insurance Crisis?; Taxes + More
Hawaiʻi Storytellers: Charlie Koh Play
Hawaiʻi Storytellers: Charlie Koh
Hawaiʻi Storytellers: Charlotte Madin Play
Hawaiʻi Storytellers: Charlotte Madin
Hawaiʻi Storytellers: Olesya Noerper Play
Hawaiʻi Storytellers: Olesya Noerper
More Videos

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