The Waikiki business association has paid Honolulu police at least $2 million in the past 15 years for additional services. Critics say that’s not fair to other areas.

Compared to Honolulu, people who died in police shootings were often armed with guns themselves. Many also suffered from mental illness and substance abuse.

Officers’ prior misconduct is often used against them — and ultimately the taxpayers — in civil lawsuits that arise from unrelated incidents that happen many years later.

The decision upholds the release of public records in a Civil Beat lawsuit that sought the arbitration file of Sgt. Darren Cachola.

Recent rulings have built on decades of precedent in Hawaii that protects individuals from unreasonable government intrusions.

In Hawaii, arbitrators look to previous decisions in order to be fair, no matter how serious the misconduct or whether it’s even similar.

The U.S. Supreme Court says the accused has a right to know about officers who have credibility issues. But Honolulu defense attorneys say they’re often left in the dark.

Almost every other state has professional staff and funding dedicated to overseeing law enforcement. Hawaii has neither.

The Maui Charter Commission and the Maui Police Commission are both looking at ways to provide better accountability for police on the island.