essays, analysis, opinion

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.

The Sunshine Blog: Here's When It Pays To Be A Doctor — And A Governor

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

By The Sunshine Blog · January 10, 2025 · 2 min read

The Sunshine Blog: About That Whale We Sent You Pictures Of? Never Mind

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

By The Sunshine Blog · January 6, 2025 · 5 min read

The Sunshine Blog: Police Commission Problems, New Laws And Legislative Cash

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

By The Sunshine Blog · December 30, 2024 · 11 min read

Rediscovering The Hawaii Observer: A Legacy Of Bold Local Journalism

A UH project brings to life age-old debates over land, identity and corruption, including progress made and challenges that remain.

By Perry Arrasmith, Colin Moore · December 30, 2024 · 5 min read

Columns

Kirstin Downey/Civil Beat/2024

Kirstin Downey: Buried At Punchbowl For 40 Years, Her Family Wants Her Home

January 10, 2025 · 10 min read

Kuʻu Kauanoe/Civil Beat/2020

Kirstin Downey: Hawaiʻi Depends On Postal Service For More Than Mail Voting

January 3, 2025 · 8 min read

Kirstin Downey/Civil Beat/2024

Kirstin Downey: 'It Needs To Look Like Lahaina Again'

December 20, 2024 · 10 min read

Library of Congress

Kirstin Downey: Where History Is Preserved — Or Lost — Across The Pacific

December 13, 2024 · 7 min read

More from Kirstin Downey

AP Photo/Marco Garcia/2025

Neal Milner: Illegal Fireworks Won't Stop Until Neighbors Take Action

January 9, 2025 · 7 min read

Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2023

Neal Milner: The Pope Has A Message For Lahaina — Don't Give Up

January 2, 2025 · 7 min read

Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2021

Neal Milner: The Impossible Task Of Building A New Landfill On Oʻahu

December 19, 2024 · 7 min read

Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2021

Neal Milner: Face It, Theyʻre Not Moving Back to Hawaiʻi

December 12, 2024 · 7 min read

More from Neal Milner

AP Photo/Marco Garcia/2025

Danny De Gracia: People Won't Obey Fireworks Laws Unless They're Enforced

January 6, 2025 · 7 min read

David Croxford/Civil Beat/2022

Danny De Gracia: Privilege And Power Dynamics Are Why Hawaiʻi Isn’t Working

December 30, 2024 · 8 min read

Nick Grube/Civil Beat/2021

Danny De Gracia: News Media Has A Responsibility In Lawmaking And Democracy

December 23, 2024 · 8 min read

Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2021

Danny De Gracia: It's Time To Pressure Hawaiʻi Lawmakers To Make Real Change

December 9, 2024 · 7 min read

More from Danny de Gracia

Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Beth Fukumoto: 6 Ways Legislators Can Make Life Better In Hawaiʻi

December 25, 2024 · 5 min read

Ludwig Laab/Civil Beat/2021

Beth Fukumoto: Drastically Altering Public Education Won't Be Easy For Trump

December 11, 2024 · 5 min read

Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

Beth Fukumoto: What Will It Take To Elect A Woman Of Color As President?

December 4, 2024 · 5 min read

AP/Charles Dharapak

Beth Fukumoto: We Can Stop Terrorist Money Without Hurting Legit Nonprofits

November 26, 2024 · 5 min read

More from Beth Fukumoto

Courtesy: Debbi Amaral

Eric Stinton: Don't Justify Public Preschools By Citing Dubious Studies

December 16, 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

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Eric Stinton: This Is What It's Like Training For How To Respond To A School Shooting

November 15, 2023 · 5 min read

Courtesy: Jimmy Lee/2023

Eric Stinton: Why I Have A Pride Flag In My Classroom

June 26, 2023 · 6 min read

More from Eric Stinton

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

Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Lee Cataluna: Hawaii's Greatest Leaders Were Childless Women

September 22, 2024 · 5 min read

David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

Lee Cataluna: Debate Team Is Cool Again (If It Ever Was)

September 16, 2024 · 5 min read

David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

Lee Cataluna: UH Football Fans Pack The Stands But The Full House Is A Pretty Small House

September 4, 2024 · 5 min read

Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2024

Lee Cataluna: Maui’s Identity Crisis Is On Display At Kahului Airport

August 18, 2024 · 5 min read

More from Lee Cataluna

Denby Fawcett/Civil Beat/2024

Denby Fawcett: These Chairs Started Out As Pearl Harbor Scrap Metal. Some Now Sell For $35,000

September 17, 2024 · 8 min read

AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

Denby Fawcett: I No Like Talk Stink About Tulsi Gabbard

September 3, 2024 · 7 min read

Denby Fawcett/Civil Beat/2024

Denby Fawcett: Good Luck Trying To Find A Working Water Fountain In Honolulu Parks

August 27, 2024 · 7 min read

David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

Denby Fawcett: Homelessness Is Everybody's Problem, So We All Need to Help

August 20, 2024 · 7 min read

More from Denby Fawcett

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

David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

Catherine Toth Fox: The Only Surprise About Honolulu Rail Is That Ridership Is As High As It Is

July 5, 2024 · 4 min read

More from Catherine Toth Fox

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

Chad Blair/Civil Beat/2024

Chad Blair: Hawaii Lawmakers Tout ‘Historic’ Session. So Why Not Make History More Often?

May 5, 2024 · 10 min read

Screenshot/2024

Chad Blair: Let Us Now Appraise Fallen Bills

April 25, 2024 · 8 min read

More from Chad Blair

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/2025

Will Caron: Meet The Beetles

By Will Caron · January 13, 2025

Will Caron/Civil Beat/2025

Will Caron: Crazy Train

By Will Caron · January 6, 2025

John Pritchett/Civil Beat/2024

John Pritchett: Madame Speaker

By John Pritchett · December 30, 2024

More Political Cartoons

Community Voices

Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024

Medical Pot Patients And Caregivers Deserve Clear Legal Protections

The Green administration needs to reevaluate its approach to the state-authorized use of cannabis before more legislative errors are made.

By Clifton Otto · January 13, 2025 · 5 min read

David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Political Will Needed To Battle Illegal Fireworks

By Will Espero · January 9, 2025 · 7 min read

Civil Beat file art

New Year’s Eve Tragedy Is A Wake-Up Call

By Jacob Bryan Aki · January 3, 2025 · 4 min read

Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat

Catastrophic Risk Solutions For Insurance Will Never Be Perfect

By Lloyd Lim · January 1, 2025 · 4 min read

Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2022

Māʻalaea’s Dual Fight For Sustainability And Safety

By Travis Liggett · December 30, 2024 · 5 min read

More Community Voices

Videos

Hawaiʻi Farmers Are Battling Climate Change. Here’s How.

David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

Hawaiʻi Farmers Are Battling Climate Change. Here’s How.

Hawaiʻi Storytellers: Kimo Keaulana

David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

Hawaiʻi Storytellers: Kimo Keaulana

Hawaiʻi Storytellers: Charles Naumu

Hawaiʻi Storytellers: Charles Naumu

Hawaiʻi Storytellers: Brandy Lee

Hawaiʻi Storytellers: Brandy Lee