Civil Beat Categories

Hawaiʻi Legislature

The DOE Is Giving Up $465M In School Construction Funds. What Happened? Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023

The DOE Is Giving Up $465M In School Construction Funds. What Happened?

Lawmakers who managed to get projects funded for their neighborhood schools are upset, and want to know why the money won’t be spent as they intended.

Former State Sen. Whitney Anderson Dead At 91 Courtesy Justin Anderson

Former State Sen. Whitney Anderson Dead At 91

He served in the Hawaii Legislature for 20 years.

Codes Need To Be Updated And Enforced To Prevent Wildfires, Working Group Hears Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023

Codes Need To Be Updated And Enforced To Prevent Wildfires, Working Group Hears

Proponents identified the post-fire period as a perfect opportunity to reset local food production.

Maui’s Food System Is In Focus As The County Recovers From Fires David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Maui’s Food System Is In Focus As The County Recovers From Fires

With the official opening of a new facility, Maui hopes to charge ahead with plans for greater food security.

Chad Blair: When The Hawaii Legislature First Decided Public Access Was Important Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Chad Blair: When The Hawaii Legislature First Decided Public Access Was Important

Public access at the State Capitol barely existed until 1989 when House Democrats succeeded in enacting major reforms. Their work is still a template for future reform.

Honolulu Mayor Signs Bill To Ban Flavored Tobacco Courtesy: City and County of Honolulu

Honolulu Mayor Signs Bill To Ban Flavored Tobacco

But it will only take effect if state law nullifying county ordinances that regulate the sale of tobacco is reversed.

Hawaii Is Still Struggling To Modernize A 50-Year-Old Computer And Financial Data Systems Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2018

Hawaii Is Still Struggling To Modernize A 50-Year-Old Computer And Financial Data Systems

A vendor has been unable to meet contract requirements after two years and nearly $8 million. Meanwhile, a separate contract with the same company is running two years late.

Hawaii Wildfire-Fighting Force Eyes Eightfold Increase In Funding Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023

Hawaii Wildfire-Fighting Force Eyes Eightfold Increase In Funding

Purchasing new firefighting vehicles and drastically reducing fuel for fires reduction would be priorities.

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Found On Maui David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Found On Maui

The beetle was found dead in a bag of compost at a Maui big box store during routine survey work.

Hawaii House To Explore Legislative Action On Wildfires 

Hawaii House To Explore Legislative Action On Wildfires 

Six working groups will be tasked with evaluating prevention, remediation, housing and other key topics before the 2024 session.