Civil Beat Categories

Legislature 2025

Attorney General: Here Are The Top 10 Ways To Protect Hawaii From Wildfires National Guard/2023

Attorney General: Here Are The Top 10 Ways To Protect Hawaii From Wildfires

Looking to the mainland for guidance and re-establishing an office of the state fire marshal are the two top priorities.

Insurance Prices Threaten An Affordable Housing Oasis In Hawaii Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat

Insurance Prices Threaten An Affordable Housing Oasis In Hawaii

Puna homeowners live under the threat of a lava eruption, but skyrocketing insurance rates are causing many to rethink that choice.

Richard Wiens: Lawmakers Introduce Too Many Bills PF Bentley/Civil Beat/2014

Richard Wiens: Lawmakers Introduce Too Many Bills

Scoring political points outweighs efficiency in the Hawaii Legislature.

Slow Down The Legislative Time Clock Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Slow Down The Legislative Time Clock

Hawaii lawmakers could be much more effective if they — and the public — are given more time to consider bills.

Tough Choices On Hawaii’s Prisons And Jails Lie Ahead, Official Says Brittany Lyte/Civil Beat/2020

Tough Choices On Hawaii’s Prisons And Jails Lie Ahead, Official Says

Corrections officials need millions of dollars to maintain aging prisons and jails but say the real solution is to build new jails. That would be even more expensive.

Westside Lawmakers Push For ‘All Hands On Deck’ Effort To Make The Community Safer Kuʻu Kauanoe/Civil Beat/2021

Westside Lawmakers Push For ‘All Hands On Deck’ Effort To Make The Community Safer

State and city representatives are proposing initiatives to address community concerns from a variety of angles.

Kim Coco Iwamoto Talks About Ousting The House Speaker And Prospects For Legislative Reform David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

Kim Coco Iwamoto Talks About Ousting The House Speaker And Prospects For Legislative Reform

Having  overcome Scott Saiki and the Democratic Party establishment, she’s pulling for like-minded candidates in November.

Deadly Devastation From The Lahaina Fire Was ‘Years In The Making’ Ku'u Kauanoe/Civil Beat/2023

Deadly Devastation From The Lahaina Fire Was ‘Years In The Making’

The latest state report examines the reasons behind Lahaina’s destruction and the fire that fueled it.