Civil Beat Staff

Ben Angarone

Ben Angarone is a reporter for Civil Beat. He recently earned a master’s degree at Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, focusing on politics and writing his magazine-length thesis on a virtual cryptocurrency community.

Ben was born in New Jersey and earned his bachelor’s degree at Princeton. He bounced between different STEM majors before landing on politics, and decided to pursue journalism senior year during a covid-driven virtual semester. Ben wrote feature stories for the Daily Princetonian, chronicling how communities adjusted to the pandemic.

In college, Ben led backpacking orientation trips along the East Coast, bringing unsuspecting frosh face-to-face with bears, rocky inclines and cheesy campfire songs. His eternal fun fact is that he used to operate rollercoasters at Six Flags Great Adventure.

‘This Could Happen To Anybody,’ Says Man Who Was At Fatal Fireworks Party Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024

‘This Could Happen To Anybody,’ Says Man Who Was At Fatal Fireworks Party

One Salt Lake resident offered a different description of what caused the explosion that killed 3 people.

From Busboy To House Speaker: Longtime Hawaiʻi Lawmaker Calvin Say Retires David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

From Busboy To House Speaker: Longtime Hawaiʻi Lawmaker Calvin Say Retires

Say’s critics see him as emblematic of Hawaiʻi’s “old boys’” style of politics. He defends his cautious style as necessary to keep the state running smoothly.

Wind Turbines Set To Come Down, Threatening Hawaiʻi Renewable Energy Goals Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2019

Wind Turbines Set To Come Down, Threatening Hawaiʻi Renewable Energy Goals

UPDATED: Civil Beat has updated the story to reflect that the wind turbines are not certain to come down at the end of their power contracts. Kahuku’s wind turbines, which irked neighbors, might have to come down at the end of their 20-year contracts after a Honolulu City Council decision last week.

Honolulu Council Punts Empty Homes Tax Vote, Extends Sprinklers Deadline Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2023

Honolulu Council Punts Empty Homes Tax Vote, Extends Sprinklers Deadline

Property owners worried about increasing costs got their way Wednesday when the City Council killed its empty homes tax and extended the deadline for condo fire safety measures.

New Oʻahu Landfill Site Is Above Island’s Water Supply

New Oʻahu Landfill Site Is Above Island’s Water Supply

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply opposes the decision, but the mayor and the director of the Department of Environmental Services think they can prevent leaks.

Will Exemptions In Honolulu’s Empty Homes Tax Bill Water Down Its Effect? Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2019

Will Exemptions In Honolulu’s Empty Homes Tax Bill Water Down Its Effect?

As the long-discussed bill nears its final vote, some worry the 17 exemptions that helped it gain support also dilute the bill’s efficacy.

Should The Planned Ala Wai Canal Bridge Be A New City Icon? Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023

Should The Planned Ala Wai Canal Bridge Be A New City Icon?

Hundreds of residents stopped by Ala Wai Elementary School last week to vote on design options for the estimated $63 million bridge.

Fix It! A Collapsed Sidewalk Next To An Oceanfront Cafe Ben Angarone/Civil Beat/2024

Fix It! A Collapsed Sidewalk Next To An Oceanfront Cafe

When will the sidewalk along Queen’s Beach be fixed? Nobody seems to know.

West Oahu May Get More Than 800 New Short-Term Rentals In Apartment Zone Cory Lum/Civil Beat

West Oahu May Get More Than 800 New Short-Term Rentals In Apartment Zone

Parcels next to the Hoakalei Resort in Ewa were a hot topic at the Honolulu City Council’s final hearing on the overhauling of its Land Use Ordinance.