Honolulu Civil Beat

Civil Cafe: 2026 Legislative Update The second installment of Civil Beat's 3-part legislative event series.

Get the recording/join us for this legislative panel discussion with updates on which key bills remain alive in Hawaiʻi. Free tickets! 🎟️

The Sunday Mini: March 1 See how quickly you can fill in this mini crossword puzzle.

See how quickly you can fill in this mini crossword puzzle.

Will Caron: Illiberation Politics, policy and public affairs as seen through the eyes of our political cartoonist.

Politics, policy and public affairs as seen through the eyes of our political cartoonist.

Suddenly Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Aren’t Talking Much About Those Big Tax Cuts The prospect of having to backpedal on promised tax breaks isn't going over well in an election year.

The prospect of having to backpedal on promised tax breaks isn't going over well in an election year.

The Sunshine Blog: This Is Why The Public Has A Hard Time Watchdogging Cops Short takes, outtakes, our takes and other stuff you should know about public information, government accountability and ethical leadership in Hawai‘i.

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

Guardrails Needed If LNG Is To Work In Hawaiʻi If liquefied natural gas proponents believe their case is strong, they should be willing to meet these standards.

If liquefied natural gas proponents believe their case is strong, they should be willing to meet these standards.

What Pushes Locals Out Of Hawaiʻi? Low Wages The Honolulu Charter Commission has a once-in-a-decade opportunity to address the county’s crisis.

The Honolulu Charter Commission has a once-in-a-decade opportunity to address the county’s crisis.

Opinion: Ethics In AI Isn’t Just A Slogan Anymore The Anthropic fight matters here because it reminds us what’s at stake and why Hawaiʻi needs to implement solid, ethical AI policy.

The Anthropic fight matters here because it reminds us what’s at stake and why Hawaiʻi needs to implement solid, ethical AI policy.

Are you a new or aspiring farmer in Hawaiʻi? Civil Beat wants to hear from farmers and ranchers at the beginning of their journeys to grow local food. We'd love to hear your story, whether you’ve been farming or ranching for a few years and you're stepping out on your own, or you’re just getting started in your search for land. Accessing capital, dealing with razor-thin margins, finding a market for what you grow, fighting invasive pests and dealing with volatile weather are all part of what makes farming and ranching especially difficult in Hawaiʻi. That’s not to mention the tallest hurdles: access to water and land. Tell us more about the hurdles you've encountered. (We won't share your name without your permission.)

Are you a new or aspiring farmer in Hawaiʻi? It's a hard job here in Hawaiʻi. We'd love to hear your story.

UH Cyber Hack Exposed Social Security Numbers Of Up To 1.15 Million The University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center used driver's license and voter data to recruit study subjects.

The University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center used driver's license and voter data to recruit study subjects.

Civil Cafe: 2026 Legislative Update The second installment of Civil Beat's 3-part legislative event series.

Get the recording/join us for this legislative panel discussion with updates on which key bills remain alive in Hawaiʻi. Free tickets! 🎟️

The Friday Crossword: Olympic Gold Did you catch any of the 2026 Winter Olympics? Test your knowledge.

Did you catch any of the 2026 Winter Olympics? Test your knowledge.

Hawaiʻi Can’t Control ICE. Here’s What Lawmakers Want To Do Instead Unlike in 2025, a potpourri of bills to protect immigrants and limit local cooperation with ICE are advancing through the Legislature.

Unlike in 2025, a potpourri of bills to protect immigrants and limit local cooperation with ICE are advancing through the Legislature.

DOE Sexual Abuse Case From 1970s Could Cost Taxpayers $400K Hawaiʻi schools have faced multiple lawsuits in recent years involving decades-old incidents, after lawmakers temporarily lifted the statute of limitations around the sexual abuse of minors.

Hawaiʻi schools have faced multiple lawsuits in recent years involving decades-old incidents, after lawmakers temporarily lifted the statute of limitations around the sexual abuse of minors.

Photo Essay: Learning How To Survive A Rip Current In Hawaiʻi This former lifeguard helped launch an ocean safety campaign in Australia. Can his tips for escaping deadly rip currents save lives here?

This former lifeguard helped launch an ocean safety campaign in Australia. Can his tips for escaping deadly rip currents save lives here?

King Tides And Sea Level Rise Eating Away At Pearl Harbor Bike Path Riders on the popular trail can run into flooding, forcing them to detour to more hazardous roadways.

Riders on the popular trail can run into flooding, forcing them to detour to more hazardous roadways.

Legislative Caucuses Can Help Make The Difference In Getting Bills Passed Lawmakers combine forces to push measures helping women, kids and working families.

Lawmakers combine forces to push measures helping women, kids and working families.

Word Row: Feb. 26 This one's literally a puzzle.

This one's literally a puzzle.

The Success Of Hawaiʻi’s Food And Farm Bills Could Depend On One Thing As Hawaiʻi continues to pinch pennies and fill holes created by federal cuts, lawmakers may have to choose between bills designed to bolster local food or fight invasive species.

As Hawaiʻi continues to pinch pennies and fill holes created by federal cuts, lawmakers may have to choose between bills designed to bolster local food or fight invasive species.

Opinion: How We Lost Our New Home To Trump’s Illegal Tariffs A lost prefab home, a Supreme Court ruling and the reality of who actually absorbs the cost of trade policy.

A lost prefab home, a Supreme Court ruling and the reality of who actually absorbs the cost of trade policy.

More Design Delays Could Push Back Honolulu Rail Project — Again The city center segment of the $10B rail project is supposed to open in March 2031, but an outside consultant questions whether that plan is still feasible.

The city center segment of the $10B rail project is supposed to open in March 2031, but an outside consultant questions whether that plan is still feasible.

Civil Cafe: 2026 Legislative Update The second installment of Civil Beat's 3-part legislative event series.

Get the recording/join us for this legislative panel discussion with updates on which key bills remain alive in Hawaiʻi. Free tickets! 🎟️

Maui Planning Commission Rejects Bill To Save Thousands Of Vacation Rentals The County Council would now need a supermajority vote to allow thousands of apartment-zoned units to keep operating as short-term rentals.

The County Council would now need a supermajority vote to allow thousands of apartment-zoned units to keep operating as short-term rentals.

Controversial Kōloa Housing Project Gets Green Light In Unanimous Vote Over objections, the commission cited the dire need for more homes. At least 45% of the units must go to locals.

Over objections, the commission cited the dire need for more homes. At least 45% of the units must go to locals.

The Sunshine Blog: Sylvia Luke Is Still Talking About Her Own Political Mess Short takes, outtakes, our takes and other stuff you should know about public information, government accountability and ethical leadership in Hawai‘i.

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

Word Search: Hawaiʻi Towns Take a trip around the state with this word puzzle.

Take a trip around the state with this word puzzle.

Is Now The Time For Reforming Hawaiʻi Schools? A controversial bill would cut top superintendent positions from the DOE and increase community input in schools. Some families say the change is long overdue.

A controversial bill would cut top superintendent positions from the DOE and increase community input in schools. Some families say the change is long overdue.

Honolulu Investigator Obstructed His Own Criminal Case, Hawaiʻi AG Says The charges come after a Civil Beat report revealed Steve Alm's office knew about the allegations, botched an investigation and invited the employee back to work.

The charges come after a Civil Beat report revealed Steve Alm's office knew about the allegations, botched an investigation and invited the employee back to work.

Word Row: Feb. 24 Take a few minutes to challenge your brain with our popular version of Wordle.

Take a few minutes to challenge your brain with our popular version of Wordle.

Opinion: My $54 Lesson In Social Media Scams A bipartisan bill pending in Congress would require social media platforms to first verify a company’s business credentials before allowing it to advertise.

A bipartisan bill pending in Congress would require social media platforms to first verify a company’s business credentials before allowing it to advertise.