10 Must-Read Stories From the Week of June 17-21
As public affairs and investigative journalists, we are all about holding people accountable.
So we’re always glad to report that other people are doing it — whether organizations, commissions or regulators — as long as they are truly doing it in the public interest.
Our in-depth profile of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission — which turns 100 this year — demonstrated how the agency has finally rediscovered its purpose and begun to look out for consumers, forcing Hawaiian Electric Co. to refund Maui customers $8 million last month.
Then there’s the state auditor office that essentially got audited. Given that it got caught violating the procurement code, the auditor might do well to take a closer look at itself.
Another article showed that the federal government is asking the state to return more than a half-million dollars in stimulus funds that a local non-profit was supposed to use to help at-risk students. Most of the money was spent on computers that were left in boxes for three years.
Other notable articles include one about the disturbing implications of a lot of missing fish on the Big Island and an innovative proposal to kick-start a response to homelessness.
For a little fun, you can also take our quiz to see if you are local enough to be a good president of the University of Hawaii or be mesmerized by our intimate view of the mayor, via the Kirk Cam.
Here is the full list of 10 stories you won’t want to miss:
- Hawaii Teacher: My Descent Into Homelessness
- Hawaii Lays it on Thick to Woo Obama Center
- Honolulu Could Kickstart Response to Urban Homelessness
- Inouye’s Chief of Staff Takes Over Honolulu Rail Advocacy Group
- Are Hawaii Kids Equipped for Careers in the Military?
- VIDEO: The Kirk Cam — Our Intimate View of the Mayor’s Spin About Town
- Big Fish Mystery: Why Are Big Island Reefs Suffering Such Dramatic Decline?
- FACT CHECK — Gov: Hawaii is ‘Most Stable’ State Government
- Local Enough To Be UH Prez? Take Our Quiz!
- Feds: Hawaii Must Repay Half-Million Dollars in Stimulus Money
