Civil Beat Categories

Ocean Safety

Matson Slows Down To Protect Whales, While Pasha Hawaii Speeds On NOAA/Doug Perrine

Matson Slows Down To Protect Whales, While Pasha Hawaii Speeds On

Whale researchers praised the shipping giant’s strides to improve its record, which followed a Civil Beat investigation. Competitor Pasha remains among the worst offenders.

Honolulu Voters To Decide Whether Lifeguards Need Oversight Commission David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

Honolulu Voters To Decide Whether Lifeguards Need Oversight Commission

A volunteer commission would have the power to appoint and remove the chief of the new Department of Ocean Safety.

Woman Seriously Hurt In Apparent Shark Attack On North Shore KITV

Woman Seriously Hurt In Apparent Shark Attack On North Shore

The victim, 25, was hospitalized with multiple injuries after the attack in the Haleiwa area, authorities said.

More Surfers In Hawaii Are Wearing Helmets — A Trend That Could Save Lives Justin Gardner/University of Hawaii/2024

More Surfers In Hawaii Are Wearing Helmets — A Trend That Could Save Lives

Professional surfers sharing photos of cracked helmets and stories about dangerous wipeouts on social media are helping foster greater use of protective headgear.

Mayor Officially Begins Process Of Giving Ocean Safety Its Own Department Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023

Mayor Officially Begins Process Of Giving Ocean Safety Its Own Department

Officials had been debating for weeks between two procedural options.

‘It Saved My Life’: Surfing Program Is Transformative For People With Disabilities Flynn Hamlin/University of Hawaii/2024

‘It Saved My Life’: Surfing Program Is Transformative For People With Disabilities

Over the last two decades, AccesSurf has helped thousands of people get out on the water and elevated adaptive surfing into a professional sport.

Catherine Toth Fox: Hawaii’s Lifeguards Are The Real ‘Unsung Heroes’ Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023

Catherine Toth Fox: Hawaii’s Lifeguards Are The Real ‘Unsung Heroes’

Funding should continue to provide additional resources for ocean safety.

More Funding Means More Lifeguard Coverage On Oahu Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

More Funding Means More Lifeguard Coverage On Oahu

The new budget includes money for 18 new lifeguard positions and extended hours, with an emphasis on the Leeward Coast.

The North Shore Hasn’t Had A Public Pool For Decades. It May Finally Be Getting One David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

The North Shore Hasn’t Had A Public Pool For Decades. It May Finally Be Getting One

Half of Hawaii’s kids can’t swim, and pools are less likely to be located near lower income communities.

Prop Wash From Cruise Ship Tenders Creates Hazard For Kona Swimmers Paula Dobbyn/Civil Beat/2022

Prop Wash From Cruise Ship Tenders Creates Hazard For Kona Swimmers

A strong sideways current has endangered swimmers in Kailua Bay trying to make it back to shore, residents say.