Civil Beat Categories

Legislature 2022

Lawmakers Spent Big This Year To Help Hawaii Families ‘Pushed Over The Edge’ Getty Images/iStockphoto

Lawmakers Spent Big This Year To Help Hawaii Families ‘Pushed Over The Edge’

Despite the investments, advocacy groups say cracks remain in the state’s safety net. 

Transportation Department: Budget Cuts Could ‘Cripple’ State Airports Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2021

Transportation Department: Budget Cuts Could ‘Cripple’ State Airports

But the state senator in charge of budgeting said positions that were eliminated have been vacant for years.

How A Powerful Lawmaker Forced Through A Contentious Energy Bill Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2022

How A Powerful Lawmaker Forced Through A Contentious Energy Bill

When Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz’s pet legislation faced opposition from Rep. Nicole Lowen, he suddenly intervened with the power to make or break her bills.

Can Hawaii’s Transportation Sector Switch To Clean Energy? Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2014

Can Hawaii’s Transportation Sector Switch To Clean Energy?

Advocates applauded a series of clean transportation bills passed this year but said the initiatives face a long road ahead.

Ige Signs Bill Protecting Freedom Of Speech For Student Journalists Screenshot/2022

Ige Signs Bill Protecting Freedom Of Speech For Student Journalists

Hawaii joins 15 other states that ensures more First Amendment protections for student journalists.

Lee Cataluna: The State’s Manini Tax Break Could Have Fixed Some Real Problems Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2020

Lee Cataluna: The State’s Manini Tax Break Could Have Fixed Some Real Problems

Why give people barely enough to cover a couple of cheap tires when the Legislature could have chipped away at its endless to-do list?

Hawaii Police Standards Board Finally Gets Some Money From Lawmakers Ludwig Laab/Civil Beat/2021

Hawaii Police Standards Board Finally Gets Some Money From Lawmakers

Hawaii is the last state in the country to set up minimum qualifications for its law enforcement officers.

Lower Electric Bills Or More Jobs? Hawaii Grapples With A Green Economy Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Lower Electric Bills Or More Jobs? Hawaii Grapples With A Green Economy

Lawmakers did an abrupt — and secretive — about-face as the session ended when they revamped a bill putting limits on some renewable energy sources.

Electric Vehicles Are On The Rise In Hawaii. Can Charging Infrastructure Keep Up? Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2021

Electric Vehicles Are On The Rise In Hawaii. Can Charging Infrastructure Keep Up?

Many Hawaii residents living in apartment buildings and other multi-family dwellings lack direct access to electric vehicle charging stations.

Hawaii Student Journalists Are Poised To Gain Press Freedom Guarantees Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Hawaii Student Journalists Are Poised To Gain Press Freedom Guarantees

A bill extending more First Amendment protections to student journalists and their advisers awaits Gov. David Ige’s signature.