Civil Beat Categories

Legislature 2023

Green: Good-Government Bills Will Rebuild Public Trust Chad Blair/Civil Beat/2023

Green: Good-Government Bills Will Rebuild Public Trust

The Hawaii governor signed into law numerous measures to improve campaign finance, lobbying disclosure and ethics.

Hawaii Governor Axes $71M For First Responders Campus Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023

Hawaii Governor Axes $71M For First Responders Campus

A billion dollar drop in tax collections prompts Gov. Josh Green to prioritize homeless initiatives, affordable housing, health care and environment in the state budget.

Donovan Dela Cruz Goes On The Offense Chad Blair/Civil Beat/2023

Donovan Dela Cruz Goes On The Offense

The powerful state senator aggressively defends the controversial first responders’ campus. But will his strategy succeed?

Hawaii Farmers Could Use Some Help Landing Grants That Would Boost Farm Operations Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023

Hawaii Farmers Could Use Some Help Landing Grants That Would Boost Farm Operations

Nonprofits have stepped in to help with grant writing but the state agriculture department has been slow to take advantage of available pots of money.

Governor Plans To Sign Fentanyl Test Strip Bill Into Law Following Waikiki Overdoses Courtesy: Kimo Alameda

Governor Plans To Sign Fentanyl Test Strip Bill Into Law Following Waikiki Overdoses

The powerful synthetic opioid was found in the hotel room where a mass overdose happened Sunday that left two dead and three hospitalized.

Tour Boat Companies Say Bill To Beat Overtourism Would Sink Their Business Courtesy: Na Pali Experience/2023

Tour Boat Companies Say Bill To Beat Overtourism Would Sink Their Business

State regulators have issued too many commercial permits at some harbors. A plan to take some of them back is drawing controversy.

Maui Is Set To Join Other Counties In Raising Taxes To Pay For Roads And Housing Marina Riker/Civil Beat/2022

Maui Is Set To Join Other Counties In Raising Taxes To Pay For Roads And Housing

A pending law would expand how the counties can use a half-percent general excise tax surcharge.

Hawaii Is Clamping Down On Unlicensed Care Homes Courtesy: Department of Health/2022

Hawaii Is Clamping Down On Unlicensed Care Homes

State officials have grown increasingly concerned about the facilities, with 89 investigations already underway.

How A Few Hawaii Senators Conspired To Get Rid Of An Agency Board Member Who Was In The Way Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2017

How A Few Hawaii Senators Conspired To Get Rid Of An Agency Board Member Who Was In The Way

Last-minute maneuvering in a closed-door conference committee created a way for key senators to oust a critic of a proposed tech park.

Make Government Reform A Long-Term Commitment Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Make Government Reform A Long-Term Commitment

It is imperative for Hawaii’s policymakers to continually explore meaningful ways to make government at every level more open, transparent, deliberative and responsive.