Civil Beat Categories

Legislature 2024

Taxpayers Are On The Hook For $1.25 Million After The State Failed To Provide Water To An Oahu Farmer Courtesy: Peter Savio Realty

Taxpayers Are On The Hook For $1.25 Million After The State Failed To Provide Water To An Oahu Farmer

The Legislature is poised to pay the settlement along with dozens of others totaling more than $13 million.

Honolulu Rail Board Cancels Monthly Meeting After Failing To Reach Quorum Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023

Honolulu Rail Board Cancels Monthly Meeting After Failing To Reach Quorum

Issues on the board agenda included a proposal at the Legislature to extend the excise tax surcharge that provides most of the funding for the unfinished rail project.

Hawaii’s Still-Struggling Police Standards Board Could Add More Cops To The Oversight Panel David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

Hawaii’s Still-Struggling Police Standards Board Could Add More Cops To The Oversight Panel

Civil rights advocates say that expanding the board with more police appointments will diminish input from community members.

‘Unpaid Heroes’: Momentum Grows For Comprehensive Paid Family Leave In Hawaii Chad Blair/ Civil Beat/2024

‘Unpaid Heroes’: Momentum Grows For Comprehensive Paid Family Leave In Hawaii

Covid revealed how vulnerable many are when a family member needs serious care. But business groups and some unions oppose cost burdens.

The Packed Hawaii State Hospital May Soon See A Surge In Patients From A Private Facility PFBentley/Civil Beat/2014

The Packed Hawaii State Hospital May Soon See A Surge In Patients From A Private Facility

Officials say they have been urgently trying to reduce the patient population after the killing of a nurse last year drew new attention to problems at the hospital.

Beyond Lahaina: Some Lawmakers Want A New Development Plan For All Of West Maui Hawaii Senate/2024

Beyond Lahaina: Some Lawmakers Want A New Development Plan For All Of West Maui

Critics question the proposed election process for the new agency officials.

Bills For A New Ride-Share Fee And A Climate-Impact Fee Advance Getty Images/iStockphoto

Bills For A New Ride-Share Fee And A Climate-Impact Fee Advance

The ride-share proposal originally set the proposed fee at 25 cents per ride, but the latest draft does not say exactly how much the fee would be.

Lawmakers Are Working On Ways To Whack Hawaii’s Fire-Fueling Weeds Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023

Lawmakers Are Working On Ways To Whack Hawaii’s Fire-Fueling Weeds

Vegetation-focused legislation is aimed at reducing the chances of another disaster like the Aug. 8 wildfires on Maui.

The Hawaii Department Of Education Is Nowhere Close To Meeting Its Mandate To Buy More Local Food Courtesy: Lt. Governor's Office/2017

The Hawaii Department Of Education Is Nowhere Close To Meeting Its Mandate To Buy More Local Food

The DOE has also failed to deliver a required annual update to state lawmakers on progress so far.

Hawaii Could Join National Police Misconduct Database. If Only It Could Finally Get Its Police Standards Board To Work Hawaii News Now

Hawaii Could Join National Police Misconduct Database. If Only It Could Finally Get Its Police Standards Board To Work

A House bill would allow state law enforcement agencies to have more information on potential new hires.