Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025
Ranches Cover A Fifth Of Hawaiʻi. Extreme Drought Is Clouding Their Future
Big Island ranches stand out for their commitment to grass-fed beef. As climate changes, they are offloading more calves to the mainland.
Will Bailey/Civil Beat/2025
Will Bailey: The Everyday Reality Of Living Off The Grid In Puna
There’s no trash pickup or mail service and sometimes no power. But there’s plenty of rainwater if you can catch it.
Big Island Chief Forced Out After Trying To Withdraw Resignation
UPDATED: Hawaiʻi County police commissioners said the chief had lost trust with the community after prematurely submitting his resignation and expressing interest in the Honolulu interim chief job.
Kevin Dayton/Civil Beat/2020
Will Bailey: Puna’s Long Wait After Lava Cut Off Pohoiki Boat Ramp
The state has finally started dredging, but it shouldn’t have taken this long to restore a heartbeat of the community.
Tim Wright/Civil Beat/2024
Lee Cataluna: Ben Moszkowicz Promises He’ll Never Do It Again
The Big Island police chief may have done too much damage to his relationship with the community.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2021
Will Bailey: Attack On Public Health Hurts Hawaiʻi’s Rural Communities
Confusion has become the anti-vaxxer’s weapon of choice.
Alicia Lou/Civil Beat/2022
Plan For Plastic Recycling Plant Alarms Big Island Officials, Residents
A Hawaiʻi County commission calls for a pause in the project until the state establishes rules regulating discharge of micro- and nanoplastics.
Jeremy Hay/Civil Beat/2025
Preparing The Elderly For Disaster: Efforts Are Finally Picking Up in Hawaiʻi
Resilience hubs like those pioneered on the Big Island are seen as a possible model for the rest of the state.
Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat
Hawaiʻi Wants More Geothermal Power Plants But Doesn’t Yet Know Where
The state must spend millions to see if more electricity can be produced using heat deep under the earth. And it will have to convince residents to support such an effort.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2020
Hawaiʻi Needs New Tech To Clean Up Old Bombs
Magnetic detection can only go so far in an island chain made of volcanic rock. Experts say other methods could be a game-changer.