Byron Matthews photo
Kirstin Downey: This Lush Big Island Estuary Has Just Been Saved
The 81-acre site was being eyed by real estate developers but Hawaiʻi County just bought it and a local fishing group will manage it.
Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025
Hawaiʻi Road Deaths Hit 18-Year Peak Last Year. Most Other States Dropped
Hawaiʻi was one of just six U.S. states where the rate of road deaths in 2025 rose compared to 2024.
(Courtesy: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance)
Hawaiʻi’s Critically Endangered Crow Is Soaring In Maui Forests
Extinct in the wild since 2002, several ʻalalā have survived their first year since being released on the Valley Isle.
Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025
$30 Million Invested. Hawaiʻi Island Homeless Population Still Grew
The county has tried to combat homelessness in recent years, but more people are living on the streets of Hilo and Kona.
Courtesy: Kona Community Hospital
Need A Doctor? Hawaiʻi’s Physician Shortage Keeps Getting Worse
Neighbor islands bear the brunt of the growing shortage, which contributes to uneven costs and poorer care.
Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024
Counties Are On A Hiring Spree, But Recruitment Challenges Linger
Some neighbor island jobs have the edge in salaries compared to their Oʻahu counterparts, adding to hiring difficulties.
Leilani Combs/Civil Beat/2025
Battling A Voracious Beetle In The Invasive Species Capital Of The World
Tactics vary by island in the ongoing fight to save Hawaiʻi’s iconic palms from coconut rhinoceros beetles.
Courtesy of HELCO
Hawaiian Electric Industries Sues Par Hawaiʻi Claiming Faulty Fuel Ruined Turbines
Utility claims metals in fuel caused millions of dollars in damage to a Big Island power plant, and also damaged a Kauaʻi facility.
Civil Beat Wants To Build Stronger Connections Across The Hawaiian Islands
A clear longing for more local media coverage emerged from our recent survey of Kauaʻi and the Big Island. We intend to meet that need.
David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023
Civil Beat’s Public Salary Database Is Updated. Here’s How To Use It
A few tips can help narrow search results and improve your experience while using this popular online tool.