Commentary

Jeta: The Artist Restoring Hawaiʻi’s Capitol With Many Hands Jeta Tang/Civil Beat/2026

Jeta: The Artist Restoring Hawaiʻi’s Capitol With Many Hands

The State Capitol’s failed reflecting pools are being transformed into communal art. Spoiler alert: It won’t be done this year.

Is Hawaiʻi Creating Enough Opportunity For Locals To Live Here? Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Is Hawaiʻi Creating Enough Opportunity For Locals To Live Here?

A labor market dominated by replacement openings is fundamentally different from one driven by rapid employment growth.

Honolulu Has A Rare Chance To Strengthen Civilian Police Oversight Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024

Honolulu Has A Rare Chance To Strengthen Civilian Police Oversight

The Police Commission is in need of a new executive officer, a key position that can transform the agency if the right selection is made.

Neal Milner: How To Pick An Election Winner The Right Way Screenshot/2026

Neal Milner: How To Pick An Election Winner The Right Way

The Hawaiʻi court system could have handled the Tommy Waters’ election dispute much better.

Honolulu Voters Deserved A Vote On Police Accountability. They Didn’t Get One Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Honolulu Voters Deserved A Vote On Police Accountability. They Didn’t Get One

A proposal to beef up the Honolulu Police Commission appeared headed for the November ballot. But members of the charter commission rejected it at the last minute.

Will Caron: Vote By Maelstrom Will Caron/Civil Beat/2026

Will Caron: Vote By Maelstrom

Politics, policy and public affairs as seen through the eyes of our political cartoonist.

The Sunshine Blog: Will They Or Won’t They? Vote By Mail, That Is Bryan Berkowitz/Civil Beat/2020

The Sunshine Blog: Will They Or Won’t They? Vote By Mail, That Is

Short takes, outtakes, our takes and other stuff you should know about public information, government accountability and ethical leadership in Hawai‘i.

Big Island Should Strengthen Its Homelessness And Housing Fund Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025

Big Island Should Strengthen Its Homelessness And Housing Fund

Data shows that two households became homeless for every one that was moved into permanent housing last year.

Data For Dummies: Hawaiʻi Facts For Those Of Us Who Can’t Read Spreadsheets Screenshot/2026

Data For Dummies: Hawaiʻi Facts For Those Of Us Who Can’t Read Spreadsheets

A local consulting firm has created a very user-friendly dashboard that gives people the high points about life in the islands.

Kirstin Downey: Book Reveals Splendor, Brutality Of Kamehameha’s Court Kirstin Downey/Civil Beat/2026

Kirstin Downey: Book Reveals Splendor, Brutality Of Kamehameha’s Court

Puakea Nogelmeier has produced an epic translation of a Hawaiian historian who grew up in the king’s household.