Commentary

When School Governance Stops Serving Our Keiki Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024

When School Governance Stops Serving Our Keiki

Public schools on the West Side of Oʻahu face challenges already visible in the DOE’s own performance report.

Beth Fukumoto: If This Session Feels All Over The Place, That’s Because It Is Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2018

Beth Fukumoto: If This Session Feels All Over The Place, That’s Because It Is

The Legislature is trying to fill a lot of holes in a constantly shifting landscape.

One Ballot, Real Choice: Why Hawaiʻi Needs Truly Open Primaries Kalany Omengkar/Civil Beat/2024

One Ballot, Real Choice: Why Hawaiʻi Needs Truly Open Primaries

A Senate bill would replace party primaries with a single open primary in which every candidate appears on one ballot and every voter can choose from the full field.

Makana Eyre: Why Did We Stop Caring About The Ala Wai Canal? David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025

Makana Eyre: Why Did We Stop Caring About The Ala Wai Canal?

We need to demand real and lasting change for the iconic waterway.

The Most Influential People At The State Capitol Are Out In The Hallway Blaze Lovell/Civil Beat/2025

The Most Influential People At The State Capitol Are Out In The Hallway

Top lobbyists often have more influence than the lawmakers themselves who pass or reject their bills.

The Sunshine Blog: Colleen Hanabusa Would Have Loved This Tribute David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025

The Sunshine Blog: Colleen Hanabusa Would Have Loved This Tribute

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

Will Caron: By Any Other Name Will Caron/Civil Beat/2026)

Will Caron: By Any Other Name

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

Our Superpower Is Collective Action Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Our Superpower Is Collective Action

We need to raise the voices of our communities to challenge what our government could look like. 

Hawaiʻi Should Expand Legal Access To Psychedelics Getty Images/iStockphoto

Hawaiʻi Should Expand Legal Access To Psychedelics

Veterans deserve healing. First responders deserve healing. Families deserve healing. The people of Hawaiʻi deserve healing.

Kirstin Downey: New Insights About Hawaiʻi From An Archive In San Francisco Screenshot/2026

Kirstin Downey: New Insights About Hawaiʻi From An Archive In San Francisco

The Sutro Library holds a large manuscript collection that once belonged to a wealthy Brit whose hobby was Pacific exploration.