Economic Inequality

Charity Program for Housing Homeless People Broke Promises, Landlord Says Craig Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Charity Program for Housing Homeless People Broke Promises, Landlord Says

Small landlord now has doubts about renting to tenants from housing assistance programs; tenant says his story is off base.

Kauaʻi’s Richest Towns Scored Tax Breaks Meant For Poor Areas — Until Now Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Kauaʻi’s Richest Towns Scored Tax Breaks Meant For Poor Areas — Until Now

Opportunity Zone projects are intended to benefit economically distressed communities but are often found in the wealthiest parts of the island.

Empty Shelves: Young Brothers Misses 3 Shipments To Molokaʻi In 21 Days Courtesy: Friendly Market Center

Empty Shelves: Young Brothers Misses 3 Shipments To Molokaʻi In 21 Days

The shipping monopoly has missed its past two shipments to the Friendly Isle, plus another last month, leaving residents frustrated by empty store shelves and costly alternatives.

‘It’s Just Tiring’: 24 Hours Inside Hawai‘i’s Homeless Crisis Craig Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

‘It’s Just Tiring’: 24 Hours Inside Hawai‘i’s Homeless Crisis

More than a dozen Civil Beat reporters and photographers set out to chronicle the reality of homelessness on Oʻahu on Jan. 26, the day of the homeless census. Here’s what they saw.

Kaua‘i Looks To Triple Homeless Funding On Heels Of Lower Count Screenshot/2026

Kaua‘i Looks To Triple Homeless Funding On Heels Of Lower Count

The County Council also increased funding for invasive species mitigation and mental health programs as part of its ongoing review of next year’s budget.

New $2M Fund Covers Neighbor Island Medical Flights Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

New $2M Fund Covers Neighbor Island Medical Flights

State-funded flights to Honolulu medical appointments aim to stop rural residents on Molokaʻi and beyond from putting off routine health care.

Aging Hawaiʻi: 60,000 More Housing Units Needed By 2050 Will Bailey/Civil Beat/2026

Aging Hawaiʻi: 60,000 More Housing Units Needed By 2050

New report projects population trends will lead to increased demand for affordable housing for kūpuna and says that departures of younger residents are creating a hole in the workforce.

Honolulu’s Right To Food, A Trailblazing Proposal, Faces The Axe Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025

Honolulu’s Right To Food, A Trailblazing Proposal, Faces The Axe

More than a dozen groups are calling on the Honolulu Charter Commission to disregard recommendations to kill a proposal to make food an inalienable right.

Locked Up Too Long? Legal Tactic Challenges Hawaiʻi ICE Detentions Craig Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Locked Up Too Long? Legal Tactic Challenges Hawaiʻi ICE Detentions

Big jump in “habeas corpus” petitions in Honolulu mirrors nationwide trend, a reflection of climbing ICE activity under the Trump administration.

Fatal Work Accident Spurs Hawaiʻi Immigrant’s Widow To Fight Back

Fatal Work Accident Spurs Hawaiʻi Immigrant’s Widow To Fight Back

An undocumented Chinese warehouse worker faced safety hazards at a Honolulu job site that a lawsuit says cost him his life after 87 weeks in the hospital.