Troubling signs in the state economy are appearing but construction remains strong.

After the disappearance of Isabella Kalua, lawmakers formed the Malama Ohana Working Group to design and propose ‘transformative changes’ to the state system.

Much of the back pay was negotiated by Gov. Josh Green’s administration for state employees who reported for work in person during the emergency from 2020 to 2022.

A new report by the Hawaii State Auditor found that one main category of foster homes often failed to meet time limits for licensing and the state wasted money on a contractor and missed out on federal payments.

The caregivers said the child was injured after falling from a 3-foot bench while playing a video game.

Geanna’s father said he reported she’d been beaten by her foster mother, but the state kept her in the home and returned her there after she was inexplicably taken from another relative who wanted to adopt her.

The council is concerned about empty Honolulu office space, a soft real estate market and high interest rates but also anticipates a strong construction industry.

Two bills already approved by their respective houses aim to correct a longtime shortcoming, though it remains to be seen if it’s the right approach.

Measures that won preliminary approval in the House Finance Committee would increase standard deductions and adjust tax brackets for inflation.

The only way to prevent this horror from being repeated is by publicly dissecting exactly what went wrong.