Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024
Too Many To Handle: Fireworks Tragedy Overwhelms Hawaiʻi’s Medical System
More people needed specialized care for burns from the Salt Lake blast than from the Maui wildfires.
Courtesy: Nick Wendrych
Honolulu Fireworks Blast Victims Are Identified
UPDATES: The medical examiner’s office released the names for two of the three women killed and a 20-year-old who died in a separate fireworks incident.
David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025
Will Tragedy Change How Hawaiʻi Polices Illegal Fireworks?
A task force created to find and stop shipments has seized more than 100 tons of explosives — but no criminal charges have followed.
Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024
‘This Could Happen To Anybody,’ Says Man Who Was At Fatal Fireworks Party
One Salt Lake resident offered a different description of what caused the explosion that killed 3 people.
David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025
Honolulu Fireworks Accident Is A Fatal Turn In A Long-Running Problem
A 2023 Civil Beat investigation found that authorities often failed to track the origins of illegal caches or build bigger legal cases.
Courtesy: Nick Wendrych
Deadly Fireworks Blast That Rocked Honolulu Fuels Calls For Crackdown
UPDATE: At least three women were killed in the New Year’s Eve explosion — and officials warned the toll was likely to rise. But whether the tragedy will be enough to change laws and behavior remains a question.
David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024
Here’s How A Second Trump Term May Impact Hawaiʻi Police
Police officials are taking a wait-and-see attitude as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office after pledging to be tough on crime. Civil rights advocates are worried about criminal justice reform efforts.
Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024
A Year After Her Daughter’s Killing, A Mother Fights For Change
After a year of grieving, Theresa Cachuela’s mother is ready to talk about the domestic violence leading up to her daughter’s killing. Her daughter sought help in the weeks before her husband fatally shot her.
AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes/2024
Hawaiʻi Woman Whose Disappearance Prompted A Massive Search Is Found Safe
Hannah Kobayashi vanished last month in Los Angeles. LA police said they will wrap up their investigation now that she’s been found safe.
Thomas Heaton/Civil Beat/2022
Hawaiʻi Has Money To Police Agriculture Crime, But No Timeline To Start
Despite the high-profile killing of an Oʻahu rancher, local law enforcement don’t receive any specialized training in agricultural crime.