Civil Beat Categories

Let The Sunshine In

John Hill: She Begged The State To Save Her Grandkids. Instead, One Is Dead Cory Lum/Civil Beat

John Hill: She Begged The State To Save Her Grandkids. Instead, One Is Dead

The state's Child Welfare Services has not explained its actions — or lack of action — in the case of a 3-year-old killed in June. Her grandmother says she warned the state that the girl and her siblings were being starved.

The Sunshine Blog: Crossing The Thin Blue Line David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

The Sunshine Blog: Crossing The Thin Blue Line

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

Hawaii Legislature Rarely Uses Its Own Process To Investigate Lawmakers Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Hawaii Legislature Rarely Uses Its Own Process To Investigate Lawmakers

The dormant House Select Standards of Conduct Committee raises questions about whether self-policing really works or if an independent agency is needed.

Richard Wiens: Lawmakers Introduce Too Many Bills PF Bentley/Civil Beat/2014

Richard Wiens: Lawmakers Introduce Too Many Bills

Scoring political points outweighs efficiency in the Hawaii Legislature.

Civil Beat: How Profiling A Candidate For UH President Turned Up A Serious Complaint David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024

Civil Beat: How Profiling A Candidate For UH President Turned Up A Serious Complaint

Wendy Hensel says Civil Beat got the facts wrong about a law professor's accusations. But what she's not telling you is how the professor came to file the complaint in the first place.

The Sunshine Blog: The FBI Finally Gives Our Long-Sought Bribery Files Some Love John Pritchett/Civil Beat/2022

The Sunshine Blog: The FBI Finally Gives Our Long-Sought Bribery Files Some Love

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

Beth Fukumoto: There’s More To Choosing A House Speaker Than Meets The Eye Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024

Beth Fukumoto: There’s More To Choosing A House Speaker Than Meets The Eye

I've seen three speaker votes close-up. It's an exciting time for fans of political intrigue but less so for fans of good governance.

The Sunshine Blog: Making Hawaii Great Again Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2021

The Sunshine Blog: Making Hawaii Great Again

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

Slow Down The Legislative Time Clock Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Slow Down The Legislative Time Clock

Hawaii lawmakers could be much more effective if they — and the public — are given more time to consider bills.

John Hill: An Abused Child’s Hidden Death Screenshot: Multidisciplinary team report/2024

John Hill: An Abused Child’s Hidden Death

Some child abuse cases garner publicity and trigger outrage. But because of the state's secrecy, others never even come to light.