Civil Beat Categories

Big Island

Kona Airport Closes Due To Runway Cracks Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023

Kona Airport Closes Due To Runway Cracks

The Hawaii Department of Transportation said recent winter rains contributed to runway deterioration.

Big Island Police Seize Drugs After A Fatal  Overdose At The Hilo Jail Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Big Island Police Seize Drugs After A Fatal Overdose At The Hilo Jail

Two inmates were found unresponsive in their cell, and one of them died in an apparent fentanyl overdose.

Big Island Woman Killed Despite A Restraining Order Against Ex-Boyfriend Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Big Island Woman Killed Despite A Restraining Order Against Ex-Boyfriend

Elizabeth Fernandez was found dead at her South Kona home. The body of her ex-boyfriend was found outside after he apparently killed himself.

Hawaii Inmate In Arizona Prison Died With Meth In His System Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Hawaii Inmate In Arizona Prison Died With Meth In His System

Other prisoners were seen entering the cell of Richard Taylor Jr. before his body was found at the Saguaro Correctional Center.

Vacancies In State Child Welfare Services Jobs Reach Their Highest Point In Over A Decade David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Vacancies In State Child Welfare Services Jobs Reach Their Highest Point In Over A Decade

A report from Department of Human Services to the federal government paints a grim picture, but the state plans to award extra pay to try to attract more workers.

Big Island Detective Charged With Perjury, Tampering With Government Record State Department of the Attorney General

Big Island Detective Charged With Perjury, Tampering With Government Record

Detective William Brown is accused of falsifying testimony before a grand jury in March.

Matthew Leonard: How The Hamakua Burn Of 1901 Started Hawaii’s Fire Clock Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2023

Matthew Leonard: How The Hamakua Burn Of 1901 Started Hawaii’s Fire Clock

Government intervention, or the lack of it, was a contentious issue during the widely reported disaster.

State Ag Agency On Track For Stricter Control Of Invasive Pests David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

State Ag Agency On Track For Stricter Control Of Invasive Pests

The department has been going back and forth on new rules since at least February.

Defunct Big Island Tree-Burning Plant Seeks $1 Billion In Damages From Hawaiian Electric Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Defunct Big Island Tree-Burning Plant Seeks $1 Billion In Damages From Hawaiian Electric

Lawyers for Hu Honua say in federal court papers that the utility has engaged in illegal anticompetitive behavior.

In Rainy Hilo, Big Island Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz Is Seeing Sunshine Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023

In Rainy Hilo, Big Island Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz Is Seeing Sunshine

In his first year on the job, the chief has worked to improve transparency, staffing shortages and other issues.