2+ hour, 25+ min ago   (296+ words) Hawaii’s four counties fund community services such as police, fire, water and sewer in annual operating budgets that start July 1 of each year. So how much is each county planning to spend in this new fiscal year? Honolulu has the…...

3+ day, 9+ hour ago   (493+ words) My heart goes out to all the families and business owners throughout our islands who are faced with recovering from yet another natural disaster. Just last week, Hurricane Lala battered Hawaii Island and continued on a path of destruction across…...

2+ week, 3+ day ago   (396+ words) If you or a loved one is still waiting in long lines for dialysis, you can blame embattled former state Rep. Ryan Yamane and the system that allows Hawai‘i’s culture of corruption to flourish. A recent Civil Beat article…...

2+ week, 5+ day ago   (363+ words) Today marks the third year since wildfires tore through much of Maui’s beloved Lahaina town, claiming 102 lives and destroying more than 2,200 structures. I wish I could report that the once-thriving cultural and tourism hotspot is well on its way to…...

3+ week, 1+ hour ago   (749+ words) Maui County officials convened a community meeting in Lahaina on July 1 to celebrate that reconstruction of the wildfire-ravaged town is finally on track — nearly three years after the world watched in horror as much of it burned to the ground....

3+ week, 2+ hour ago   (553+ words) The Honolulu Charter Commission, which convenes once every 10 years, has concluded its work and officially approved 20 Charter amendments for residents to vote on in the November general election. Residents and community groups, including the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, proposed several…...

3+ week, 3+ hour ago   (374+ words) Anticipating that federal funding cuts could force the state to cover more of its own costs, Gov. Josh Green and some lawmakers earlier this year considered walking back the historic income tax cuts they approved in 2024. The Grassroot Institute of…...

3+ week, 3+ day ago   (400+ words) Hawaii and California differ greatly in size, but they have plenty in common — including great weather and notoriously bad permitting systems. It’s easy to joke about the absurdity of bureaucratic dysfunction. But the consequences when disaster strikes are no laughing…...

1+ mon, 1+ day ago   (512+ words) When it became apparent earlier this month that the Honolulu Charter Commission was seriously considering approving a ballot measure asking Honolulu voters whether the City Council should be required to tax so-called empty homes, my colleagues at the Grassroot Institute…...

1+ mon, 3+ day ago   (459+ words) The Honolulu City Council’s Budget Committee has recommended that the city increase the value of its homeowner property tax exemption by $20,000 starting July 1, 2028 — but will the relief be enough? Honolulu currently has the lowest homeowner exemption in the state. Last…...