Civil Beat Categories

Legislature 2015

Star Wars For The Deaf And Visually Impaired PF Bentley/Civil Beat

Star Wars For The Deaf And Visually Impaired

New Hawaii law requires movie theaters to provide open captioning for at least two showings per week.
Hawaii Regulators Not Quick on Their Feet to Define ‘Dancing’ Alana Hong/Civil Beat

Hawaii Regulators Not Quick on Their Feet to Define ‘Dancing’

For years, county liquor commissions have controlled dancing in bars and restaurants where alcohol is served. Now they have to define what it is.
Lawmakers, Please Give the State Land Commission Some Teeth Civil Beat

Lawmakers, Please Give the State Land Commission Some Teeth

A major jury award against a developer of two Ewa Beach communities exposes flaws in the land-use law that the Legislature should address.
Hawaii Senate President Wishes Breene Harimoto a ‘Speedy Recovery’ Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Hawaii Senate President Wishes Breene Harimoto a ‘Speedy Recovery’

The state senator was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and will be undergoing treatment soon.
How Hawaii Lawmakers Spend More Than $400,000 Without Accounting for It Cory Lum/Civil Beat

How Hawaii Lawmakers Spend More Than $400,000 Without Accounting for It

The 25 neighbor island legislators get per diems of $175 during sessions, with no receipts required. They can access the same fund between sessions, but have to explain the expenses.
Study: Hawaii Caregivers Providing Unpaid Care Worth $2.1 Billion AARP/Civil Beat

Study: Hawaii Caregivers Providing Unpaid Care Worth $2.1 Billion

AARP hopes its new report will put pressure on state Legislature to pass measures that help family caregivers.
Honolulu Rail Project Gets a Boost as Ige Signs GET Extension Bill Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Honolulu Rail Project Gets a Boost as Ige Signs GET Extension Bill

The governor sets aside his skepticism about extending a surcharge of the General Excise Tax to help pay for a $6 billion project that's over its budget.
Ige Signs Bill Legalizing Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in Hawaii Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Ige Signs Bill Legalizing Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in Hawaii

Issuing a press release instead of holding a bill-signing ceremony, the governor quietly approves the establishment of a dispensary system.
Ige Vetoes Sex-Trafficking Bill, Seven Others Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Ige Vetoes Sex-Trafficking Bill, Seven Others

UPDATED Hawaii's governor has vetoed all eight bills that were on the list of legislation he was considering killing.
New Hawaii Law ‘Life-Changing’ for Transgender Men and Women Todd Simmons

New Hawaii Law ‘Life-Changing’ for Transgender Men and Women

Gov. Ige signed the bill, making it easier to change gender on birth certificates.