Dramatic Shakeup Coming To Hawai‘i County Council Priorities, alliances and leadership could change with four open seats this election
https://civilbeat.org/2026/06/dramatic-shakeup-coming-to-hawaii-county-council/
Political
Council votes down proposal that sought to limit responsibilities of the mayor
https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2026/06/07/hawaii-news/council-votes-down-proposal-that-sought-to-limit-responsibilities-of-the-mayor/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_news
Honolulu Officials Accept Raises Without Hearing Public Opposition Members of the public had little opportunity to comment on the raises, which are paid for with their tax dollars.
https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/06/honolulu-officials-accept-raises-without-hearing-public-opposition/
Chronic No Shows And Tardiness Plague Hawaiʻi County Council Although city rules currently allow council pay to be docked for unexcused absences, there is no definition for what that means.
https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/05/chronic-no-shows-and-tardiness-plague-hawaii-county-council/
Charter Amendment Would Pull Power Away From Hawaiʻi County Mayor A divided County Council is moving forward with plans to let voters decide if a county manager system would work better for the Big Island.
https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/05/charter-amendment-would-pull-power-away-from-hawaii-county-mayor/
Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Shelve Petition To Further Probe $35K Paper Bag Case House Speaker Nadine Nakamura tabled the citizen petition with little advance notice or discussion.
https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/04/hawaii-lawmakers-shelve-petition-to-probe-35000-paper-bag-case/
Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke Abandons Reelection Bid The announcement comes amid an ongoing attorney general investigation.
https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/04/lt-gov-sylvia-luke-abandons-reelection-bid/
Justice’s Past Political Activity Is Raising Fresh Questions For Some Senators The Senate is considering whether to confirm Vladimir Devens for the position of Supreme Court chief justice.
https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/04/justices-past-political-activity-is-raising-fresh-questions-for-some-senators/
The Hawaiʻi Legislature’s Biggest Travelers Island lawmakers travel near and far, often on the taxpayer’s dime. Data shows who went where.
https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/04/the-hawaii-legislature-politicians-biggest-travelers/
Hawaii’s 2026 election includes a few high-profile challenges
https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2026/04/06/hawaii-news/hawaiis-2026-election-includes-a-few-high-profile-challenges/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_news
Sylvia Luke fights to survive troubles of her own making
As anybody who knows her expected, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke is fighting to save her job after becoming involved in...
Neal Milner: ‘Corruptomania’ Is A Dangerous Thing Being quick to blame major public policy failures on corruption hides the fact that it’s most often incompetence that’s causing our problems, not ethical wrongdoing.
https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/03/neal-milner-corruptomania-is-a-dangerous-thing/
Lt. Gov. Luke discloses $7,800 in unreported 2022 donations
Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke did not report $7,870 in campaign donations and $3,882 in spending during the first six months...
Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke stays silent on state subpoenas
https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2026/02/27/hawaii-news/hawaii-lt-gov-sylvia-luke-stays-silent-on-state-subpoenas/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_news
State Senate bribery bills progress as corruption allegations linger
https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2026/02/26/hawaii-news/state-senate-bribery-bills-progress-as-corruption-allegations-linger/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_news
Clean government groups push for special prosecutor
https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2026/02/25/hawaii-news/clean-government-groups-push-for-special-prosecutor/
What Happens When The Governor Can’t Trust His Lieutenant Governor? The two may seem like a team but the Legislature is the only authority that can remove an elected official from office in Hawaiʻi.
https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/02/what-happens-when-the-governor-cant-trust-his-lieutenant-governor/
Luke Donor And Friends Cashed In On City-Funded Covid Testing Program In a public health crisis, Tobi Solidum saw a business opportunity, and his company made millions from a Honolulu-funded program. Now he’s at the center of a public corruption scandal.
https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/02/luke-donor-and-friends-cashed-in-on-city-funded-covid-testing-program/
Sylvia Luke says she didn’t take $35k but might be lawmaker behind months-long mystery
https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2026/02/11/hawaii-news/sylvia-luke-says-she-didnt-take-35k-but-might-be-lawmaker-behind-months-long-mystery/
Hawaiʻi Sen. Michelle Kidani Says She’s Capable Of Handling Her Job The 77-year-old lawmaker is trying to defuse concerns that she suffers from an illness that is affecting her performance.
https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/02/hawaii-sen-michelle-kidani-says-capable-of-handling-her-job/
