The Honolulu Charter Commission has vetted hundreds of proposals. There are still a few on the table.
Patti Epler
Patti Epler is the Ideas Editor for Civil Beat. She's been a reporter and editor for more than 40 years, primarily in Hawaii, Alaska, Washington and Arizona. You can email her at patti@civilbeat.org or call her at 808-377-0561.
Posted inEssay
Sunshine Scorecard: One Big Bill, A Couple Small Things, The Rest Fizzled
Hawaiʻi lawmakers still can’t bring themselves to do anything that changes how they do business or makes it easier for other people to run for office.
Posted inLet The Sunshine In
Sen. Brian Schatz Has ‘A Fair Amount Of Hope’ In Congress And The Country
Civil Beat met up with the Hawaiʻi senator when he was home in Honolulu last week for a freewheeling discussion on the state of national affairs.
Posted inPublic Records
Lawsuit Demands More Information On Hiring Of UH President Wendy Hensel
The public has a right to review the Board of Regents’ discussions when it hired a new president and her special adviser, public interest attorneys say.
Posted inLet The Sunshine In
That Dark Cloud Over The Legislature? This Bill Would Make It Even Darker
The University of Hawaiʻi is one of the most important institutions in the state. The public needs to know more, not less, about who’s running it.
Posted inLet The Sunshine In
The Sun Is Still Shining For Key Reform Bills Halfway Through Session
But a few significant issues failed to generate much interest this year as legislators scurried to meet the crossover deadline.
Posted inLet The Sunshine In
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.
Posted inEssay
Circling The Wagons Around Sen. Michelle Kidani Is Not Serving The Public
Some of the Senate’s most powerful members are protecting their longtime friend. That’s not what the public wants or expects.
Posted inLet The Sunshine In
Hot Political Topics Are Stoking Sunshine Bills This Year
Now that the bill-filing deadline has passed, here’s our handy roadmap for following hundreds of government accountability and political reform bills proposed for the 2026 session.