Why Rent Relief in Hawai‘i Became a National Model
The government program helped over 13,000 households. One reason it succeeded may have been that people who had experienced housing instability had a seat at the decision-making table.
In-Depth Reports
Hawai‘i’s Public Schools Are Battered But Working to Recover
Steady gains by students have eroded after two years of upheaval. Can teachers, principals and $690 million in federal funding turn things around?
Here's How Affordable Housing Policies Have Impacted Hawai‘i's Housing Supply
This report on affordable housing policies by county governments and state agencies provides different perspectives on what works and what doesn’t – and what might work better.
Past Attempts to Build a Rail on Oʻahu
Honolulu has talked about building a rail system since 1967.
How Rail Got to $12.45 Billion and 11 Years Late
We sorted through more than a decade of cost overruns, audits and reports to explain how the price soared and why completion fell behind schedule.
How Honolulu's Rail Compares to Other Federally Funded Projects
It’s common for rail projects to have cost overruns, but few are as large as Honolulu's.
The Three Largest Rail Contracts
We looked through the project's publicly available documents to identify the biggest contracts and how much they cost.
A Look at the Rail's Increasing Price Tag and Pushed Back Completion Dates
We tracked some of the project's major milestones, including cost increases, funding deficits, lawsuits and voter input.
How Will Urban Honolulu Deal With the Rising Ocean?
Eroding beaches, king tides and groundwater inundation are already impacting the urban core and it will only get much worse. Here’s what is being considered to limit the damage.
The Statewide Effort to Turn Filmmaking into Hawai‘i’s Next $1 Billion Industry
Talent, training and financial incentives are driving a new era of filmmaking, TV and digital media production in the Islands.
How Hawaiʻi's Light Pollution Affects Wildlife and Humans
Wedge-tailed shearwater fledging season runs from early November to late December. That’s when hundreds of grounded birds are found on roads and in people’s yards in Hawai‘i each year.
Deep Dive: Impact Investing
Four elements that define this practice and how you can get involved.
Investing in People, Companies and the ʻĀina
The pandemic accelerates new ways of lending, financing and investment in the Islands.
Implicit Bias: A Three-Part Report
Part I examines implicit bias in Hawai‘i. Part II offers ways for individuals to counter their own implicit biases. (One step: Learn to recognize biases rather than deny them.) And Part III looks at how organizations can improve their hiring,…
A Condominium Can Last Hundreds of Years, But Not Its Components
A 40-year-old Honolulu condominium can show its age in many ways: brittle, leaking pipes; cracks in its concrete walls and decks; rusted rebar; and corroded railings and window frames.
The Pandemic is Not Gender Neutral
Working women suffer disproportionately from the recession in their finances, careers and health Nikki Nakamura and her husband still sit at each end of the dining room table, just as they did before the COVID-19 pandemic. But so much else…
Reopening Hawai‘i Tourism Part II: Should We Change the Visitor Industry?
Many people inside and outside the tourism sector want a reinvention of Hawai‘i’s No. 1 industry so that it welcomes tourists while enhancing sustainability of nature and culture here.
Reopening Tourism: Residents, Visitors Must Trust They’ll Stay Virus-Free
That means new systems of testing, hygiene, safe practices and cleaning by airlines, airports, hotels, restaurants, stores and government, say tourism industry leaders. First of two parts.
The Future of Hawai‘i Health Care Is Now – Part II
COVID-19 is accelerating many changes in health care beyond telemedicine, including how doctors, nurses and other health care professionals are trained; new rules on vaccinations and testing; and how we handle future pandemics.
The Future of Hawai‘i Health Care Is Now – Part I
Among the many changes accelerated by COVID-19 is the widespread use of telemedicine, which increases access and, hopefully, will reduce costs. But increased use of telemedicine will also require changes in training, reimbursements, regulations and more. COVID-19 has changed the…
Hawaiʻi’s Future Liabilities are Expected to Cost $88 Billion
$88 Billion is the estimated liabilities for state and local governments over the next 30 years on infrastructure, pensions and climate change. We explore three broad options to pay these liabilities: increase government revenues, reduce government spending and grow the…
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
"I'LL NEVER FORGET IT" Three people – two women and a man – describe being sexually harassed while on the job. They asked to remain anonymous to protect their privacy and to avoid retribution. ■ For a Honolulu woman who is…
Jones Act: Pro and Con
Advocates say it ensures reliable, on-time delivery of everything Hawai‘i needs, while providing a strong U.S. Merchant Marine in time of war or other crises. Opponents say the Jones Act raises prices for everyone in Hawai‘i and puts those who want to export overseas at a disadvantage.
Dying is Now A Choice
Hawaii's Medical Aid in Dying law takes effect Jan. 1, but some doctors are among the local professionals who are not ready to deal with the law. Mary, a 78-year-old Hawaii resident, doesn’t look like someone who would want to…