What was meant to be a $51 million rescue mission for service providers under threat from federal cuts could instead become another ethics debacle. But try asking the governor and he’ll just call you a hater and escort you from the beach.

A policy disagreement over sewer fee rate schemes at the Honolulu City Council prompted council chair Tommy Waters, a Democrat, to instigate a leadership shakeup that elevated MAGA Republican Andria Tupola to Vice Chair.

Hawaiʻi makes history as the first state to enact a green fee. Worldwide, tourists usually don’t mind paying these fees to offset their impact. But those who profit from the industry have long claimed the sky will fall as a result.

Rep. Kyle Yamashita is out as State House Finance Committee chair. Like Napoleon before him, will he make a comeback from his political exile and storm his way back into power?

A pair of state senators derailed a gun control bill at the 11th hour, arguing hunters of invasive pig and deer need semi-automatic weapons to do their jobs. Sounds like a skill issue to me.

The 2025 Hawaiʻi legislative session ended with an ignominious whimper when it comes to good government reform, or “sunshine,” bills—the last of which died in conference committee the week before this cartoon ran.

When we have money to fund tax credits for powerful film studios, but no money to invest in tax credits for our keiki, the lines between fictional exploitation and the dismal reality of life start to feel blurred. Are we not, in fact, living The White Lotus?

A proposed package of pay raises for public servants would be a lot more palatable to voters if lawmakers hadn’t nixed a bill to make the legislature year round and ban side jobs.

The Sunshine Boys return for this follow up at the halfway point in the Hawaiʻi legislature session, called “crossover.” Many, but not all, government reform bills have died already.

Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm continues to put the weight of his office behind stopping cannabis legalization bills at the Hawaiʻi State Legislature instead of focusing on things that are actually dangerous.

A state commission policing what journalists write about the state? What could go wrong?

To celebrate the relaunched Honolulu Civil Beat “Sunshine Sunday” accountability section, this cartoon riffs on the Hardy Boys to talk about efforts by the two legislative judiciary chairs, Sen. Rhoads and Rep. Tarnas, to reform the opaque legislature (square building).

There are always winners and losers in every proposed budget, but some of the guests at this year’s budget banquet might be consuming more than makes sense, while others could use more than breadcrumbs.

Defeated Speaker of the Hawaiʻi State House, Scott Saiki, might get a bailout from his buddy, Governor Josh Green, who is rumored to be considering appointing Saiki to be the new state insurance commissioner. Must be nice to have that insurance policy!