The State is funding a shady PR campaign using cultural gatekeepers to convince the public that geothermal energy ventures are supported by Native Hawaiians, and even the goddess Pele herself.

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.

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.

Three Honolulu City Council Members attempt to justify their flip-flopping on accepting salary raises in “The Office”-style camera confessionals.

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.

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).