Civil Beat Staff
Ben Angarone
Ben Angarone is a reporter for Civil Beat. He recently earned a master’s degree at Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, focusing on politics and writing his magazine-length thesis on a virtual cryptocurrency community.
Ben was born in New Jersey and earned his bachelor’s degree at Princeton. He bounced between different STEM majors before landing on politics, and decided to pursue journalism senior year during a covid-driven virtual semester. Ben wrote feature stories for the Daily Princetonian, chronicling how communities adjusted to the pandemic.
In college, Ben led backpacking orientation trips along the East Coast, bringing unsuspecting frosh face-to-face with bears, rocky inclines and cheesy campfire songs. His eternal fun fact is that he used to operate rollercoasters at Six Flags Great Adventure.
          
        Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2019
      
      
				Wind Turbines Set To Come Down, Threatening Hawaiʻi Renewable Energy Goals
UPDATED: Civil Beat has updated the story to reflect that the wind turbines are not certain to come down at the end of their power contracts. Kahuku's wind turbines, which irked neighbors, might have to come down at the end of their 20-year contracts after a Honolulu City Council decision last week.
          
        Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2023
      
      
				Honolulu Council Punts Empty Homes Tax Vote, Extends Sprinklers Deadline
Property owners worried about increasing costs got their way Wednesday when the City Council killed its empty homes tax and extended the deadline for condo fire safety measures.
      
				New Oʻahu Landfill Site Is Above Island’s Water Supply
The Honolulu Board of Water Supply opposes the decision, but the mayor and the director of the Department of Environmental Services think they can prevent leaks.
          
        Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2019
      
      
				Will Exemptions In Honolulu’s Empty Homes Tax Bill Water Down Its Effect?
As the long-discussed bill nears its final vote, some worry the 17 exemptions that helped it gain support also dilute the bill’s efficacy.
          
        Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023
      
      
				Should The Planned Ala Wai Canal Bridge Be A New City Icon?
Hundreds of residents stopped by Ala Wai Elementary School last week to vote on design options for the estimated $63 million bridge.
          
        Ben Angarone/Civil Beat/2024
      
      
				Fix It! A Collapsed Sidewalk Next To An Oceanfront Cafe
When will the sidewalk along Queen's Beach be fixed? Nobody seems to know.
          
        Cory Lum/Civil Beat
      
      
				West Oahu May Get More Than 800 New Short-Term Rentals In Apartment Zone
Parcels next to the Hoakalei Resort in Ewa were a hot topic at the Honolulu City Council’s final hearing on the overhauling of its Land Use Ordinance.
          
        Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat/2017
      
      
				Honolulu Condos: City Might Water Down Fire Safety Law Again
Seven years after the fatal Marco Polo fire, Honolulu might extend a key deadline for condo associations after failing to pass a sprinkler law.
          
        David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024
      
      
				How Kaimuki’s Queen Theater Went From Playhouse To Porn Hub
The former movie palace has languished for almost 40 years, prompting the Honolulu City Council to take steps toward condemning the valuable property.