Ashley Mizuo
Government ReporterAshley Mizuo is Hawaiʻi Public Radio’s government reporter. She previously worked at Crooked Media producing two podcasts: "Pod Save the World" and "Strict Scrutiny." Before that, she was the City Hall reporter at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and a general assignment reporter at HPR.
Born and raised on O’ahu, she's a graduate of ‘Iolani School and has a bachelor's in journalism and political science from Loyola University Chicago and a master's in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois-Springfield.
When she's not reporting she can be found running, surfing (badly), consuming excessive amounts of coffee and obsessing over Taylor Swift.
Contact her at amizuo@hawaiipublicradio.org or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ashleymizuo.
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Lawmakers are considering two bills that aim to create better protections for renters. It’s been over five years since bills to protect renters have advanced this far in the legislative session, according to advocates. HPR's Ashley Mizuo reports. -
Kūpuna with lower incomes may not realize that they can qualify for both Medicaid and Medicare because it can be difficult to navigate through the application process. That’s why the state Department of Health’s Executive Office on Aging wants to set up the Medi-Medi Project to help them cut their health costs. -
Devin Thomas, a senior analyst at the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, explained that because capital gains are taxed at a flat rate, it's not fair to those with lower incomes. -
Attorneys general are backing a federal judge's decision to extend a block barring the Trump administration from freezing grants and loans potentially totaling trillions of dollars. The judge Thursday granted a request for a preliminary injunction from nearly two dozen Democratic states. -
The legislative session is at its halfway point. Thursday is the key deadline, called "crossover," for bills to pass out of their originating chamber to survive. As HPR’s Ashley Mizuo reports, lawmakers will continue to focus on stabilizing the insurance market, fireworks, climate funding and preparing the state for federal cuts. -
The commission is recommending that the governor, lieutenant governor, department heads and their deputies receive a 15% raise starting in July. Those positions would continue to receive raises ranging from 4% to 8% in the five years following. HPR's Ashley Mizuo reports. -
The leaders of each political party in the House and Senate currently get to appoint four commissioners. Rep. Adrian Tam introduced a measure that would require the Senate to confirm the nominated commissioners. -
State senators nixed a controversial measure that would have allowed the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to build high-rise housing along the waterfront area of Kakaʻako, also called Kakaʻako Makai. -
In preparation for possible federal funding freezes, the state Legislature is considering a program for one-time grants to support essential services provided by nonprofits. In 2023, some 250 Hawaiʻi nonprofits received federal money that totaled between $300 million and $400 million. -
About $1.4 billion — that’s how much the state will need to address climate resiliency over the next five years, according to the governor’s Climate Advisory Team. HPR's Ashley Mizuo reports on three measures still alive at the Legislature that would collect funds for climate resilience, two of which would again increase the tax levied on hotels.
