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.
-
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. -
Supporters of the measure said residents are already betting illegally, and that by legalizing it the state will be able to generate more revenue. -
Over 30,000 units in the state are having issues with commercial lenders because they are unable to have full insurance coverage on their buildings. -
In an attempt to address the state’s medical staffing shortages, lawmakers are considering a measure that would allow graduates from certain foreign medical schools to seek licensure in Hawaiʻi. -
The state Legislature is considering a new approach to the housing crisis that would allow homeowners to sell a deed restriction on their property to a county, provided they only allow occupants who work at least 30 hours in that county. HPR's Ashley Mizuo looks at another popular tourist destination with a similar program. -
The fees would go to the state park special fund, which is used to pay for park staff, maintenance and programming. Ten state parks, including Diamond Head State Monument, already require an entry fee for nonresidents.
