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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State lawmakers want to develop a framework for a paid family leave program. The House Labor Committee advanced a resolution to create a working group to produce a report on paid family leave that could include proposed legislation. -
State lawmakers are blocking off three dates in the coming months for a special legislative session to address federal funding cuts. The Legislature has about three weeks left in its regular session. But the magnitude of federal cuts and what it means for the state’s budget are still unknown. HPR's Ashley Mizuo reports. -
State lawmakers are advancing a measure that would not allow county councils to impose conditions or median income restrictions stricter than the ones established by the state — if those conditions will increase the cost of the project. The measure would also not allow counties to reduce fee waivers for these projects. -
The Commission on Salaries recommended that the governor receive an $85,000 raise spread over the next six years. State lawmakers will not receive their first 32% raise until 2027 — after the next election. -
Hawaiʻi senators are raising concerns about the lack of conversation between legislators regarding the state’s share of the $4.2 billion global Maui wildfire settlement. -
State Rep. Kanani Souza wants an emergency route built in Makakilo, a community with only one way in and one way out. However, none of the measures she introduced this legislative session got a hearing in the Transportation Committee. -
State lawmakers are considering increasing the tax on registering large vehicles to fund the Safe Routes to School Program. For cars over 4,000 pounds — like a 2025 Toyota Tacoma — it would cost 3 cents a pound instead of 2 cents. -
Seniors are one of the most vulnerable communities during natural disasters. HPR's Ashley Mizuo reports on efforts to better prepare kūpuna inHawaiʻi. -
The Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority wants $1 million for community planning sessions and an infrastructure assessment of Kakaʻako Makai. That includes evaluating residential, hotel and manufacturing development in the area. -
The City and County of Honolulu is planning to invest $100 million into mixed-use development — which includes transforming Iwilei Center. But the state law that allows the city to finance that type of development will sunset in 2028, the year Iwilei Center is expected to break ground.
