Recent

Political Pedicure

Rooted in Reason

February 11, 2010

The term "native Hawaiian" is inaccurate and misleading. The Supreme Court in the Rice versus Caetano decision characterized it as a proxy for racism. It is easy to understand why. Prior to the 1978 constitutional convention, there were two definitions for native Hawaiians: Hawaiians, who were individuals with 100% Hawaiian blood, and half Hawaiians, who had 50% Hawaiian blood and 50% non-Hawaiian blood. These individuals qualified in their respective collective categories because their majority blood quantum was Hawaiian. (more)

Dick Rowland

Anyone for Honesty? How About Integrity?

Rooted in Reason

February 08, 2010

Some of the key people pushing the Akaka bill have screwed up. But they do not know it yet. That is because they are so arrogant. They pulled a back room secret deal to modify the bill; failed in the House Committee and succeeded in the Senate. That gives us two vastly different bills. (more)

Links

Newsroom

March 2010

GRIH President Jamie Story quoted in Hawaii News NOW article

Jamie Story was recently quoted in an article on Hawaii News NOW regarding the State's new $1.5 million project to fill the pool at the Hawaii State Arts Museum. (more)

Commentaries

March 2010

Business Owners to Lawmakers: Tax Bills Kill Business, Cause Layoffs, Hurt Consumers and Taxpayers

While dozens of Hawaii’s small and large businesses have closed their doors in recent months because the economic recession has hit Hawaii hard, the majority of Hawaii business owners are struggling to find ways to stay in business and keep their employees by cutting costs, boosting revenue, and attracting new business.... (more)

Rooted in Reason

March 03, 2010

Video of Akaka Bill Panel Debate

The awaited video of the Akaka Bill Panel Debate is finally here. After the jump, see video of the Debate that featured Leon Siu, Jere Kirschel and John Zogby. The videos are broken up into three separate parts so make sure you take the time to watch the debate in its entirety. (more)

Rooted in Reason

February 26, 2010

Upcoming Events (Updated 2-26-2010)

Here are some of Grassroot's upcoming events that may interest you! (more)

Newsroom

January 2010

Audio and Text Transcripts of Akaka Bill Panel Debate

Last Friday, January 15, 2010, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii was proud to present a panel debate on the subject of the Akaka Bill. We were honored to have three presenters at this panel, Mr. Jere Krischel, Mr. Leon Siu and Mr. John Zogby present their own findings and opinions about the Akaka Bill in a spirited and informative discussion that helped to spread more information about the consequences of the Akaka Bill. (more)

Press Releases

December 2009

Akaka Bill Poll Findings Released

December 15, 2009--A new poll of registered Hawaii voters, conducted by Zogby International, has found that a majority of those surveyed oppose the Akaka Bill, while 76 percent oppose higher taxes to pay for the nation-tribe proposed in the bill. The poll was sponsored by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii and conducted from November 18 to 23, 2009 (more)

Research

Jamie Story

A Time for Transparency

Taxes and Spending

October 2009

The Grassroot Institute believes it is past time for the state to allow those who pay the bills to see the checkbook. We call on all state and local government agencies to voluntarily make this information available to the public—now! (more)

Pearl Hahn

House Lagging on Public Posting of Expenses

Taxes and Spending

July 2009

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ordered the House Chief Administrative Officer earlier this year to post expenses of House members online as soon as possible. Yet, the deadline for doing so has passed (three months and counting). Presently, there is no plan in place for the Senate to follow suit. Part of the hold-up is coming from the Committee on House Administration, which claims that security and support issues are delaying publication of the expenses. (more)

Commentaries

Business Owners to Lawmakers: Tax Bills Kill Business, Cause Layoffs, Hurt Consumers and Taxpayers

Commentaries

March 2010

While dozens of Hawaii’s small and large businesses have closed their doors in recent months because the economic recession has hit Hawaii hard, the majority of Hawaii business owners are struggling to find ways to stay in business and keep their employees by cutting costs, boosting revenue, and attracting new business.... (more)

Malia Zimmerman

More Than a Decade After Condemnation, Hawaii Department of Transportation Still Owns Cherished Homes on Ancient Hawaiian Fish Pond

Commentaries

December 2009

Just over a decade ago, Tad Hara, 84, lived in his dream home, which was a simple two-story wooden house built over a vibrant ancient Hawaiian fishpond, just steps from the stunning beach in East Oahu’s Niu community... (more)

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Blogs

Rooted in Reason

Grassroot Institute's Official Blog

The Mystery of Hawaiian History

Correcting historical revisionism and misconceptions promoted by the Akaka Bill.

Hawaii Spendometer

How Fast Does The State Government Spend Your Money?

$9,122,166,121.47