December 2010
Expanding Online Education in Hawaii
Schools nationwide are taking advantage of virtual learning and the internet to improve education. The most successful ones allow students unrestricted access to online programs, so they can take high quality courses regardless of geographic location. Yet online education programs Hawaii lag far behind some of the better programs found on the Mainland. The Florida Virtual School (FLVS), for example, provides K-12 online education and has vastly improved test scores and achievement statewide. Florida’s virtual school students have not only demonstrated positive gains in education, but they have even out-performed their peers in traditional school settings and posted above-average test scores in advanced placement courses and mathematics. These improvements aren’t just relevant to Florida: They represent a pioneering example in virtual education for other states to follow. Hawaii should learn from these successes, to gather the best practices from effective models, and to implement these lessons now. (more)
December 2010
The Dangers of Mail-In Ballots
In the November General Election, 124,000 Hawaii voters chose to mail in their ballots. That was a third of all ballots cast and more than double the percentage of those mail-in votes cast in the 2008 election. More importantly, mail-in votes were far greater than the typical difference in the votes cast for the winning and losing candidates. The danger to all of us is that we really do not have any assurance that all mail-in voters did so free of coercion. Secrecy is vital if we are to assure ourselves that their votes are taken freely. Secrecy concerns should far outweigh the benefit of the mere convenience of mail-in balloting. (more)
December 2010
Dear Governor Abercrombie
On December 6, 2010, Grassroot Institute President Jamie Story was featured in a Honolulu Star Advertiser Editorial Series titled "Dear Governor Abercrombie.." In this editorial, several key leaders of Hawaii were asked to address a personal letter to the Governor himself, detailing what they wanted to see him work on. Please click ahead to read the full text of Jamie Story's letter to Governor Neil Abercrombie (more)
November 2010
Hawaii Spending Transparency Site Make Its Debut
Honolulu, Hawaii - Today the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii (GRIH) announced the launch of HawaiiSunshine.org, a new web site that promises to revolutionize government accountability in Hawaii by revealing waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars at the state and local level.
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November 2010
TSA Violates Our Rights
Public outrage against the new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations has been making headlines for several weeks now. Passengers have expressed rightful indignation at the insults the federal government, via the TSA, has thrown on them. New regulations for "random screenings" have not been proven to actually increase public safety, but they do serve to demoralize and dehumanize the American people, the majority of whom have done nothing to deserve such insults. Nuns in full habit and small children are searched and groped and young women's nude bodies are revealed on-screen to perfect strangers--all in the name of security. Yet the public cannot be safe when the rights and freedoms of any person are violated. In this case, TSA regulations violate the 4th amendment of the United States Constitution, which protects individuals from unwarranted search and seizures. (more)
November 2010
What are the 'Returned Lands' of Hawaii?
In an article titled “What are the ‘Ceded Lands’ of Hawaii?” written for Honolulu Civil Beat on 11/08/2010, Professor Van Dyke makes some critical errors in his assessment of both the history and the law. While acknowledging the Supreme Court’s rejection of the “Apology Resolution,” he still relies on it for his “legal” justification. While quoting from the Admissions Act of 1959, he omits a key clause that differentiates between “should” and “can.” But most problematically, Van Dyke intimates that “Native Hawaiians” were somehow legally separate during the Kingdom period in Hawaii, and that the public lands that were returned to the State of Hawaii have some sort of racial lien on them. (more)
November 2010
E Pluribus---- What?
E pluribus unum. Present on the Great Seal of the United States since 1782, its meaning is both simple and profound - “Out of many, one.” Originally it may have been but a literal acknowledgment of the Union of the thirteen colonies, but as the years have gone by it has become a philosophical premise which we apply as a standard of morality. It is today a clarion call for the respect of diversity, an acknowledgment that while we may have our differences, we are one people, under one law. Each citizen of the United States takes for granted that regardless of their racial background, cultural background, or family history, they are endowed by their Creator, the same unalienable rights as all their other fellow citizens. (more)
October 2010
Akaka bill: Three questions
It is noticed that virtually every political talker who says they support the Akaka bill likes to say, in response to the “why” question, something like: “I am in favor of the Akaka bill because it will be good for all of the people of Hawaii” Duke Aiona says that. So does OHA. It seems reasonable to assume Governor Lingle thinks that. Otherwise she would not be in favor of the bill. Or, would she, could she, be in favor of a law that she knew was going to hurt some people in Hawaii just to look like she was helping others? (more)
October 2010
Hawaii's 2010 Ballot Measures
In addition to determining who will be our next governor, on November 2nd, Hawaii residents will be asked to vote on several important ballot measures. It's worth taking a quick look at some of these initiatives. (more)
October 2010
Office of Hawaiian Affairs: Writ or Wrong
So, what ever happened to the much-ballyhooed OHA petition to force money out of the Hawaii legislature? I remember when they filed it with the Hawaii Supreme Court. How could I forget? I got two separate press releases, a print newsletter article, an e-newsletter brief, and multiple links to the story as picked up (and especially endorsed) by other media outlets. (more)
October 2010
49 Hawaii Candidates Sign Taxpayer Protection Pledge
Growing Interest in Pledge Reflects Emphasis on Fiscal Responsibility
Honolulu, Hawaii—An impressive 49 candidates from Hawaii in the November 2nd election have have signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, promising to “oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes.” The Tax Payer Protection Pledge is a national project of Americans for Tax Reform in Washington D.C., which offers the Pledge to all sitting elected officials and candidates for public office at the state and federal levels. Grassroot Institute of Hawaii sponsored the effort to bring the pledge to Hawaii in time for the 2010 election. (more)
October 2010
A Washington DC Take on the Akaka Bill (Updated)
Do not miss William Allen's Remarks!
Curious about what people outside of Hawaii think of the Akaka Bill? Take some time out of your day to see what people in Washington DC, our nation's capitol think of the Akaka Bill. Featuring speakers like William Allen (Former Chairman of the US Commission on Civil Rights), Andy Blom (Executive Director of the American Principles Project) and Frank Scaturro (Former Council for the Constitution for the Senate Judiciary Committee), this video is filled with important information that you need to know. Also, as an added bonus, hear what shocking things Neil Abercrombie has to say about the Akaka Bill. (more)
September 2010
Hawaii Government Employees' Retirement System
No Accountability and Improper Incentives
Imagine this scenario: You live next-door to a man with a nice job promising nice retirement benefits. Yet when he decides to retire, you are the one who will pay the bill. This is the situation for the retirement benefits of almost 14 percent of workers in Hawaii. While it seems logical for taxpayers to cover the benefits of public employees, this arrangement has given the state government a moral hazard to invest retirement funds in unwise and risky investments. There is little incentive for the managers of the Hawaii Employees Retirement System to insure solvency. Decisions are made by individuals with no interest in the financial success of the fund and the taxpayers who cover the losses have no say in the way funds are invested. (more)
September 2010
Watch Ken Conklin's Akaka Bill Lecture
A series of three 60-minute lecture/discussions were scheduled for the Church of the Crossroads in Honolulu on three successive Sundays in September 2010. The presentations were publicly announced ahead of time. I, Ken Conklin, was the speaker for September 12. My topic was: "Unity and Equality vs. Racial Separatism -- Why the Akaka bill is historically, legally, and morally wrong; with bad consequences for all Hawaii's people including those with native ancestry" (more)
September 2010
HSTA v. Hawaii’s Children
Is Quality Education a Forgotten Goal?
A teachers’ union, such as the Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA), can be a helpful mechanism for employees to influence the terms of employment. Yet when this sort of union is given a monopoly over contract negotiation, both teachers and students suffer. In states with exclusive collective bargaining, as in Hawaii, a union is given the right to be the only body with whom the state can negotiate. This analysis considers the aspects of exclusive bargaining that hinder the efficiency and quality of Hawaii’s public education system. (more)
September 2010
Former Gov. Cayetano Warns Current Governor Lingle: Review Environmental Impact Statement Carefully Before Authorizing Most Expensive Rail System in the Nation
Former Democratic Gov. Benjamin Cayetano backed his political rival Republican Gov. Linda Lingle yesterday saying she shouldn’t rush to approve the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed $5.5 billion Honolulu rail system without first reviewing the document carefully. That may seem like common sense, but Hawaii’s most powerful Senior Senator, Daniel K. Inouye, is “begging” Lingle to sign the EIS immediately before it ever reaches her desk. (more)
August 2010
The Real Solution to Social Security Insolvency
As this is written, in August 2010, the Social Security system is running a deficit. Its ability to support future retirement benefits for Americans is rapidly withering away. Fixes have been offered, but they all center in on postponing the inevitable: neither higher taxes nor cuts in benefits will save the system from its demise. Those methods have been tried before and failed. (more)
August 2010
Exposing Hawaii’s Special Funds: Excess Balances of $1.4 Billion Raid Hawaii’s Taxpayers
In the last three years, nearly all fifty states saw government budgets operating in the red as a result of the global economic crisis. The fallout of the meltdown gained considerable notoriety in Hawaii as the determination was made to compensate for the revenue shortfall in part by implementing a temporary furlough of Department of Education personnel. The Hawaii State Legislature, faced with mounting public opposition to “Furlough Fridays” and insufficient revenues to maintain current levels of spending, considered a variety of funding mechanisms, one of which included the use of raiding funds designated on state budget worksheets as “B” means of financing (MOFs), or “special funds,” as it was believed that a number of these accounts were either in excess of their operational requirements or funded mandates which had sunset. (more)
August 2010
State Special Funds May Hold $1.4 Billion In Unspent Revenues
Hawaii’s taxpayers might be shocked to discover that while numerous voices in and out of the local political establishment are calling for an increase in the General Excise Tax to cover any future budget shortfalls in education or other state services, upwards of $1.4 billion dollars in unspent excess funds may be sitting in special funds, several of which were tagged by the auditor almost a decade ago for repeal. According to the Department of Budget and Finance’s “Reports on Non-General Fund Information: Fiscal Years 2006-2012,” some 186 special funds spread across twenty different departments hold an estimated $1,412,357,203 in unspent revenues over and above their operational requirements. In plain language, if the estimates provided by the Department are correct, the state has more than just pocket change stuck in its seats. (more)
August 2010
China's Free-Market Summer Camp
Li Zhao Schoolland organized the first China Austrian Economics Camp (CAEC) this summer with Northeastern University (NEU) of Shenyang, China. Those teaching about the economics and ethics of free markets included Tom Palmer of the Atlas Economic Research Foundation and the CATO Institute, Fred Foldvary of Santa Clara University, Cris Lingle of Francisco Marroquin University in Guatemala, Kenli Schoolland of the University of Buckingham in England, Zhu Haijiu of Zhejiang GongShang University in China, Dean Peng of Beijing, Jeff Crawford and Ken Schoolland of Hawaii Pacific University, and Li Schoolland. Four of these teachers are members of the Mont Pelerin Society, founded in 1947 by Friedrich Hayek to promote an intellectual resurgence of free market ideas.
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July 2010
2010 Legislative Score Card
Did Your Legislator Pass the Freedom Test?
This year, Hawaii state legislators were put to the financial test. With a record state shortfall, the legislature came up with all types of creative solutions.
One was to raise taxes, which the House and Senate approved in more than a dozen different votes. Another “solution” was to raid almost every special fund and use the money to fill the depleted general fund. Unfortunately, spending cuts were not high on the list.
After the link, each legislator has been scored based on his or her performance in the 2010 legislative session. Scores indicate the percentage of votes in which legislators voted in favor of limited government and greater individual liberty. While a few legislators seized the shortfall as an opportunity to make tough spending decisions, the vast majority voted to continue for the status quo—excessive spending and even higher taxes for the people of Hawaii.
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July 2010
The Friedman Birthday Celebration: Success!
July 31, 2010 would have been Milton Friedman's 98th birthday. Now, more than ever, we need his vision. To honor the impact he has had on our society, and to help clarify his moral framework, for freedom and free enterprise, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii celebrated the Friedman Legacy for Freedom in partnership with the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice. (more)
July 12, 2010
Video of the HAPPY Luncheon Ft. Randal O'Toole
Did you miss the HAPPY Luncheon featuring Randal O'Toole of the Reason Foundation? If you did, don't worry because here are the videos of each of the speakers that were present during the HAPPY Luncheon speakers panel. (more)
July 08, 2010
State Certification Process Perpetuates Unemployment
With approximately 6.6 percent of Hawaii’s labor force unemployed, the legislature needs to revise the state’s complex certification system to make it easier for people to change professions and get back to work. (more)
June 2010
Follow the Money: Eye-Opening Arithmetic
“Aid...” “Help...” “Equality...” These are the kinds of words that make you feel benevolent. After all, it's good to help those in need who may be contending with financial difficulties, cultural erosion, or lack of opportunities. Unfortunately, the kind of help we’re giving often reflects far more on us and the professional granting and charitable industries than anything else. Which leads to the question of whether all those nice, benevolent emotions we’re enjoying help anyone but ourselves. It was to further examine these kinds of questions that the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii launched 4HawaiiansOnly—a Web site and project that examines grants made for the benefit of Native Hawaiians. (more)
All Articles
June 2010
National Battle Rages Over Jones Act Exemption in BP Oil Spill - and Hawaii's Congressional Delegation is in the Fray
Part three in a series
A national battle is raging over whether foreign crews on foreign vessels with the latest technology will be permitted to help in the BP oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. (more)
June 07, 2010
Video of the Sam Staley Luncheon
Did you miss the Luncheon with Dr. Sam Staley a while back? Fear not because we have the complete speech by Dr. Sam Staley right here! Make sure you watch all 4 parts! All of the videos are right after the jump so make sure you click on! (more)
June 07, 2010
What is the Overton Window?
June 2010
Land Use Key to Understanding Real Solutions to Honolulu Traffic Congestion
O’ahu residents can be excused for being confused about the current state of Honolulu’s transportation policy. This mid-size city faces big city traffic problems, and practical strategies to mitigate its economic and social impacts are hard to see in the current transportation policy debate. This is unfortunate because near-term solutions to congestion exist, although it will take leadership and fundamental rethinking of how the city is changing to give them the priority they deserve. (more)
May 2010
The Big Gamble
The currently pending version of the Akaka Bill promises that the new Hawaiian Government will not have the power to introduce casino gaming to the islands. Granted, that’s a rare moment of specificity in a piece of legislation that is curiously vague on the other powers that the Hawaiian government would have. Will Native Hawaiians be tried for criminal acts under a separate court system? Don’t know. Will they be subject to the same federal and state taxes? Who can say? But at least there will be no casino gambling. (more)
May 2010
My Experience at Reagan Ranch: Cameron Hughes
Cameron Hughes' is a student that the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii sponsored to attend Young America's Foundation at the Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara. The following are remarks that Cameron made in his speech delivered on May 31st. The full text of the speech is after the jump. Enjoy. (more)
May 06, 2010
How to comment on the blog, and new twitter developments!
Hey everyone. In the past couple of weeks, the official Grassroot Institute blog has been getting a lot of readership. With a bunch of guests bloggers contributing as well as our own Hideo Hikida posting his own work, the amount of content the blog has been publishing has been increasing steadily thanks to feedback from all of you! (more)
April 2010
Honolulu City Council Akaka Bill Hearing Video
On Wednesday, April 21, the Honolulu City Council considered a resolution to support the Akaka Bill. There were 29 minutes of testimony and questions that were recorded by 'Olelo TV, and further divided up into three part by Jere Krischel. Below you will find the videos. Please enjoy!
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April 2010
Hawaii Needs Free Markets, Not “Sustainability”
In Hawaii, one of the latest buzzwords to take policymakers by storm is “sustainability,” and in 2005, the 23rd Legislature of the State of Hawaii established the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Task Force. The Task Force defined sustainability as the “preferred future” for our islands , in which “systems replenish themselves. They don’t rely on the consumption of economic, social and environmental assets for progress.” Who could possibly be against that, right? But there’s only one problem: That kind of “sustainability” comes at the cost of a government-dictated economy and it is a model whose origins do not come from our island values or founding American traditions. If this vision of sustainability prevails, we are headed for Paradise Lost. (more)
April 2010
7 Hawaii Economists Issue Letter Opposing Proposed 25 Percent General Excise Tax Hike
Seven local economists released a letter today saying they oppose a proposal by lawmakers to increase the state's General Excise Tax by as much as 25 percent. They are sending the letter to all lawmakers today, including House Finance Chair Marcus Oshiro and Senate Ways and Means Chair Donna Mercado Kim. (more)
April 2010
2010 Pork Report Press Conference Highlight Video and Slideshow!
On March 31st, 2010, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii held a Press Conference on the steps of the Hawaii State Capitol releasing their second annual Hawaii Pork Report. GRIH President Jamie Story, Co-Authors Hideo Hikida and Frances Nuar as well as Citizens Against Government Waste VP of Policy, David Williams spoke about the contents of the report, highlighting some of the questionable spending decisions made by the Government of Hawaii.
The video highlights and a slide show of the press conference are posted after the jump
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March 2010
2010 Pork Report!
Co-authored by Hideo Hikida, Frances Nuar, and Jamie Story, the second annual 2010 Hawaii Pork Report reveals more than $300 million in waste, abuse, and mismanagement of taxpayer dollars. Click on to see the full report and press release (more)
March 2010
Businesses Hit Hard by Costly Jones Act Regulations
Part 2 in a series
Big Island small business owner Jim O'Keefe found out the hard way that his American dream, owning his own business, was too difficult to maintain in Hawaii. He closed down his 13-year-old extensive bakery wholesale and retail operation, O’Keefe & Sons Bread Bakers, in 2008 because it was too costly to maintain. (more)
March 20, 2010
New Blog Post on Healthcare
On the eve of the Health Care vote, Hideo Hikida sits down and blogs about his thoughts on perhaps one of the most important votes in government history. What do you think about the Health Care bill? Yay or Nay? (more)
March 2010
New Video of Akaka Bill Law School Debate
Hey all, check out the entire Akaka Bill Law School debate now on our website. The video is right after the jump! (more)
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)
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)
February 11, 2010
Political Pedicure
All-nail, Half-nail, Toe-nail and No-nail
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)
February 08, 2010
Anyone for Honesty? How About Integrity?
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)
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)
January 2010
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)
Blogs
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
