Blog
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii blog offers news and commentary on a wide variety of topics related to economic freedom and individual liberty. Come back frequently to see the latest from our staff, contributors and Grassroot scholars.
Testimony on proposed GE tax increase — SB 1747
This testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii to the Hawaii Senate Committee on Ways and Means on Feb. 28, 2019. RE: SB 1474 — RELATING TO TAXATION Comments Only Dear Chair and Committee Members: The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii would like to...
Testimony on SB 1 — Relating to Housing
This testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii to the Hawaii House Committee on Housing on March 14, 2019. RE: SB 1 — RELATING TO HOUSING Comments Only Dear Chair and Committee Members: The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii would like to offer its...
State budget needs bigger cushion to weather crisis
A new Grassroot Institute of Hawaii report suggests ways to build a financial reserve HONOLULU, April 2, 2019 >> Hawaii’s state budget does not have big enough cushion to deal with a deep recession, if one should hit, so lawmakers should rein in spending and...
‘Backward budgeting’ wrong way to move forward
Hawaii lawmakers are considering a myriad of new tax increases in order to pay for their spending plans, but instead they should clamp down on their spending so tax hikes aren’t needed. The Legislature on March 27 sent a record high $16 billion budget plan to Gov....
Relax Maui zoning to allow more urban dwellings
For many Maui families, purchasing a home is a pipe dream. However, there may be an opportunity for them to realize that dream, if county residents would be open to reforming local housing regulations. Maui’s complex zoning laws act as a barrier to homebuilding,...
High medical costs another threat to Hawaii taxpayers
It is common knowledge that medical costs have been skyrocketing for years, regardless of all attempts to reform our nation’s medical system. What many people in Hawaii don’t realize, however, is that higher medical costs increase our state’s debt — and Hawaii...
The hypocrisy of minimum-wage laws
Hawaii politicians are eager to raise the minimum legal wage — again. They have raised the minimum legal wage many times before, but they complain that it is never enough. The last increase in the minimum wage wasn’t enough because the prices of food, clothing and...
Akina pans HART’s P3 plan in Star-Advertiser
The following is an excerpt from an article that appeared Sunday, March 17, in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, "Federal investigation, funding issues increase risk for rail bidders." It features comments by Grassroot Institute of Hawaii President Keli'i Akina, who was...
Leasehold state housing won’t solve housing crisis
The Hawaii Legislature is considering forming a new state agency that would build high-rise condominium units on state land that it would sell for about $300,000 each under 99-year leases. But the proposal, called ALOHA Homes, would not be the answer to Hawaii’s...
Akina updates ‘808 State Update’ on contracting report
It didn't take long for the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii's newest policy report, "How to revive contracting as a policy option in Hawaii," to receive some thoughtful media attention. Publicly released on Wednesday, March 13, the report describes the legal obstacles...
More housing would boost Maui tax revenues
As Maui County lawmakers search under the couch cushions for loose change that would help them meet their budgetary goals, they should remember that finding extra cash could be easy, if they would only step out of the way of island homebuilders. That's right: the...
Restore flexibility for delivery of public services
Imagine that you’ve just been appointed to a managerial position in county government. You’re looking for ways to make your department run more efficiently and you notice that janitorial services have been a perpetual headache for previous managers. Filling the...
New report tells how to revive contracting as policy option
Hawaii lawmakers need greater flexibility in determining how to deliver public services. HONOLULU, Mar. 13, 2019 >> A small tweak to an old law might be all that is needed to help the state partner with the private sector, according to a new report by the...
Take longer view on Hawaii infrastructure
When friends visit the islands, I love to show them Hawaii’s beautiful mountains, beaches and sunsets, but I try to direct their eyes away from the state’s crumbling government infrastructure. The state’s disintegrating roads, brittle bridges and run-down...
GET tax hike a lose-lose proposition
The Hawaii Legislature seems to have learned the wrong lesson from last year’s constitutional amendment debate. The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii was among those who objected to the proposed amendment to the state Constitution that would have allowed the Legislature...
State’s use of contractors just a hint of what could be
At least 11 of Hawaii’s state agencies have each saved thousands of dollars a year by privatizing some of their janitor positions, giving a rare glimpse of the savings that could be possible if more state and county agencies followed this approach. The private...