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.
Court victory welcome, but what about public schools?
Last week’s action by the Hawaii Supreme Court to boot the “education tax” proposal from the Nov. 6 ballot was a victory for accountable government and the democratic process. Had it been approved by the voters, it would have authorized the state to tax real property...
‘P3′ for rail a budgetary ruse
Honolulu’s rail project is hoping to save costs by partnering with private companies in a process known as a public-private partnership, or “P3.” But experts say that nationally many rail P3s have enabled the government project managers to duck budgetary limits in the...
Hawaii’s high court strikes down tax proposal
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii agrees the ballot measure was vague and misleading HONOLULU, Oct. 19, 2018 >> The Hawaii Supreme Court today struck down the proposed constitutional ballot question on whether the state should be allowed to tax real property to help...
More taxes not a cure
When even a Hawaii Supreme Court Justice isn’t sure who is supposed to pay a new tax, you know you have a confusing ballot measure. On Thursday, Hawaii’s highest court heard the counties’ arguments against the wording of the proposed state constitutional amendment...
Hawaii public teachers’ salaries misrepresented
This column was originally featured in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Wednesday, Oct. 17. This version includes the charts and footnotes. A widely cited study issued last month by WalletHub erroneously stated that Hawaii public school teachers make a starting salary...
#AuditTheRail, now more than ever
A few years ago, I did an interview for our “E Hana Kakou” show with LaVonda Atkinson, a cost engineer and whistleblower on a San Francisco project that extended part of that city’s existing subway by two miles — “at a billion dollars a mile.” After looking over the...
Case, Cavasso agree on updating Jones Act
Democrat and Republican candidates say they would reform Jones Act, if elected HONOLULU, Oct. 10, 2018 >> Both of the leading candidates seeking to represent Hawaii’s Congressional District 1 in the U.S. House of Representatives, Democrat Ed Case and Republican Cam...
Why we joined the ‘surcharge’ lawsuit
Shakespeare said that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet — proof that he wasn’t a lawyer … or a politician. Either of them would tell you that a “surcharge” smells a lot better to voters than a “tax.” And that’s one of the problems with the ballot measure...
Hawaii union law potentially unconstitutional
Act 007 appears to be in violation of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent 'Janus' decision HONOLULU, Sept. 27, 2018 >> A new Hawaii law governing union membership dues may be unconstitutional, according to attorneys Tony Gill and Jacob Huebert, who were featured guests...
Stop digging deeper pension debt
They call it the first law of holes, and the principle is simple: When you’re in a hole, stop digging. If only we could apply this to Hawaii’s public pension crisis. When it comes to the state’s unfunded pension liabilities, there’s broad agreement that it’s a...
Maui County should welcome vacation rentals
The following article was originally featured Sept. 25, 2018, in The Maui News. Maui County policymakers have typically decried short-term rentals that are unpermitted. But rather than erect significant barriers to their operation — including a limit on their numbers...
No way new tax won’t cost us
Of all the questions that surround the Nov. 6 “education tax” ballot measure, the most important may be the one that has been asked the least: How much? How much is this going to cost me personally? How much will it cost our economy? How much is the tax going to be?...
‘Education tax’ goal of $400M would be immense burden
Residential A-style homes statewide could face an average $21,005 in extra taxes a year HONOLULU, Sept. 25, 2018 >> A proposed state “surcharge” on so-called investment real property to fund public education could result in county property taxes statewide going up by...
Jones Act waivers not a solution
Residents of Hawaii — like the residents of any area regularly visited by hurricanes — know how to prepare for a big storm. Plywood goes up on windows. Yards are cleared of debris. Supermarket shelves are stripped bare as people stock up on water, food and emergency...
Time to end ‘gut and replace’
What’s in a title? If you’re a member of the Hawaii Legislature, opportunity. When you read a bill, you’ll notice that the title is often frustratingly vague. The language of the bill may be long and technical, but the title might be just “Relating to...
Proposed ‘education tax’ a Pandora’s box
The proposal assumes investors and property owners will continue to behave the same after it’s passed The best laid plans, we are told, often go awry. But the saying should come with an asterisk that adds, “Especially when it comes to politicians counting on revenue...