Research

Research on Hawaiian issues.

September 2009

Civil Rights Activist and Attorney Dies

Remembering kama’aina John Goemans

John Goemans, a revolutionary attorney well known for his initiation of the Rice v. Cayetano case, passed away on Monday June 15th in a California hospice. He had spent the past few years in California with his sister. Mr. Goemans was passionately involved in various civil rights cases in the state of Hawaii and will be remembered as a kama’aina with a vision of racial equality for Hawaii. (more)

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Environment

September 2009

Plastic Bag Ban Neither Logically Nor Environmentally Sound

by Pearl Hahn

The vote to ban plastic bags on Kauai has again been postponed. Lawmakers would be wise to use this extra time to seriously consider the ramifications of banning plastic bags. (more)

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Transportation

September 2009

Honolulu Drivers Suffer Through Worst Roads

by Pearl Hahn

Last year, TRIP, a national transportation watchdog group, rated Honolulu as having the second-worst urban roads in the nation. On top of all the potholes, Honolulu residents also pay the third highest cost for extra vehicle maintenance due to poor road conditions. The price tag is $770 a year in added costs. (more)

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Health Care

September 2009

Debunking More Misinformation on Health Care Reform

by Pearl Hahn

In his recent Honolulu Advertiser op-ed, Maui Democratic Party chairman Lance Holter deemed President Obama's health care reform an essential and patriotic plan. His rationale can be summed up as such: The American health care system is a mess because of too little government intervention, thus the solution is more government intervention. (more)

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Health Care

September 2009

Baucus Health Care Bill Also An Epic Failure

by Pearl Hahn

Senate Finance Chairman, Max Baucus (D-Mont), introduced his health care bill, America's Healthy Future Act, yesterday. The bill shares many similarities with H.R. 3200 (America's Affordable Health Choices Act), right down to its misleading name and hefty price tag. (more)

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Health Care

September 2009

The Latest on Obama's Health Care Reform

by Pearl Hahn

The grand, sweeping health care reform promised by President Obama during the 2008 election campaign now lies in shambles. Without any possibility of universal health care and the departure of the public option, Americans are feeling betrayed, elated,sad, or just plain confused. (more)

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Health Care

September 2009

Cutting Costs and Choices for State Workers

by Pearl Hahn

State and county workers are in for a few changes to be made in their prescription drug plans next year on January 1. Trustees of the Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF) enacted reference-based pricing for three categories of drugs that will feature cheaper alternatives to alleviate rising costs. (more)

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Health Care

September 2009

Conservatives for Patients' Rights Tour

by Pearl Hahn

The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii joined Conservatives for Patients' Rights in a tour to alert the public about the dangers of more government control in health care. Several states (including Hawaii) have tried government-run health care and suffered enormous costs, and their experiences should serve as a valuable lesson for what not to do at the national level. (more)

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Environment

September 2009

Will Kauai Join the Plastic Bag Ban Wagon?

by Pearl Hahn

Last year, Maui passed the state's first municipal ban on plastic bags. The law will take effect in January 2011. The Big Island followed suit, and will encourage businesses to offer 100 percent recyclable paper bags that must be made out of at least 40 percent post-consumer recycled content. Will Kauai be next? (more)

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Health Care

September 2009

Health Care and Life Expectancy Among Americans

by Pearl Hahn

Following my blog post about health care systems in France and Cuba compared with the United States, a wise reader, Joe Speroni, was compelled to write me an enlightening message concerning data for infant mortality rates and life expectancies. Many (including columnist Paul Krugman) make the mistake of correlating nationalized health care systems with long life expectancies (more)

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Education

September 2009