In This Issue: Akaka Bill ... Economics ... Generation Joshua ... Grassroot Insights audio podcasts ... Liberty Events ... GRIH Media Hits

Special Indigenous Privileges?
The Native Human Government Reorganization Act
By Jere Krischel

Everybody is theoretically "indigenous" to somewhere, and the very word is linked to the idea of location. It may even be the case that people are "indigenous" to multiple places, in the case of mixed ancestry. But for some, "indigenous" also defines a special class of people, who deserve different treatment from others, based on their association with a particular location for a certain timeframe.

Some have claimed that the U.S. Congress has recognized "indigenous" people in the United States as deserving of special privileges, and are using this rationale to justify the Akaka Bill. The Akaka Bill would put together a committee to decide who is and who is not Native Hawaiian ("indigenous" to the Hawaiian Islands), and then form a special government for that group. Their reliance on any definition of "indigenous" is problematic, however.

(To read more, click here.)

GRASSROOT PERSPECTIVE

The Crisis Of Ignorance
Economics is a Science
By Tracy Ryan

I started to write a brief overview of the causes and possible solutions of our current economic crisis. In doing so I've become increasingly convinced that the real problem is ignorance. Ignorance of the teachings of people like Ludwig Von Mises and the "Austrian School" of economics has allowed the public to be confused by the misguided ideas of government officials.

For most of two generations, economists have been trained in a faulty theory of general economics and the business cycle. As a result, there are legions of Ph.D.s and a good smattering of Nobel Prize winners in economics who lack a fundamental understanding of the issues they claim expertise in. This is the result of the economic heresies of John Maynard Keynes and of various government and media sources promoting his ideas. ...

(To read more, click here.)

FRESH PERSPECTIVE

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii created the Fresh Perspective column exclusively to publish the work of high school and college students. In addition to work appearing on GRIH’s website, their work is also submitted to Hawaii Reporter. Submissions are welcome from any interested young adult, and we will publish work that is clearly written and grammatically sound. For earlier Fresh Perspectives please click here. Please contact tom@grassrootinstitute.org for more info.

Making a Difference
By Hannah Shattuck

I’m 14 years old and I love politics! I have often been told that I'm far too opinionated for someone of my age, but I've found a good outlet for my many opinions in Generation Joshua. Like everyone else in GenJ (as we call it), I am homeschooled.

I have also gone to public school and several private schools, but being homeschooled has presented many more amazing opportunities for me, among them the chance of being on a debate team for a year, which is where I met Ryan McDonald, who happens to be the president of this club. After the year was over, Ryan e-mailed me about a civics club he was starting, the first one of its kind in the Islands. Naturally I was interested in joining, so I proceeded to do so. It immediately opened doors to field trips and other interesting things to do.

When the campaign season began, it really started heating up. The first activity I did was a voter registration drive at the Aloha Stadium. I had so much fun. However, since we were there as an unbiased organization registering voters, we could not say which candidate we supported. I had a particularly hard time with this.

(To read more, click here.)

GRASSROOT REVIEWS

Have you read a good book or viewed a good DVD on liberty or a free market subject recently? Let your follow GRIH members know and share your views with 'Grassroot Reviews'. Please send your book or movie review to tom@grassrootinstitute.org.

-GIR-

GRASSROOT TV

Grassroot TV at YouTube.com features videos relating to public issues in Hawaii and beyond, as well as statements from the Institute on various concerns facing our communities. We've loaded the library at the online TV station with new videos from The Heritage Foundation, Cato Institute, Americans for Tax Reform and more.

Please also check out our News Conference video from the recent Grassroot Institute and Citizens Against Government Waste press conference featuring PigFoot at http://www.youtube.com/user/GrassrootHawaii.

-GIR-

'GRASSROOT INSIGHT' PODCASTS

In our "Grassroot Insight" podcast series, GRIH Director of Communications Tom McAuliffe interviews VIPs, community leaders and special guests from the liberty and freedom movement. The audio interviews are available for download to your iPod or for listening via the Internet. This issue features the second part of a two-part interview with Transparency Correspondent Don Ray, talking about his new blog which is shining light on state and local government in Hawaii; and the second part of a two-part interview with GRIH Policy Analyst Pearl Hahn about the new transparency website and the 2009 Hawaii Pork Report.

Click here to listen to journalist Don Ray of Sunshine Chronicles (Part 2).
Click here to listen to Policy Analyst Pearl Hahn of GRIH (Part 2).

As a special treat this issue we also feature an interview with President Jamie Story, Citizens Against Government Waste's David Williams and Hawaii Pork Report lead author Pearl Hahn, who appeared on "The Rick Hamada Show", the #1 morning talk radio show in the state.

Please check out our other recent podcasts with:
• Suzanne Marinelli of the State Legislature's "Public Access Room"
• Paul Bachman from the Beacon Hill Institute on the new Akaka Bill study
• Hawaii State Senator Sam Slom from Small Business Hawaii

-GIR-

LIBERTY EVENTS

Information on the Institute’s upcoming events, research publication dates and speaking engagements are always available and updated via our website. The Grassroot Institute has regular meetings on Oahu, Maui, The Big Island, and Kauai. Please contact our office for more details.

Hawaii Reporter 7th Anniversary Party
Friday, February 20, 2009, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Waialae Country Club
Cost: $55 per person (includes buffet lunch)
Honoring Hawaii Reporter's 'Super Heroes' of the year, including GRIH Founder Dick Rowland!
Please RSVP by close-of-business on Thursday, Feb. 19 to Jay at 524-4500.

Family Brain Gain Seminars
The videos of ABC News correspondent John Stossel were well-received last time, as were special guests HPU Professor Ken Schoolland and his wife Li Zhao, who shared about her incredible experiences living under Communist rule and during the Cultural Revolution in China. Mahalo nui loa to Ken and Li!

Please join us in March for "The Singing Revolution", an award-winning documentary film that tells the extraordinary story of the non-violent path Estonia took to free itself from Soviet occupation. A very moving film you won't want to miss!

Thursday, March 19, 2009, 6:45-8:45 pm (Please note the early start time!)
Trinity Presbyterian Church and School
875 Auloa Rd., Kailua, HI 96734

Dick Rowland, GRIH's Founder and Youth Program Director, will be the moderator. You are welcome to invite friends and family. Please RSVP since space may be limited. For reservations, please email Lora Burbage at LLburbage@yahoo.com. If you have any questions, call Lora at 772-0787 or Dick at 864-1776. Donations to help defer expenses will be gratefully accepted.

Mahalo nui loa to Trinity Presbyterian Church and School for their support!

Li Zhao's The Foolish Things Idea Exchange
Sunday, March 8, 2009, 6:00-8:00 pm
Speaker: Shota Mkheidze from the Republic of Georgia
Topics: The Russian Invasion, Central Asian Oil, and the New Cold War
Cost: $5 monthly (or $40 annual) membership donation. Heavy pupus.
Location: The Schoolland's, 94-1097 Alelo St., Waipahu, HI
RSVP by Feb. 7, 2009 to 808-676-0825 or lzs66@hotmail.com

Second Annual International Conference on Climate Change
March 8-10, 2009
New York City
Scientists, economists, and climate experts with a skeptical view of climate change alarmism will gather early next month to discuss why they believe the global warming crisis has been canceled--and whether a crisis ever really existed in first place. Policy Analyst Pearl Hahn will be attending and will provide GIR readers and GRIH members with a full report upon her return. The Grassroot Institute is one of the co-sponsors of the event along with The Heartland Institute. Approximately 1,000 scientists, economists, policy experts, elected officials and civic and business leaders are expected to attend the conference. Visit the conference website at http://www.heartland.org/events/NewYork09/newyork09.html.

Gun Control Debate
Monday, March 9, 2009, 12:45-1:50 pm
Classroom #2, Richardson School of Law, 2515 Dole St. on the UH campus.
The Student Chapter of the Federalist Society, the Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace, and the UH Richardson School of Law present "Gun Control and the Right to Bear Arms: A debate on the impact of District of Columbia v. Heller" between attorney Alan Gura, who argued the case, and UH Law Professor Jon Van Dyke. Law School Dean Aviam Soifer will be the moderator. Guests are welcome but should RSVP to Loren Tilley at loren.tilley@gmail.com or 271-1169.

SPN 2009 Leadership Development Breakfast
Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, Los Angeles, California
April 23-26, 2009
The Leadership Development Breakfast on April 23rd is held in conjunction with The Heritage Foundation's 32nd Annual Resource Bank. The event features management and leadership experts providing strategies that advance free markets and limited government. This is a valuable session for all grassroot advocates, policy leaders and think tank staff. The two-day event features tours during the day, a State Think Tank Dinner, an Atlas Liberty discussion forum, and the SPN Leadership Development Breakfast. For more information please visit http://www.spn.org/events/2009-leadership-development-breakfast-los-angeles-california.

-GIR-

LIBERTY NEWS

Hawaii Public Lands Debate

The Richardson School of Law at University of Hawaii at Manoa recently hosted a debate sponsored by the national chapter of the Federalist Society, an organization for attorneys and law school students. The debate was entitled, "Hawaii's Race Case? Hawaii vs. OHA", and examined the question: "Did the state Supreme Court rewrite the terms by which Hawaii became the 50th state?" The debate was between Ilya Shapiro, Senior Fellow at the Center for Constitutional Studies and editor-in-chief for Supreme Court Review at the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C.; and UH Visiting Professor Carl Christensen. The debate was SRO and spirited. A highlight video as well as an audio podcast of the event will be available shortly via GTV and the GRIH website. The next day Mr. Shapiro was on the #1 morning radio talk show in Hawaii, "The Rick Hamada Show" on KHVH 830 AM (listen here), and later in the day made special presentations to and answered questions from Hawaii state legislators at the Capitol. Special thanks to the Cato Institute and the Federalist Society for facilitating community discussion on these vital issues!

Cato's Ilya Shapiro makes a point to students and guests during the recent debate on Hawaii's Public Lands and the Akaka Bill. Early the next morning Shapiro was a guest on the #1 radio morning talk radio show in Hawaii, "The Rick Hamada Show".

-GIR-

Aloha!

GRIH is happy to welcome Frances Nuar as a new policy intern. She brings a wealth of experience to the organization. A recent graduate of Ave Maria University in Florida with a BA in Economics and a minor in Political Science, Nuar is originally from New Jersey, most recently working in NYC.

"I'm excited at the opportunity to be able to help the Grassroot Institute with the vital work it does, and I look forward to using my skills to make Hawaii a better place for all of its citizens," she said.

Nuar has worked as a congressional intern in the office of Congressman Mel Martinez in Washington, D.C. as well as with the World Youth Alliance, an NGO working with the United Nations in New York City. She has traveled extensively around the world.

"Frances is a welcome addition to the Grassroot team and we look forward to working with her," said President Jamie Story. "During her 3 month internship you'll be hearing from her!" Nuar will be working on various public policy issues as well as helping with GRIH operations.

-GIR-

At The Podium

Grassroot Institute President Jamie Story spoke recently to the Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunset. It's the largest Rotary Club in the state and more than 75 people attended the event at the Waikiki Yacht Club. Story spoke about the Institute, the new 2009 Hawaii Pork Report, and the need for local and state government transparency in Hawaii. The Hawaii-based club was chartered in 1939. To find out more, please visit www.waikikirotary.org.

-GIR-

Got Words?

The Sir John M. Templeton Fellowships Essay Contest encourages college students and young college professors around the world to study the meaning and significance of economic and personal liberty.

Co-sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation and the Independent Institute, the essay contest is held annually with a different topic each year. An international competition open to all college students and untenured college teachers under 36 years old, this year entrants are invited to examine the relationship between freedom, virtue and civil society.

Top student essays will be awarded $2,500 with junior faculty winning $10,000. Entry deadline is May 1, 2009.

Created in 1974 by Olive W. Garvey, the Fellowship contest has drawn essay submissions from more than 75 countries on 5 continents. Garvey winners have since become some of the finest of scholars, business and civic leaders, and journalists, applying and advancing public knowledge and appreciation around the world for the ideas of individual liberty and personal responsibility.

For more information, visit http://www.independent.org/students/essay/.

-GIR-

Grassroot Media Hits

1. 2009 Hawaii Pork Report
On Jan. 28th the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii and Citizens Against Government Waste released the 2009 Hawaii Pork Report in a press conference at the Hawaii State Capitol. The resulting local and international media coverage was significant, including:

KHON-TV2 FOX, Hawaii At 5, Jan. 28, 2009, Run time: 2 minutes (The story ran at 5 pm, 6 pm, and 10 pm)
Kirk Matthews reports:

"There was a six foot tall pink pig in the Capitol Rotunda today to make a point. The Grassroot Institute was issuing its first-ever Hawaii Pork Report on government waste. The pig's comments were not intelligible, but there was no doubt about the focus of the Grassroot Institute. Members were calling for less waste in state and county spending and more budget transparency!"

KITV-ABC, Island TV News At 6, Jan. 28, 2009, Run time: 2:04 (The story also ran at 5:30 pm and 10 pm)

"The state spent 93 thousand dollars for an Artmobile that doesn't operate any more. That's just one example a controversial Hawaii think tank is listing in its first-ever 2009 Hawaii Pork Report. As KITV's Mahealani Richardson reports, deciding what's pork or not is not so clear cut: 'Hawaii's pork needs to trim down -- that's what the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii and Washington watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste is saying in its first Hawaii Pork Report.' "

"The Rick Hamada Show", KHVH-AM, Jan. 29, 2009, 6 am, Run time: Over 60 minutes
GRIH President Jamie Story, Citizens Against Government Waste VP of Policy David Williams, and Lead Author Pearl Hahn discuss the 2009 Hawaii Pork Report.

MSNBC, Jan. 29, 2009
National media outlet MSNBC picked up the story with an image of the Report.

Associated Press, Jan. 28-30, 2009
The Associated Press story by Mark Niesse ran on the wires and was picked up by newspapers across the country and as far away as Europe.

Honolulu Star Bulletin, Feb. 4, 2009
2009 Hawaii Pork Report author Pearl Hahn's Letter to the Editor, "There's too much pork in Hawaii, too", continued the community discussion:

"During his presidential campaign, Barack Obama promised to restore the public's faith in government. To that end, he worked with Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) to push the Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 in Congress - or the 'Google Government' bill, as it is aptly described... Hawaii legislators should enact similar legislation at the state level."

The Honolulu Advertiser, Jan. 30, 2009
GRIH Policy Analyst Pearl Hahn had a Letter to the Editor in the state's largest newspaper, The Honolulu Advertiser. In the letter entitled "State Spending: Abuse Of Public Funds Exposed In New Report", Hahn asserted:

"Hard-working Hawaiian citizens may be more than a little annoyed to find that a state employee traveled to L.A. for the Grammy Awards at a cost of nearly $3,000 last year, that $130,000 was shelled out for water-cooler decorations at the Convention Center, that $2,400,000 is allotted for substitute custodians in public schools, and that nearly $7 million was approved in a 2008 budget for an elephant facility at the zoo. Before assenting to tax increases and curtailed essential services, the government should work harder to be cost-effective, transparent, and accountable to the citizens they claim to serve."

2. On the Hot Seat: House Speaker Calvin Say
In the Sunday, Feb. 2, 2009 edition of the Honolulu Advertiser's weekly "Hot Seat" column, GRIH Director of Operations Wendy Fujimoto had a question for Hawaii House of Representatives Speaker Calvin Say:

Wendy Fujimoto: "One inexpensive way of cutting wasteful spending is to post all government expenses online. The public will be able to monitor the way tax dollars are spent. You know, the students always behave when the teacher is watching. Do you think state expenses online will come to Hawaii any time soon? A few states are doing it already."

Speaker Say: "Aloha Wendy, We passed a bill to post government expenses online, but unfortunately, the funds were not released for the Department of Accounting and General Services. I do support the project and hope that someday we will have government expenses online."

3. Akaka Bill
GRIH was mentioned during the 5:30 am segment of the Jan. 28th SUNRISE morning show (KGMB-TV 9) in regards to the re-introduction of the Akaka Bill in the US Congress. The report ran 2:29 minutes.

4. And Finally....
Hawaii Reporter recently published several news releases from GRIH and articles from Grassroot Institute members. Please visit their site at http://www.hawaiireporter.com. In addition, the nationally recognized and popular site Townhall.com has recently picked up for national distribution many of the articles you read in Grassroot in Review.

-GIR-

FAVORITE GRASSROOT BLOGS
Join the conversation and express your views! Use the links below to access these fascinating blogs.

The Mystery of Hawaiian History
http://historymystery.grassrootinstitute.org/

Hawaii Sunshine Chronicles
http://www.sunshinechronicles.wordpress.com

Read what others have written and add your own thoughts. See you there!

-GIR-

NEED A GOOD SPEAKER?
From taxation to education and health care to transportation, the Institute’s staff is excited to address your group regarding the important policy issues facing all citizens of Hawaii. Call (808) 591-9193 to check availability and make arrangements, or e-mail us at tom@grassrootinstitute.org.

-GIR-

SUPPORT GOOD PUBLIC POLICY IN HAWAII!
Please help us continue to provide independent research on issues important to Hawaii! The Grassroot Institute operates only through the generous donations of friends and benefactors from around Hawaii and the United States, and even the smallest of donations can be used to accomplish great things for the future of our beloved state.

Will you please consider becoming a supporter today? Donations are tax deductible and it's quick, easy and secure. Click here!

-GIR-

Grassroot Institute is a proud member of the State Policy Network, Townhall.com, Americans for Tax Reform, The Sam Adams Alliance and more.