Housing crisis culprit staring us in the face

The evidence continues to mount that land-use, zoning and other homebuilding-related restrictions are the main force behind Hawaii’s ever-increasing housing prices. Nevertheless, many people in Hawaii have for years been blaming the state’s housing crisis on “outsiders” — people from elsewhere in the U.S. or from foreign countries. A recent policy brief for the Grassroot […]

Testimony: Don’t limit new multi-unit housing to just TOD areas

The following written testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration Sept. 7, 2022, by the Honolulu City Council. _____________ To: Honolulu City Council       Tommy Waters, Chair       Esther Kia‘aina, Vice Chair  From: Ted Kefalas             Director of Strategic Campaigns     […]

Candidates raise hopes for food and other exemptions from GET

This article was originally printed in the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle on Aug. 19, 2022. ______________ With inflation soaring in our already-expensive state, wouldn’t it be nice to get a discount on a few of life’s necessities? That might actually happen, if some of the candidates in the current election cycle get elected. Finding popularity in […]