Tupola says empowering people is her motivation

In 2021, not long after Andria Tupola joined the Honolulu City Council, the then-director of the Department of Planning and Permitting told her the DPP had a backlog of about 8,000 permits. On a recent episode of “Hawaii Together” on ThinkTech Hawaii, Tupola told host Joe Kent, executive vice president of the Grassroot Institute of […]

Bill 6: Let private vendors review building permits

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Honolulu City and County Council Committee on Zoning on July 26, 2023. _____________ July 26, 2023 9 a.m. Honolulu City Council Chambers To: Honolulu City and County Council, Committee on Zoning       Councilmember Calvin Say, Chair       Councilmember Tyler Dos […]

Bill 34: Tie homeowner exemption to average assessed home values

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Honolulu County Council Budget Committee on July 25, 2023. _______________ July 25, 2023 9 a.m. Honolulu City Council Chambers To: Honolulu City and County Council, Committee on Budget       Councilmember Radiant Cordero, Chair       Councilmember Matt Weyer, Vice Chair From: […]

Bill 42: Homeowner exemptions more fair than assessment caps

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Honolulu County Council Budget Committee on July 25, 2023. _______________ July 25, 2023 9 a.m. Honolulu City Council Chambers To: Honolulu City and County Council, Committee on Budget       Councilmember Radiant Cordero, Chair       Councilmember Matt Weyer, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute […]