Thanksgiving is about counting your blessings, and with that in mind, I want to honor the day by expressing my sincere and resounding gratitude to some very important people.
First, I want to give thanks to you, the supporters of Grassroot. You are the inspiration for all that we do.
Every day, I read an email or get a message from someone that reminds me why our work is so important.
You share your stories, provide feedback, reach out to our lawmakers through programs such as our Voter Voice advocacy alerts, and share your time and resources with us to keep us going — and I am grateful for all of it.
I also want to express my gratitude to Gov. Josh Green and the state Legislature for all the surprisingly bold and constructive work they have been doing on our behalf over the past couple of years — including enacting a historic personal income tax cut and significant housing reforms, abolishing the general excise tax on certain medical services and easing procedures for the temporary licensure for out-of-state nurses.
I also want to thank the members of Hawaii’s four county councils who have been eager for input and new ideas regarding permitting reform, property tax relief and — specific to Maui — quicker recovery for the residents of Lahaina and other parts of the island affected by the August 2023 wildfires.
The counties are where the rubber meets the road on housing and zoning policies, and I am grateful that we’ve been able to work closely with county council members on these issues.
Finally, my heartfelt thanks go out to the Grassroot Institute’s staff and board members, for all their hard work and dedication.
I wish you could see the energy and excitement that has become a feature of our board and staff meetings. This is a group of people that is committed to making Hawaii a more free and prosperous place to live, and it is truly a joy to work with them.
They have made 2024 one of the most successful years in Grassroot’s history, and with your continued support, we are eager to build on that momentum and continue our work for the people of Hawaii.
Thank you for all you do to support the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, and on behalf of the entire Grassroot staff and board, I wish you a very happy Thanksgiving.
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This commentary was Keli‘i Akina’s weekly “President’s Corner” column for Nov. 28, 2024. If you would like to have his columns emailed to you on a regular basis, please call 808-864-1776 or email info@grassrootinstitute.org.
