How to achieve a policy trifecta
What if we could help farmers, ease the housing crisis and improve Hawaii’s economy all at the same time? A series of simple reforms could do that. The starting point would be to make it easier to build farmworker housing on agricultural land. That would enable farm and ranch workers to find housing closer to […]
Create commission with aim of reducing cost of city government
The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Honolulu Charter Commission on Jan. 12, 2026. _____________ Jan. 12, 2026, 2:30 p.m.Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu Charter Commission Dawn Szewczyk, Chair Sommerset Yamamoto, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: P065 — RELATING […]
Amend property tax-dedication guidelines for low-income rentals
The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Honolulu City Council Committee on Budget on Jan. 13, 2026._____________ Jan. 13, 2026, 9 a.m.Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Committee on Budget Val Okimoto, Chair Scott Nishimoto, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic […]
‘Community benefits agreements’ would further burden homebuilding
The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Honolulu Charter Commission on Jan. 12, 2026._____________ Jan. 12, 2026, 2:30 p.m.Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu Charter Commission Dawn Szewczyk, Chair Sommerset Yamamoto, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: P141 — RELATING TO […]
Require county online budget data to be free and publicly accessible
The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Honolulu City Council Committee on Budget on Jan. 13, 2026._____________ Jan. 13, 2026, 9 a.m.Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Committee on Budget Val Okimoto, Chair Scott Nishimoto, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic […]
