Maui County moves to speed up historic review for Lahaina rebuilds

Pictured above is the Wo Hing Temple Museum in Lahaina, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and destroyed in the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires. The following commentary was originally published March 5, 2026, in The Maui News.____________ Well-intentioned attempts to protect Lahaina’s historic past have been making it extremely difficult for property […]

War on Iran heightens calls for Jones Act relief

America’s recent attacks on Iran and its immediate effect on fuel prices have spiked calls for the repeal or suspension of the Jones Act, the protectionist maritime law that a 2020 Grassroot Institute of Hawaii policy brief estimated costs Hawaii $1.2 billion a year. Some of the most recent headlines include “Trump Considers Waiving Jones […]

Grassroot testimonies — early March 2026

The following are state and county testimonies submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii in the first half of March 2026._____________ STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES >> HB1612 HD1 — “Hawaii should set goals to be more friendly to businesses” >> HB1620 HD2 — “Hawaii residents and businesses cannot afford barrel tax hike“ >> HB1710 HD2 […]

Kent makes case for keeping state income tax cuts

The Hawaiʻi Legislature passed sweeping income tax cuts in 2024 to help prevent residents from moving away in search of a lower cost of living, according to Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Executive Vice President Joe Kent. But now, some lawmakers are considering walking them back. Speaking this past Sunday with H. Hawaii Media radio host […]