Emergency management reform needed to balance powers

April 8, 2026, 2 p.m. Hawaii State Capitol Conference Room 325 and Videoconference To: House Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs        Rep. David A. Tarnas, Chair        Rep. Mahina Poepoe, Vice-Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii             Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: TESTIMONY […]

State should abolish vacant positions after two years, not five

April 8, 2026, 2 p.m. Hawaii State Capitol Conference Room 308 and Videoconference To: House Committee on Finance       Rep. Chris Todd, Chair       Rep. Jenna Takenouchi, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF SB2014 SD1 HD1 — RELATING TO PUBLIC […]

Property foreclosure is dubious, but adding equity protection is good

April 8, 2026,  10:15 a.m. Hawaii State Capitol Conference Room 211 and Videoconference To: Senate Committee on Ways and Means         Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Chair       Sen. Sharon Y. Moriwaki, Vice Chair       Senate Committee on Judiciary         Sen. Karl Rhoads, Chair   […]

Following the golden rule … of budgeting

I have some good news to share with you: All of Hawaii’s county mayors have released their proposed budgets for the next fiscal year, and most appear to be fiscally responsible.  Could the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii’s spending principles finally be taking root with elected officials? Let’s start with Honolulu, which has the largest county […]