Reinstating ARU standards would ease Kauai’s housing crisis

Oct. 13, 2026, 9 a.m. Lihue Civic Center To: Kaua'i County Planning Commission Gerald Ako, Chair Helen Cox, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Jonathan Helton, Senior Policy Analyst RE: ZA-2027-1 — RELATING TO APIARIES AND BEEKEEPING Aloha Chair Ako, Vice Chair Cox and other members of the Committee,

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Kauai should legalize backyard bees in all zoning districts

Oct. 13, 2026, 9 a.m. Lihue Civic Center To: Kaua'i County Planning Commission Gerald Ako, Chair Helen Cox, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Jonathan Helton, Senior Policy Analyst RE: Bill 2997 — RELATING TO APIARIES AND BEEKEEPING Aloha Chair Ako, Vice Chair Cox and other members of the

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Maui County grant rules need public transparency to curb corruption

Oct. 7, 2026, 5 p.m. Velma Santos Community Center To: Maui Department of Management Josiah Nishita, Managing Director Erin Wade, Deputy Managing Director From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: PROPOSED GRANT RULES Aloha Managing Director Nishita, Deputy Managing Director Wade and department staff, The

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Grassroot supports tax amnesty for unpermitted vacation rental owners

Oct. 6, 2026, 3:30 p.m. Hawaii County Building To: Hawaiʻi County Council Committee on Finance Matt Kaneali`I-Kleinfelder, Chair James E. Hustace, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Jonathan Helton, Policy Analyst RE: Bill 197 (2026) — RELATING TO A TEMPORARY REAL PROPERTY TAX AMNESTY FOR CERTAIN HOSTED TRANSIENT VACATION

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Proposed paid parking ban ignores root cause of auto dependency

Oct. 6, 2026, 10:30 a.m. Hawaiʻi County Building To: Hawaiʻi County Council, Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use and Economic Development Ashley Kierkiewicz, Chair Michelle Galimba, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Jonathan Helton, Policy Analyst RE: Bill 154 (2026) — RELATING TO COMMERCIAL PARKING LOTS AND GARAGES Aloha

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Expand Bill 7 affordable housing program to help meet housing needs

Sep. 22, 2026, 2:30 p.m. Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Committee on Housing, Homelessness and Parks Andria Tupola, Chair Augie Tulba, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: Bill 18 (2026), CD1 — RELATING TO AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING Aloha Chair Tupola, Vice

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Mandatory fiscal impact statements would boost budget transparency

Sept. 15, 2026, 3 p.m. Hawai`i County Building To: Hawai`i County Council Committee on Finance Matt Kaneali`I-Kleinfelder, Chair James E. Hustace, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Jonathan Helton, Policy Analyst Re: Bill 171 (2026) — RELATING TO FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENTS Aloha Chair Kaneali`I-Kleinfelder, Vice Chair Hustace and other

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Reinstating ARU standards would ease Kauai’s housing crisis

Oct. 13, 2026, 9 a.m. Lihue Civic Center To: Kaua'i County Planning Commission Gerald Ako, Chair Helen Cox, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Jonathan Helton, Senior Policy Analyst RE: ZA-2027-1 — RELATING TO APIARIES AND BEEKEEPING Aloha Chair Ako, Vice Chair Cox and other members of the Committee,

Read More →

Kauai should legalize backyard bees in all zoning districts

Oct. 13, 2026, 9 a.m. Lihue Civic Center To: Kaua'i County Planning Commission Gerald Ako, Chair Helen Cox, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Jonathan Helton, Senior Policy Analyst RE: Bill 2997 — RELATING TO APIARIES AND BEEKEEPING Aloha Chair Ako, Vice Chair Cox and other members of the

Read More →

Maui County grant rules need public transparency to curb corruption

Oct. 7, 2026, 5 p.m. Velma Santos Community Center To: Maui Department of Management Josiah Nishita, Managing Director Erin Wade, Deputy Managing Director From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: PROPOSED GRANT RULES Aloha Managing Director Nishita, Deputy Managing Director Wade and department staff, The

Read More →

Grassroot supports tax amnesty for unpermitted vacation rental owners

Oct. 6, 2026, 3:30 p.m. Hawaii County Building To: Hawaiʻi County Council Committee on Finance Matt Kaneali`I-Kleinfelder, Chair James E. Hustace, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Jonathan Helton, Policy Analyst RE: Bill 197 (2026) — RELATING TO A TEMPORARY REAL PROPERTY TAX AMNESTY FOR CERTAIN HOSTED TRANSIENT VACATION

Read More →

Proposed paid parking ban ignores root cause of auto dependency

Oct. 6, 2026, 10:30 a.m. Hawaiʻi County Building To: Hawaiʻi County Council, Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use and Economic Development Ashley Kierkiewicz, Chair Michelle Galimba, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Jonathan Helton, Policy Analyst RE: Bill 154 (2026) — RELATING TO COMMERCIAL PARKING LOTS AND GARAGES Aloha

Read More →

Expand Bill 7 affordable housing program to help meet housing needs

Sep. 22, 2026, 2:30 p.m. Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Committee on Housing, Homelessness and Parks Andria Tupola, Chair Augie Tulba, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: Bill 18 (2026), CD1 — RELATING TO AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING Aloha Chair Tupola, Vice

Read More →

Mandatory fiscal impact statements would boost budget transparency

Sept. 15, 2026, 3 p.m. Hawai`i County Building To: Hawai`i County Council Committee on Finance Matt Kaneali`I-Kleinfelder, Chair James E. Hustace, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Jonathan Helton, Policy Analyst Re: Bill 171 (2026) — RELATING TO FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENTS Aloha Chair Kaneali`I-Kleinfelder, Vice Chair Hustace and other

Read More →
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