The following commentary was first published on March 18, 2026, by the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle under the headline “How State Lawmakers Could Preserve Income Tax Cuts.”_____________ Gov. Josh Green has proposed balancing the state budget by pausing the historic income tax cuts he signed into law in 2024. But rather than call
The following “Island Voices” commentary was first published on April 25, 2025, in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser under the headline “City spending going up, despite fewer residents. Solutions?”_____________ Honolulu City and County spending has nearly doubled over the past decade despite Oahu’s population declining during the same period, suggesting that now
The following commentary was originally published Feb. 23, 2025, in the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle.____________ A new Maui law that directs the county’s Department of Water Supply to modernize its plumbing rules might seem like just a drop in the policy-making bucket, but it could wind up making a big splash
The best way state lawmakers can help the people of Hawaii is to protect the historic income tax cuts that took effect this year, according to Joe Kent of the Grassroot Institute, who said they can do so “by keeping a lid on spending.” Kent joined H. Hawaii Media radio
The following “Island Voices” commentary was first published on Jan. 14, 2025, in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser under the headline “Keep promised income tax cuts intact.”_____________ Let us be clear: There is no need for Hawaii’s legislators to reverse the historic state income tax cuts that were enacted during the 2024
The following “Island Voices” commentary was first published on Dec. 5, 2024, in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser under the headline “Honolulu not right venue for an effective empty-homes tax.”_____________ Honolulu lawmakers are considering imposing a so-called empty homes tax as a way to make housing more available and generate taxes for
Photo by Mark Coleman The following commentary was originally published in the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle on Nov. 11, 2024. _____________ Hawaii is notorious for its building permit delays and hassles. Hawaii Island resident Shahzaad Ausman knows this firsthand. He bought a cottage in Milolii in 2021 that came with an
The following commentary was originally published in the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle on Oct. 23, 2024. _____________ Some ideas are like zombies, reviving again and again, even though they should be laid to rest for good. Such is the case with the empty homes tax, which is being proposed again at
The following commentary was published originally on Oct. 6, 2024, in the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle.___________ Maui County officials are considering proposals to allow or even encourage building more homes per lot, but the success of those efforts could wind up being watered down by outdated plumbing rules. Back in March, I talked
Front Street, Lahaina, c. 1910. Photo by R.J. Baker The following commentary was first published on Aug. 20, 2024, by the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle. _____________ By Joe Kent Hawaii has a reputation for being one of the hardest states in the nation to build homes, with the blame quite rightly
The following commentary was first published on March 18, 2026, by the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle under the headline “How State Lawmakers Could Preserve Income Tax Cuts.”_____________ Gov. Josh Green has proposed balancing the state budget by pausing the historic income tax cuts he signed into law in 2024. But rather than call
The following “Island Voices” commentary was first published on April 25, 2025, in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser under the headline “City spending going up, despite fewer residents. Solutions?”_____________ Honolulu City and County spending has nearly doubled over the past decade despite Oahu’s population declining during the same period, suggesting that now
The following commentary was originally published Feb. 23, 2025, in the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle.____________ A new Maui law that directs the county’s Department of Water Supply to modernize its plumbing rules might seem like just a drop in the policy-making bucket, but it could wind up making a big splash
The best way state lawmakers can help the people of Hawaii is to protect the historic income tax cuts that took effect this year, according to Joe Kent of the Grassroot Institute, who said they can do so “by keeping a lid on spending.” Kent joined H. Hawaii Media radio
The following “Island Voices” commentary was first published on Jan. 14, 2025, in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser under the headline “Keep promised income tax cuts intact.”_____________ Let us be clear: There is no need for Hawaii’s legislators to reverse the historic state income tax cuts that were enacted during the 2024
The following “Island Voices” commentary was first published on Dec. 5, 2024, in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser under the headline “Honolulu not right venue for an effective empty-homes tax.”_____________ Honolulu lawmakers are considering imposing a so-called empty homes tax as a way to make housing more available and generate taxes for
Photo by Mark Coleman The following commentary was originally published in the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle on Nov. 11, 2024. _____________ Hawaii is notorious for its building permit delays and hassles. Hawaii Island resident Shahzaad Ausman knows this firsthand. He bought a cottage in Milolii in 2021 that came with an
The following commentary was originally published in the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle on Oct. 23, 2024. _____________ Some ideas are like zombies, reviving again and again, even though they should be laid to rest for good. Such is the case with the empty homes tax, which is being proposed again at
The following commentary was published originally on Oct. 6, 2024, in the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle.___________ Maui County officials are considering proposals to allow or even encourage building more homes per lot, but the success of those efforts could wind up being watered down by outdated plumbing rules. Back in March, I talked
Front Street, Lahaina, c. 1910. Photo by R.J. Baker The following commentary was first published on Aug. 20, 2024, by the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle. _____________ By Joe Kent Hawaii has a reputation for being one of the hardest states in the nation to build homes, with the blame quite rightly
