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Think small to help resolve Kaua‘i’s housing crisis

The following commentary was originally published Sept. 27, 2023, in The Garden Island newspaper on Kaua‘i. _____________ If Kaua‘i County lawmakers would like to get ahead of the housing crisis curve, they should consider allowing homebuilding on lot sizes smaller than currently allowed. The simple truth is that larger houses cost more.

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India abolishes its ‘Jones Act,’ could be role model for U.S.

India has abolished its equivalent of the Jones Act — America’s 1920 U.S. maritime law that prohibits foreign shipping competition between U.S. ports and adds to American business and consumer costs. According to news sources such as Splash 24/7 and the India-based National Herald, leading government officials in the world’s

Read More →

Hawaii’s internet future depends on existing Jones Act exemption

Above, the Normand Clipper, built in 2001 and owned by Global Marine Systems of the United Kingdom, which installs and maintains undersea fiber-optic cables around the globe. _______________ If you would like to prevent Hawaiian Telcom from upgrading Hawaii’s broadband infrastructure under a recently awarded $37 million federal grant, you

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New law could help resolve Maui’s axis deer problem

The following article was published originally by Maui Now on July 5, 2023. ______________ Maui’s struggle with invasive deer might have just gotten easier to tackle, thanks to a bill signed into law by Governor Josh Green. Passed by the Legislature earlier this year, HB1382, now Act 54, allows nonprofits

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Rail debt gimmick comes back to bite Honolulu taxpayers

The following commentary was originally published in Honolulu Civil Beat on Friday, April 7, 2023. _____________ In 2012, Honolulu officials thought they could protect the county’s credit rating by not counting bond issues for the Honolulu rail in the county’s “debt affordability limit.” But they were wrong. In early February,

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Kauai farmers and businesses need tax relief too

The following commentary was originally published in The Garden Island on Saturday, April 8, 2023. _____________ It’s budget season on the County of Kaua‘i, which means county lawmakers have been busy haggling over what to fund and what to cut in Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami’s proposed $402 million budget. The

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Kudos to U.S. Sen. Schatz for zoning reform initiative

The following commentary was published originally in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on March 7, 2023. __________ A new federal “Yes In My Backyard” grant program, spearheaded by Hawaii’s U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, deserves kudos for targeting barriers to new housing. The purpose of the program, enacted in December as a part

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Hawaii isle zoning review could lead to more housing

The following commentary was originally published March 5, 2023, by the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. ___________ Hawaii island’s housing supply might get a boost in the near future, thanks to an effort underway to update the county’s zoning code. A project team working with the Hawaii County Department of Planning has been

Read More →

Think small to help resolve Kaua‘i’s housing crisis

The following commentary was originally published Sept. 27, 2023, in The Garden Island newspaper on Kaua‘i. _____________ If Kaua‘i County lawmakers would like to get ahead of the housing crisis curve, they should consider allowing homebuilding on lot sizes smaller than currently allowed. The simple truth is that larger houses cost more.

Read More →

India abolishes its ‘Jones Act,’ could be role model for U.S.

India has abolished its equivalent of the Jones Act — America’s 1920 U.S. maritime law that prohibits foreign shipping competition between U.S. ports and adds to American business and consumer costs. According to news sources such as Splash 24/7 and the India-based National Herald, leading government officials in the world’s

Read More →

Hawaii’s internet future depends on existing Jones Act exemption

Above, the Normand Clipper, built in 2001 and owned by Global Marine Systems of the United Kingdom, which installs and maintains undersea fiber-optic cables around the globe. _______________ If you would like to prevent Hawaiian Telcom from upgrading Hawaii’s broadband infrastructure under a recently awarded $37 million federal grant, you

Read More →

New law could help resolve Maui’s axis deer problem

The following article was published originally by Maui Now on July 5, 2023. ______________ Maui’s struggle with invasive deer might have just gotten easier to tackle, thanks to a bill signed into law by Governor Josh Green. Passed by the Legislature earlier this year, HB1382, now Act 54, allows nonprofits

Read More →

Rail debt gimmick comes back to bite Honolulu taxpayers

The following commentary was originally published in Honolulu Civil Beat on Friday, April 7, 2023. _____________ In 2012, Honolulu officials thought they could protect the county’s credit rating by not counting bond issues for the Honolulu rail in the county’s “debt affordability limit.” But they were wrong. In early February,

Read More →

Kauai farmers and businesses need tax relief too

The following commentary was originally published in The Garden Island on Saturday, April 8, 2023. _____________ It’s budget season on the County of Kaua‘i, which means county lawmakers have been busy haggling over what to fund and what to cut in Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami’s proposed $402 million budget. The

Read More →

Kudos to U.S. Sen. Schatz for zoning reform initiative

The following commentary was published originally in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on March 7, 2023. __________ A new federal “Yes In My Backyard” grant program, spearheaded by Hawaii’s U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, deserves kudos for targeting barriers to new housing. The purpose of the program, enacted in December as a part

Read More →

Hawaii isle zoning review could lead to more housing

The following commentary was originally published March 5, 2023, by the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. ___________ Hawaii island’s housing supply might get a boost in the near future, thanks to an effort underway to update the county’s zoning code. A project team working with the Hawaii County Department of Planning has been

Read More →