Gov. Josh Green’s big tax plan, the “Green Affordability Plan,” promises to put $300 million back into taxpayers’ pockets, making it one of the biggest tax reductions in Hawaii history. But can the GAP live up to that promise? For the past several years, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii has urged
The following article was published originally on Feb 4, 2023, in the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle. ____________ Hawaii has been suffering from a doctor shortage for years. Right now, experts estimate we have an unmet need of 776 full-time equivalent physicians. The greatest need is in primary care, but some specialties
Gov. Josh Green promised strong action to address housing during his first State of the State address this week, and clearly he is trying to deliver. At one point during his speech, he even signed an emergency proclamation to create housing for the homeless. Few would argue with the good
The following article was published originally Jan. 25, 2023, by the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle. _____________ Hawaii’s population declined again in 2022, and that’s not good. More than 15,000 people left Hawaii for the mainland last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Counting births, deaths and immigration from other countries,
Photo by Charley Myers The 2023 Hawaii Legislature is now in session, and for organizations like the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, this is one of the busiest times of the year. In past sessions, my Institute colleagues and I have often spent more time trying to stop bad ideas than
With a new governor and a new Legislature now in place, Hawaii’s leaders have the opportunity to make a bold statement for government transparency and accountability. The only question is whether they have the political will to do so. Given the various scandals that have rocked Hawaii in recent years
Hawaii’s population has been declining for six straight years, and if policymakers don’t do something quickly to avert the looming increase in county property taxes, that is likely to continue. That’s because taxes are a key component of Hawaii’s high cost of living, which surveys show is the No. 1 reason people have been leaving. As
If I could propose one New Year’s resolution for Hawaii’s leaders, it would be this: Cut taxes in 2023. That should be a fairly easy resolution to keep. Throughout the election season, multiple candidates talked about the need to ease Hawaii’s tax burden, and new and established government leaders have
Mele Kalikimaka! In this space, I usually focus on the things we can do to improve Hawaii — how we can create more housing, improve the economy, expand healthcare access, keep government accountable and lower the cost of living. Today, however, in the spirit of the holiday, I want to talk
Photo by Charley Myers Hawaii property taxes are going up, and that’s not cool. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported this week that the latest property value assessments of all real property on Oahu went up by 12.4% compared with the previous year. And that’s just the average. On the North Shore,
Gov. Josh Green’s big tax plan, the “Green Affordability Plan,” promises to put $300 million back into taxpayers’ pockets, making it one of the biggest tax reductions in Hawaii history. But can the GAP live up to that promise? For the past several years, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii has urged
The following article was published originally on Feb 4, 2023, in the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle. ____________ Hawaii has been suffering from a doctor shortage for years. Right now, experts estimate we have an unmet need of 776 full-time equivalent physicians. The greatest need is in primary care, but some specialties
Gov. Josh Green promised strong action to address housing during his first State of the State address this week, and clearly he is trying to deliver. At one point during his speech, he even signed an emergency proclamation to create housing for the homeless. Few would argue with the good
The following article was published originally Jan. 25, 2023, by the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle. _____________ Hawaii’s population declined again in 2022, and that’s not good. More than 15,000 people left Hawaii for the mainland last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Counting births, deaths and immigration from other countries,
Photo by Charley Myers The 2023 Hawaii Legislature is now in session, and for organizations like the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, this is one of the busiest times of the year. In past sessions, my Institute colleagues and I have often spent more time trying to stop bad ideas than
With a new governor and a new Legislature now in place, Hawaii’s leaders have the opportunity to make a bold statement for government transparency and accountability. The only question is whether they have the political will to do so. Given the various scandals that have rocked Hawaii in recent years
Hawaii’s population has been declining for six straight years, and if policymakers don’t do something quickly to avert the looming increase in county property taxes, that is likely to continue. That’s because taxes are a key component of Hawaii’s high cost of living, which surveys show is the No. 1 reason people have been leaving. As
If I could propose one New Year’s resolution for Hawaii’s leaders, it would be this: Cut taxes in 2023. That should be a fairly easy resolution to keep. Throughout the election season, multiple candidates talked about the need to ease Hawaii’s tax burden, and new and established government leaders have
Mele Kalikimaka! In this space, I usually focus on the things we can do to improve Hawaii — how we can create more housing, improve the economy, expand healthcare access, keep government accountable and lower the cost of living. Today, however, in the spirit of the holiday, I want to talk
Photo by Charley Myers Hawaii property taxes are going up, and that’s not cool. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported this week that the latest property value assessments of all real property on Oahu went up by 12.4% compared with the previous year. And that’s just the average. On the North Shore,
