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Hoping for the best, preparing for the worst

Will Hawaii’s candidates on the 2022 campaign trail follow through on their promises? Policy solutions that the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii has been promoting for years are quickly gaining steam — and the election underway is proof.  Exempting or reducing the general excise tax on food and medicine, for example,

Read More →

COVID rules being lifted, but don’t cheer yet

It has been more than two years since Hawaii’s coronavirus restrictions were put into place, and as they have slowly been lifted, life in the islands is finally starting  to resemble the pre-pandemic “normal.” We must remember, however, that these restrictions can easily be reinstated with the stroke of a

Read More →

Meet Grassroot Scholar Colin Grabow

The following interview was published originally in the Fall 2021 edition of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii’s donor newsletter. ___________ The Cato Institute policy analyst has been an invaluable asset in our efforts to achieve Jones Act reform Earlier this year, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii welcomed Cato Institute policy

Read More →

Constant moving of goal posts breaks public trust

This commentary was published originally in the Fall 2021 edition of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii’s donor newsletter.  __________ When COVID-19 began wreaking havoc on the planet early last year, the popular slogan was “We’re all in this together.”  Now, after 18 months of being under a so-called state of

Read More →

Legislature has abdicated its watchdog responsibility

There are many reasons to be frustrated with the governor’s current use of emergency powers: a seemingly endless state of emergency, moving goalposts and the lack of transparency, to name a few.  But equally frustrating is the Legislature’s inability to rein it in. It had the opportunity with HB103 in

Read More →

Meet Gale Pooley, Grassroot Scholar

The BYU-Hawaii professor and economist has pioneered the study of “time price” valuation and found we owe much to individual liberty and economic freedom Since 2017, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii has had the pleasure of working with economist Gale Pooley. Just as the institute has challenged the public to think beyond conventional

Read More →

Why reform of Hawaii’s emergency powers law failed

As Hawaii’s 2021 legislative session came to a close on April 29, many Hawaii residents were disappointed by the failure of the Legislature to approve HB103, which would have placed limits on the governor’s emergency powers. Hawaii has been under a state of emergency since March 2020, when Gov. David

Read More →

Now is the time to ‘get real’ about Hawaii’s future

Hawaii’s “brain drain” has been an ubiquitous subject in our public consciousness for decades.  But given the economic devastation prompted by the state’s yearlong COVID-19 lockdowns, we now are even more vulnerable to losing the state’s best and brightest to opportunities elsewhere.  Legislative tax bills such as the notorious SB56

Read More →

Time to get state out of tourism promotion?

Photo by Charley Myers It has always been the right thing to do in principle, but shifting public opinion is making it more politically viable Since the launch of the Safe Travels program in October 2020, Hawaii’s tourism industry has been making a comeback. Perhaps due to pent-up demand, visitors

Read More →

Meet Grassroot Scholar Robert Thomas

The Hawaii attorney has been a valuable adviser concerning property rights and emergency powers issues If you’ve been keeping up to date with the Grassroot Institute’s programs, chances are you know Grassroot Scholar Robert Thomas.  Born on Oahu to a plantation worker and U.S. Army officer, Thomas and his military

Read More →

Hoping for the best, preparing for the worst

Will Hawaii’s candidates on the 2022 campaign trail follow through on their promises? Policy solutions that the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii has been promoting for years are quickly gaining steam — and the election underway is proof.  Exempting or reducing the general excise tax on food and medicine, for example,

Read More →

COVID rules being lifted, but don’t cheer yet

It has been more than two years since Hawaii’s coronavirus restrictions were put into place, and as they have slowly been lifted, life in the islands is finally starting  to resemble the pre-pandemic “normal.” We must remember, however, that these restrictions can easily be reinstated with the stroke of a

Read More →

Meet Grassroot Scholar Colin Grabow

The following interview was published originally in the Fall 2021 edition of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii’s donor newsletter. ___________ The Cato Institute policy analyst has been an invaluable asset in our efforts to achieve Jones Act reform Earlier this year, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii welcomed Cato Institute policy

Read More →

Constant moving of goal posts breaks public trust

This commentary was published originally in the Fall 2021 edition of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii’s donor newsletter.  __________ When COVID-19 began wreaking havoc on the planet early last year, the popular slogan was “We’re all in this together.”  Now, after 18 months of being under a so-called state of

Read More →

Legislature has abdicated its watchdog responsibility

There are many reasons to be frustrated with the governor’s current use of emergency powers: a seemingly endless state of emergency, moving goalposts and the lack of transparency, to name a few.  But equally frustrating is the Legislature’s inability to rein it in. It had the opportunity with HB103 in

Read More →

Meet Gale Pooley, Grassroot Scholar

The BYU-Hawaii professor and economist has pioneered the study of “time price” valuation and found we owe much to individual liberty and economic freedom Since 2017, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii has had the pleasure of working with economist Gale Pooley. Just as the institute has challenged the public to think beyond conventional

Read More →

Why reform of Hawaii’s emergency powers law failed

As Hawaii’s 2021 legislative session came to a close on April 29, many Hawaii residents were disappointed by the failure of the Legislature to approve HB103, which would have placed limits on the governor’s emergency powers. Hawaii has been under a state of emergency since March 2020, when Gov. David

Read More →

Now is the time to ‘get real’ about Hawaii’s future

Hawaii’s “brain drain” has been an ubiquitous subject in our public consciousness for decades.  But given the economic devastation prompted by the state’s yearlong COVID-19 lockdowns, we now are even more vulnerable to losing the state’s best and brightest to opportunities elsewhere.  Legislative tax bills such as the notorious SB56

Read More →

Time to get state out of tourism promotion?

Photo by Charley Myers It has always been the right thing to do in principle, but shifting public opinion is making it more politically viable Since the launch of the Safe Travels program in October 2020, Hawaii’s tourism industry has been making a comeback. Perhaps due to pent-up demand, visitors

Read More →

Meet Grassroot Scholar Robert Thomas

The Hawaii attorney has been a valuable adviser concerning property rights and emergency powers issues If you’ve been keeping up to date with the Grassroot Institute’s programs, chances are you know Grassroot Scholar Robert Thomas.  Born on Oahu to a plantation worker and U.S. Army officer, Thomas and his military

Read More →