Keeping watch in Hawaii
This article was originally published in the "Proof Positive" section of Midweek on Sept. 16, 2020. _______________ Few things demonstrate the need for government watchdog groups like a statewide emergency. At the nonpartisan Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, our small...
Ige’s EUTF funding dodge will come back to haunt us
This article was originally published by Honolulu Civil Beat on Sept. 21, 2020. ______________ Faced with a $2.3 billion budget shortfall caused by Hawaii’s coronavirus lockdowns, Gov. David Ige on July 17 suspended the state’s required fiscal 2021 payment of $388...
‘Good intentions are alone not enough’
If you believe that there is something about stay-at-home orders and the closure of “nonessential” businesses that infringes upon our fundamental rights, then there is good news. A federal court in Pennsylvania has reached the same conclusion. U.S. District Judge...
‘Emergencies do not suspend constitutional rights’
Opponents of Hawaii's economic and social lockdowns were greeted with good news on Monday, namely that "lockdown restrictions imposed by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D), including a ban on large gatherings and the closure of 'non-life sustaining businesses,' are...
Testimony: Liberalize West Maui Plan to encourage housing
The following testimony was submitted Sept. 8, 2020, to the Maui Planning Commission by Joe Kent, executive vice president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. ____________ To: Maui Planning Commission / Lawrence Carnicelli, Chair / Christian Tackett, Vice chair...
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...
‘These are times that try men’s souls’
For half a year our freedoms have been suspended in the name of public health, and that isn’t healthy Thomas Paine was right when he talked about how “what we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.” So many of us in Hawaii were simply born into our state of relative...
You can’t manage what you don’t measure
One thing the state has been doing mostly well throughout this coronavirus crisis has been to report promptly Hawaii’s COVID-19 daily cases. Most people probably learn about those numbers through the news headlines or their social media feeds. They are valuable to...
It’s not too late for real, substantive change
Nobody likes to hear, “We told you so,” but … For years, the Grassroot Institute had been warning state and county policymakers that their approach to spending and taxation was unsustainable, and that Hawaii was unprepared for a major crisis, whether economic or...
Johnny Miro gets the lowdown on Hawaii’s lack of COVID-19 transparency
Radio host Johnny Miro of H Hawaii Media interviewed Grassroot Institute of Hawaii President Keli'i Akina on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020 about Gov. David Ige's lack of COVID-19 transparency. Stations belonging to the H Hawaii Media network include KORL Oldies 101.1 FM,...
Lots of rules, not enough clarity
On Wednesday, I wanted to take a walk. Unfortunately, it turned out to be much more complicated than I thought it would. That’s because that same day, Hawaii News Now reported that Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, in his continuing attempts to stymie the spread of...
Akina, Perry discuss Hawaii’s ‘state secrets’
Gov. David Ige's secretive decision-making during the coronavirus crisis has caught the attention of journalists throughout Hawaii, including Michael W. Perry, the state's most popular radio personality, who yesterday, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2020, interviewed Grassroot...