by Keli'i Akina, Ph.D. | Mar 13, 2019 | Featured, Government Waste, Research & Commentary, Website
When friends visit the islands, I love to show them Hawaii’s beautiful mountains, beaches and sunsets, but I try to direct their eyes away from the state’s crumbling government infrastructure. The state’s disintegrating roads, brittle bridges and run-down...
by Keli'i Akina, Ph.D. | Jan 11, 2019 | Budget, Economy, Featured, Government Waste, President's Column, Website
Talk of recession is in the air, but are Hawaii legislators listening? I wouldn’t presume to predict the future, but there have been indications that an economic downturn might be in Hawaii’s future. Gov. David Ige in his most recent budget projected state revenues...
by Joe Kent | Nov 29, 2018 | Budget, Cost of Living, Featured, Government Waste, Research & Commentary, Website
This article was originally published in The Maui News on Thursday, Nov. 29. Maui County Council members this month voted to “go vertical” and move forward on financing a proposed $81.2 million Wailuku Civic Complex, but policymakers would be wise to focus less on the...
by Grassroot Institute of Hawaii | Oct 29, 2018 | Economy, Featured, Government Waste, Rail, Taxes, Testimony, Transportation, Website
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii submitted testimony today (Oct. 30, 2018) to the Honolulu City Council Committee on Legislative Matters regarding Bill 42, relating to funding for Honolulu County’s rail project. The comments were submitted Joe Kent, Grassroot...
by Keli'i Akina, Ph.D. | Oct 16, 2018 | Government Waste, President's Column, Rail, Website
A few years ago, I did an interview for our “E Hana Kakou” show with LaVonda Atkinson, a cost engineer and whistleblower on a San Francisco project that extended part of that city’s existing subway by two miles — “at a billion dollars a mile.” After looking over the...
