The problem with rail isn’t PR
This is a letter to the editor that was published Thursday, Dec. 20, in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. We commend the Honolulu Star-Advertiser for putting the spotlight on the failed public relations efforts of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (“Loss on...
Not all public-private partnerships are good
In the past, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii has been favorably disposed to public-private partnerships (P3s). While not quite the same thing as privatization, these partnerships are often a good way to improve public services and relieve taxpayers of some of the...
HART’s P3 Plan Another Bad Sign For Rail
This article was originally published as a “Community Voice” in Civil Beat on Nov. 14, 2018. The Honolulu rail system is projected to lose millions of dollars every year after opening in 2026. So it’s baffling that any company would want to partner with...
City Council broke promise on rail
This was originally published as a Letter to the Editor in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Sunday, Nov. 4. The Honolulu City Council’s decision to approve Bill 42 violates the promise made to Honolulu taxpayers in 2006 that city funds would not be used for the rail...
Rail vote breaks promise – again
Sometimes, addressing rail funding can feel like you’re standing on the tracks, politely asking Hawaii’s policymakers to consider hitting the switch and redirecting the train before it runs us over. That is why the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii last week was at a...
Aaron Lief is a writer and researcher for the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.