Working for a better economy, better government and a better society
‘CWAs’ a recipe for disaster
Around the country, states and municipalities are changing their procurement regulations to allow for more competitive bidding. That’s a best practice that saves money on government projects. Hawaii, however, appears to be moving in the opposite direction. This week,...
Will Hawaii be the next Puerto Rico?
A top economic researcher who recently studied the impact of the Jones Act on Puerto Rico spoke recently at two events in Hawaii sponsored by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. John Dunham, president of the economic consulting firm John Dunham & Associates, talked...
‘Life, liberty and … property’
Happy Fourth of July! I hope that you are enjoying the holiday and the blessings of liberty. Of course, when we talk about liberty and rights, we usually start with glamorous ones, like freedom of speech, the right to bear arms and the right to privacy. But there’s a...
No place like home, if you can find one
It is universally acknowledged that Hawaii residents need more homes. So why is it so hard to build them?When you ask people about their frustrations with the cost of living in Hawaii, high home prices and rental rates are among the first things mentioned. It’s a...
‘De facto ban’ could poison tourism well
The Honolulu County Council this week approved two bills that will impose tough regulations on short-term vacation rentals, pending final approval by the mayor, and this is a cause for worry.The regulatory scheme of these two bills is so strict that it could be...