by Keli'i Akina, Ph.D. | Feb 1, 2019 | Featured, Housing, President's Column, Website
Regardless of our political differences, there are a few things most residents of Hawaii can agree on: The cost of living is high, the sunsets are beautiful, and there’s not enough housing. The difficulty isn’t identifying the problem; it’s finding a solution....
by Keli'i Akina, Ph.D. | Jan 18, 2019 | Cost of Living, Featured, President's Column, Regulation, Website
The Hawaii Legislature convened this week for its 2019 session, and the continuing decline of Hawaii’s population seemed to be one of its top agenda items. Addressing his colleagues on the opening day, Senate President Ron Kouchi talked about how his “greatest passion...
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 Keli'i Akina, Ph.D. | Jan 4, 2019 | Featured, President's Column, Taxes, Website
It doesn’t rank up there with trees, gifts and turkey dinners, but New Year’s Day does mark an annual tradition: increases in our taxes. Perhaps most notable are the increases in the general excise tax on Kauai and Hawaii Island. These took effect after the state...
by Keli'i Akina, Ph.D. | Dec 28, 2018 | Cost of Living, Featured, President's Column, Website
It’s too expensive. That’s why most people move away from their beloved Hawaii. Consider the story of Christopher Peralta, who left Honolulu in 2009 and now lives in Portland. He told the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii: “I was working three jobs and had nothing to show...
by Keli'i Akina, Ph.D. | Dec 21, 2018 | Accountability, Featured, President's Column, Regulation, Website
Well, it’s Christmas season again, so here is what I drafted recently for Santa to consider: Dear Santa, We at the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii were very good this past year about defending the free market. We helped educate policymakers, stood for transparency and...
