County Testimony

Allowing farmers markets in city parks would help entrepreneurs

Sept. 9, 2026, 10 a.m. Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Tommy Waters, Chair Andria Tupola, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: Bill 30 (2026), CD1 — RELATING TO PUBLIC PARKS Aloha Chair Waters, Vice Chair Tupola and other members of the

Read More →

Cut bureaucratic waste by repealing redundant land conservation fund

Sept. 9, 2026, 10 a.m. Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Tommy Waters, Chair Andria Tupola, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: Bill 50 (2026) — RELATING TO FUNDS Aloha Chair Waters, Vice Chair Tupola and other members of the Council, The

Read More →

Expansion plans for Bill 7 affordable housing program on the right track

July 8, 2026, 2:30 p.m. Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Committee on Housing, Homelessness and Parks Andria Tupola, Chair Augie Tulba, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: Bill 18 (2026), CD1 — RELATING TO AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING Aloha Chair Tupola, Vice

Read More →

Honolulu should allow farmers markets to operate in city parks

Aug. 25, 2026, 2:30 p.m. Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Committee on Housing, Homelessness and Parks Andria Tupola, Chair Augie Tulba, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: Bill 30 (2026), CD1 — RELATING TO PUBLIC PARKS Aloha Chair Tupola, Vice Chair

Read More →

Redundant land conservation fund should be repealed

Aug. 25, 2026, 9 a.m. Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Committee on Budget Val A. Okimoto, Chair Scott Y. Nishimoto, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: Bill 50 (2026) — RELATING TO FUNDS Aloha Chair Okimoto, Vice Chair Nishimoto and other

Read More →

Curbside teller encroachment rules are no longer needed

Aug. 12, 2026, 10 a.m. Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Tommy Waters, Chair Andria Tupola, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: Bill 35 (2026) — RELATING TO STREETS, SIDEWALKS, MALLS, AND OTHER PUBLIC PLACES Aloha Chair Waters, Vice Chair Tupola and

Read More →

Cutting Honolulu’s vehicle weight tax will ease cost of living

Aug. 12, 2026, 10 a.m. Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Tommy Waters, Chair Andria Tupola, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: Bill 47 (2026) — RELATING TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE WEIGHT TAX Aloha Chair Waters, Vice Chair Tupola and other members

Read More →

Reduce property tax burden for homeowners

Aug. 12, 2026, 10 a.m. Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Tommy Waters, Chair Andria Tupola, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: Bill 45 (2026) — RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY TAXATION Aloha Chair Waters, Vice Chair Tupola and other members of the

Read More →

Increase kupuna homeowner tax exemption

Aug. 12, 2026, 10 a.m. Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Tommy Waters, Chair Andria Tupola, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: Bill 46 (2026) — RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY TAXATION Aloha Chair Waters, Vice Chair Tupola and other members of the

Read More →

Honolulu does not need redundant land conservation fund

Aug. 12, 2026, 10 a.m. Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Tommy Waters, Chair Andria Tupola, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: Bill 50 (2026) — RELATING TO FUNDS Aloha Chair Waters, Vice Chair Tupola and other members of the Council, The

Read More →

Allowing farmers markets in city parks would help entrepreneurs

Sept. 9, 2026, 10 a.m. Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Tommy Waters, Chair Andria Tupola, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: Bill 30 (2026), CD1 — RELATING TO PUBLIC PARKS Aloha Chair Waters, Vice Chair Tupola and other members of the

Read More →

Cut bureaucratic waste by repealing redundant land conservation fund

Sept. 9, 2026, 10 a.m. Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Tommy Waters, Chair Andria Tupola, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: Bill 50 (2026) — RELATING TO FUNDS Aloha Chair Waters, Vice Chair Tupola and other members of the Council, The

Read More →

Expansion plans for Bill 7 affordable housing program on the right track

July 8, 2026, 2:30 p.m. Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Committee on Housing, Homelessness and Parks Andria Tupola, Chair Augie Tulba, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: Bill 18 (2026), CD1 — RELATING TO AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING Aloha Chair Tupola, Vice

Read More →

Honolulu should allow farmers markets to operate in city parks

Aug. 25, 2026, 2:30 p.m. Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Committee on Housing, Homelessness and Parks Andria Tupola, Chair Augie Tulba, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: Bill 30 (2026), CD1 — RELATING TO PUBLIC PARKS Aloha Chair Tupola, Vice Chair

Read More →

Redundant land conservation fund should be repealed

Aug. 25, 2026, 9 a.m. Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Committee on Budget Val A. Okimoto, Chair Scott Y. Nishimoto, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: Bill 50 (2026) — RELATING TO FUNDS Aloha Chair Okimoto, Vice Chair Nishimoto and other

Read More →

Curbside teller encroachment rules are no longer needed

Aug. 12, 2026, 10 a.m. Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Tommy Waters, Chair Andria Tupola, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: Bill 35 (2026) — RELATING TO STREETS, SIDEWALKS, MALLS, AND OTHER PUBLIC PLACES Aloha Chair Waters, Vice Chair Tupola and

Read More →

Cutting Honolulu’s vehicle weight tax will ease cost of living

Aug. 12, 2026, 10 a.m. Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Tommy Waters, Chair Andria Tupola, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: Bill 47 (2026) — RELATING TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE WEIGHT TAX Aloha Chair Waters, Vice Chair Tupola and other members

Read More →

Reduce property tax burden for homeowners

Aug. 12, 2026, 10 a.m. Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Tommy Waters, Chair Andria Tupola, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: Bill 45 (2026) — RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY TAXATION Aloha Chair Waters, Vice Chair Tupola and other members of the

Read More →

Increase kupuna homeowner tax exemption

Aug. 12, 2026, 10 a.m. Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Tommy Waters, Chair Andria Tupola, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: Bill 46 (2026) — RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY TAXATION Aloha Chair Waters, Vice Chair Tupola and other members of the

Read More →

Honolulu does not need redundant land conservation fund

Aug. 12, 2026, 10 a.m. Honolulu Hale To: Honolulu City Council Tommy Waters, Chair Andria Tupola, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: Bill 50 (2026) — RELATING TO FUNDS Aloha Chair Waters, Vice Chair Tupola and other members of the Council, The

Read More →
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii logo