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Economy

Jones Act reform need not be all or nothing

Barge on Mississippi River at Memphis The following article was published originally on July 10, 2022, in the Daily Memphian, based in Memphis, Tenn. ____________ The Fourth of July is a time of remembrance for Americans. We celebrate our country’s independence from English rule and the harmful laws and taxes

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Hawaii’s love-hate relationship with tourism

Photo by Charley Myers It’s not just Hawaii residents who are being priced out of paradise. Slowly but surely, tourists are also wondering whether they can still afford to visit here. A survey by Anthology Research of almost 4,000 tourists during the 2022 first quarter found that visitors from the

Read More →

We can do something about inflation

Prices are going up everywhere, and Hawaii families and businesses are hurting as a result. We see it at the gas pump, where motorists have to weigh the cost against their other bills, such as food, medical, housing or daycare. We see it at the grocery store, where the prices

Read More →

Hawaii counties squander opportunity to lower taxes

Editor’s note: Some of the figures cited in the transcript for the proposed Maui budget were underestimated. The correct figures appear in brackets. ___________ It’s the perfect time to lower taxes. That’s what Joe Kent, executive vice president of Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, said Sunday morning, June 5, 2022, when

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One less Jones Act tanker is signal to lift U.S.-build requirement

Photo courtesy of Maritime Hawai‘i “Houston, we have a problem.”* That’s because America just lost another ship from its ever-dwindling Jones Act fleet, an oil tanker named the Houston that counted the islands of Hawaii among its ports of call. After 37 years of service, including many visits to Hawaii,

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Short-term rental ban will disrupt Honolulu economy

Well, Joe Kent tried his best during a Monday morning interview with KHON2 reporter Dallis Ontiveros to explain the negative ramifications of Bill 41. But Honolulu’s mayor went ahead and signed the bill the next day anyway Approved 8-1 by the Honolulu City Council, Bill 41 essentially bans short-term rentals

Read More →

Hawaii taxpayers deserve a rebate — a big one

Imagine your brother was facing a bad financial situation.  Things looked bleak for a while, and the family came together to help him out. Eventually, he got through it, thanks in part to generosity from his siblings. Now, not only is he out of trouble, but he has money to

Read More →

Testimony: HB2510 HD2 SD1 a good way to put more people out of work

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration April 5, 2022, by the Hawaii Senate Committee on Ways and Means. _______________ To: Senate Committee on Ways and Means       Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Chair       Sen Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran, Vice

Read More →

Jones Act reform need not be all or nothing

Barge on Mississippi River at Memphis The following article was published originally on July 10, 2022, in the Daily Memphian, based in Memphis, Tenn. ____________ The Fourth of July is a time of remembrance for Americans. We celebrate our country’s independence from English rule and the harmful laws and taxes

Read More →

Hawaii’s love-hate relationship with tourism

Photo by Charley Myers It’s not just Hawaii residents who are being priced out of paradise. Slowly but surely, tourists are also wondering whether they can still afford to visit here. A survey by Anthology Research of almost 4,000 tourists during the 2022 first quarter found that visitors from the

Read More →

We can do something about inflation

Prices are going up everywhere, and Hawaii families and businesses are hurting as a result. We see it at the gas pump, where motorists have to weigh the cost against their other bills, such as food, medical, housing or daycare. We see it at the grocery store, where the prices

Read More →

Hawaii counties squander opportunity to lower taxes

Editor’s note: Some of the figures cited in the transcript for the proposed Maui budget were underestimated. The correct figures appear in brackets. ___________ It’s the perfect time to lower taxes. That’s what Joe Kent, executive vice president of Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, said Sunday morning, June 5, 2022, when

Read More →

One less Jones Act tanker is signal to lift U.S.-build requirement

Photo courtesy of Maritime Hawai‘i “Houston, we have a problem.”* That’s because America just lost another ship from its ever-dwindling Jones Act fleet, an oil tanker named the Houston that counted the islands of Hawaii among its ports of call. After 37 years of service, including many visits to Hawaii,

Read More →

Short-term rental ban will disrupt Honolulu economy

Well, Joe Kent tried his best during a Monday morning interview with KHON2 reporter Dallis Ontiveros to explain the negative ramifications of Bill 41. But Honolulu’s mayor went ahead and signed the bill the next day anyway Approved 8-1 by the Honolulu City Council, Bill 41 essentially bans short-term rentals

Read More →

Hawaii taxpayers deserve a rebate — a big one

Imagine your brother was facing a bad financial situation.  Things looked bleak for a while, and the family came together to help him out. Eventually, he got through it, thanks in part to generosity from his siblings. Now, not only is he out of trouble, but he has money to

Read More →

Testimony: HB2510 HD2 SD1 a good way to put more people out of work

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration April 5, 2022, by the Hawaii Senate Committee on Ways and Means. _______________ To: Senate Committee on Ways and Means       Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Chair       Sen Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran, Vice

Read More →