If you want to find something that perfectly captures Hawaii’s schizophrenic tourism policy, you couldn’t do much better than House Bill 862. The bill sends an inconsistent message about tourism, suggesting that the industry shouldn’t have government funding while simultaneously making it more vital to state revenues. It was one
The big news this week is that the Hawaii Legislature might reconvene in order to address the governor’s planned vetoes, especially of the state budget bill. If it does come to pass, it would be appropriate if our legislators spent some of that time addressing the balance of powers and the emergency
When you live in Hawaii, you get accustomed to saying goodbye. As a father, I’ve watched my children leave for the mainland to start college or their careers. And I know there’s a good chance they won’t be coming back, except for short visits. I am not alone. Who hasn’t
“Just when you think we’d reached the prize, somebody moves our cheese. But what that really shows is a lack of transparency about the tier system.” That was Keli’i Akina’s response to a question from popular Hawaii radio host Michael W. Perry about the surprising revelation that Honolulu County now
The following news release was issued by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii on June 23, 2021. _____________ Grassroot Institute of Hawaii CEO Keli’i Akina says the list reflects a commendable effort to avoid increasing Hawaii’s taxpayer burden HONOLULU, June 23, 2021 >> The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii today commended Gov. David Ige for declaring his intent
If you want to know why people are leaving Hawaii, there is possibly no better person to ask than economist Dan Mitchell, co-founder of the Center for Freedom and Prosperity in Washington, D.C., and an international expert on the effects of government taxation and spending policies. Mitchell was the guest on Keli’i
More than a year into the COVID-19 emergency, we’re still experiencing the many ways in which the government can regulate and limit our daily lives. The latest reminder came last week when Honolulu’s mayor announced the county is now in “Tier 4” of its reopening plan. The tiers, which are
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii issued the following as a news release on June 12, 2021. ________________ The federal Passenger Vessel Services Act has long been recognized as an impediment to Hawaii’s tourism potential and port-related jobs HONOLULU, June 12, 2021 >> In another blow to the U.S. Passenger Vessel Services
Hawaii businesses might be reopening, but Hawaii government agencies still have a ways to go. In the past, government agencies here have been criticized for their lack of transparency. Despite the state’s open-records law, some have become notorious for denying open-records requests or delaying their responses. We have seen various legislative proposals meant
The 1920 Jones Act and the 1886 Passenger Vessel Services Act have been in the national news recently, so Keli’i Akina, president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, devoted his latest “Hawaii Together” program on ThinkTech Hawaii to the topic of why both of these destructive, protectionist federal maritime laws
If you want to find something that perfectly captures Hawaii’s schizophrenic tourism policy, you couldn’t do much better than House Bill 862. The bill sends an inconsistent message about tourism, suggesting that the industry shouldn’t have government funding while simultaneously making it more vital to state revenues. It was one
The big news this week is that the Hawaii Legislature might reconvene in order to address the governor’s planned vetoes, especially of the state budget bill. If it does come to pass, it would be appropriate if our legislators spent some of that time addressing the balance of powers and the emergency
When you live in Hawaii, you get accustomed to saying goodbye. As a father, I’ve watched my children leave for the mainland to start college or their careers. And I know there’s a good chance they won’t be coming back, except for short visits. I am not alone. Who hasn’t
“Just when you think we’d reached the prize, somebody moves our cheese. But what that really shows is a lack of transparency about the tier system.” That was Keli’i Akina’s response to a question from popular Hawaii radio host Michael W. Perry about the surprising revelation that Honolulu County now
The following news release was issued by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii on June 23, 2021. _____________ Grassroot Institute of Hawaii CEO Keli’i Akina says the list reflects a commendable effort to avoid increasing Hawaii’s taxpayer burden HONOLULU, June 23, 2021 >> The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii today commended Gov. David Ige for declaring his intent
If you want to know why people are leaving Hawaii, there is possibly no better person to ask than economist Dan Mitchell, co-founder of the Center for Freedom and Prosperity in Washington, D.C., and an international expert on the effects of government taxation and spending policies. Mitchell was the guest on Keli’i
More than a year into the COVID-19 emergency, we’re still experiencing the many ways in which the government can regulate and limit our daily lives. The latest reminder came last week when Honolulu’s mayor announced the county is now in “Tier 4” of its reopening plan. The tiers, which are
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii issued the following as a news release on June 12, 2021. ________________ The federal Passenger Vessel Services Act has long been recognized as an impediment to Hawaii’s tourism potential and port-related jobs HONOLULU, June 12, 2021 >> In another blow to the U.S. Passenger Vessel Services
Hawaii businesses might be reopening, but Hawaii government agencies still have a ways to go. In the past, government agencies here have been criticized for their lack of transparency. Despite the state’s open-records law, some have become notorious for denying open-records requests or delaying their responses. We have seen various legislative proposals meant
The 1920 Jones Act and the 1886 Passenger Vessel Services Act have been in the national news recently, so Keli’i Akina, president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, devoted his latest “Hawaii Together” program on ThinkTech Hawaii to the topic of why both of these destructive, protectionist federal maritime laws
