Privatization

Testimony: Hawaii County could use ‘Konno’ exceptions to address permit backlog

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii November 3, 2022

The following oral testimony was presented Oct. 27, 2022, by Joe Kent, executive vice president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, for consideration by the Hawaii County Cost of Government Commission. The testimony concerned the commission’s October 2022 report, which made recommendations on how to improve county government operations. To see Kent’s the

Testimony: ‘Konno’ exceptions could help Hawaii County better deliver public services

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii October 28, 2022

The written testimony below was presented Oct. 27, 2022, by Jonathan Helton, policy researcher for the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, for consideration by the Hawaii County Cost of Government Commission. The testimony concerned the commission’s October 2022 report, which made recommendations on how to improve county government operations. Also during the commission’s

Enlist private sector to help trim state, county budgets

Joe Kent November 16, 2020

This commentary was published originally in The Garden Island newspaper on Nov. 16, 2020. _______________ Gov. David Ige is rightly considering cuts to the state budget to compensate for Hawai‘i’s dizzying drop in tax revenues due to the coronavirus lockdown. One tool that could help would be for the state

Airports Corporation takes on new sense of urgency

Melissa Newsham April 7, 2020

Photo by Charley Myers The Hawaii Legislature suspended its 2020 session in early March because of the coronavirus situation, but eventually it will get back to business, and when it does, consideration of the long-proposed Hawaii Airports Corporation should be one of its priorities. Such an entity could be crucial

The case for a Hawaii airport authority, in 61 seconds

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii February 13, 2020

Photo by Charley Myers The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii has produced a new video that explains in only 61 seconds why Hawaii’s 15 state-run airports should be managed by a semi-independent airports corporation. Privatization would be ideal, but an airport corporation still would mean less government and bureaucratic inefficiency.

Airport authority could make Kahului Airport ‘no ka ‘oi’

Keli'i Akina, Ph.D. February 8, 2020

This article was published originally on Friday, Feb. 7, in The Maui News. ____________ Hawaii is a state that relies on its airports, so it is astounding that we are taking so long to adopt a proven airport-management model that could turn our airports into shining examples of what Hawaii

Will 2020 be the year of a Hawaii Airport Corporation?

Melissa Newsham December 24, 2019

Photo by Charley Myers Efforts to reform management of Hawaii’s state airports haven’t failed for lack of trying. Hawaii state Sen. Lorraine Inouye (D, District 4) has submitted bills four years in a row[1] to establish a semi-independent Hawaii Airport Corporation, all to no avail. But maybe the fifth time will

Honolulu P3s could violate city debt limits

Joe Kent November 14, 2019

This commentary was published originally Oct. 10, 2019, in The Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Honolulu policymakers are increasingly pursuing private-public partnerships for the city’s large infrastructure projects, allegedly to introduce efficiency or good financial management, but also, it appears, as a way to avoid exceeding the city’s legal “debt affordability limit.” This

Why doesn’t Hawaii privatize more public services?

Josh Mason June 20, 2019

Hawaii’s state and county governments aren’t known for delivering high-quality public services in a cost-efficient manner. Nationwide, Hawaii has the second highest per capita tax burden, yet its taxpayers have the worst “return on investment” in terms of how well their public services are delivered. But what if, in order

Akina updates ‘808 State Update’ on contracting report

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii March 19, 2019

It didn’t take long for the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii’s newest policy report, “How to revive contracting as a policy option in Hawaii,” to receive some thoughtful media attention. Publicly released on Wednesday, March 13, the report describes the legal obstacles that have made it difficult for Hawaii’s state and county governments to