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Regulation

Hawaii’s internet future depends on existing Jones Act exemption

Above, the Normand Clipper, built in 2001 and owned by Global Marine Systems of the United Kingdom, which installs and maintains undersea fiber-optic cables around the globe. _______________ If you would like to prevent Hawaiian Telcom from upgrading Hawaii’s broadband infrastructure under a recently awarded $37 million federal grant, you

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Bill 6: Third-party review for building permits is successful across country

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Honolulu City and County Council on Aug. 9, 2023. _____________ August 9, 2023 10 a.m. Honolulu City Council Chambers To: Honolulu City and County Council       Councilmember Tommy Waters, Chair       Councilmember Esther Kia‘āina, Vice

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Tupola says empowering people is her motivation

In 2021, not long after Andria Tupola joined the Honolulu City Council, the then-director of the Department of Planning and Permitting told her the DPP had a backlog of about 8,000 permits. On a recent episode of “Hawaii Together” on ThinkTech Hawaii, Tupola told host Joe Kent, executive vice president

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Bill 6: Let private vendors review building permits

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Honolulu City and County Council Committee on Zoning on July 26, 2023. _____________ July 26, 2023 9 a.m. Honolulu City Council Chambers To: Honolulu City and County Council, Committee on Zoning       Councilmember Calvin Say,

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Bill 6 (2023): Allow private review of plans to ease permit backlog

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Honolulu City and County Council Committee on Zoning on June 21, 2023. _____________ June 21, 2023 9 a.m. Honolulu City Council Chambers To: Honolulu City and County Council, Committee on Zoning       Councilmember Calvin Say,

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An ’empty homes’ tax won’t fix Hawaii’s housing crisis

The following article was published originally in Honolulu Civil Beat on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. ____________ Recent vacancy tax proposals such as Honolulu’s Bill 9 and Bill 76 have been inspired by the belief that vacant or “empty” homes are a significant cause of Hawaii’s housing crisis. However, a comprehensive

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Bill 56 (2022), CD1: Expand permit exemptions for renovations and maintenance

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Honolulu City and County Council  on May 24, 2023. _____________ May 24, 2023 9 a.m. Honolulu City Council Chambers To: Honolulu City and County Council, Committee on Zoning       Councilmember Calvin Say, Chair       Councilmember Tyler Dos

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Can invasive species become part of Hawaii’s kitchen?

Hawaii’s various invasive species could provide an opportunity to expand meat production, but there are a few barriers, according to Bryan Mayer, a nationally recognized meat educator and butcher who appeared on this week’s episode of “Hawaii Together” on ThinkTech Hawaii. “Hawaii has an unbelievable amount of resources to feed

Read More →

Hawaii’s internet future depends on existing Jones Act exemption

Above, the Normand Clipper, built in 2001 and owned by Global Marine Systems of the United Kingdom, which installs and maintains undersea fiber-optic cables around the globe. _______________ If you would like to prevent Hawaiian Telcom from upgrading Hawaii’s broadband infrastructure under a recently awarded $37 million federal grant, you

Read More →

Bill 6: Third-party review for building permits is successful across country

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Honolulu City and County Council on Aug. 9, 2023. _____________ August 9, 2023 10 a.m. Honolulu City Council Chambers To: Honolulu City and County Council       Councilmember Tommy Waters, Chair       Councilmember Esther Kia‘āina, Vice

Read More →

Tupola says empowering people is her motivation

In 2021, not long after Andria Tupola joined the Honolulu City Council, the then-director of the Department of Planning and Permitting told her the DPP had a backlog of about 8,000 permits. On a recent episode of “Hawaii Together” on ThinkTech Hawaii, Tupola told host Joe Kent, executive vice president

Read More →

Bill 6: Let private vendors review building permits

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Honolulu City and County Council Committee on Zoning on July 26, 2023. _____________ July 26, 2023 9 a.m. Honolulu City Council Chambers To: Honolulu City and County Council, Committee on Zoning       Councilmember Calvin Say,

Read More →

Bill 6 (2023): Allow private review of plans to ease permit backlog

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Honolulu City and County Council Committee on Zoning on June 21, 2023. _____________ June 21, 2023 9 a.m. Honolulu City Council Chambers To: Honolulu City and County Council, Committee on Zoning       Councilmember Calvin Say,

Read More →

An ’empty homes’ tax won’t fix Hawaii’s housing crisis

The following article was published originally in Honolulu Civil Beat on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. ____________ Recent vacancy tax proposals such as Honolulu’s Bill 9 and Bill 76 have been inspired by the belief that vacant or “empty” homes are a significant cause of Hawaii’s housing crisis. However, a comprehensive

Read More →

Bill 56 (2022), CD1: Expand permit exemptions for renovations and maintenance

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Honolulu City and County Council  on May 24, 2023. _____________ May 24, 2023 9 a.m. Honolulu City Council Chambers To: Honolulu City and County Council, Committee on Zoning       Councilmember Calvin Say, Chair       Councilmember Tyler Dos

Read More →

Can invasive species become part of Hawaii’s kitchen?

Hawaii’s various invasive species could provide an opportunity to expand meat production, but there are a few barriers, according to Bryan Mayer, a nationally recognized meat educator and butcher who appeared on this week’s episode of “Hawaii Together” on ThinkTech Hawaii. “Hawaii has an unbelievable amount of resources to feed

Read More →