Regulation
Unshackle Maui taxis to help them compete
In the wake of the state announcing that ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft can now pick up customers at Kahului and Kapalua airports, Maui airport taxi drivers are expressing frustration that such companies will essentially be operating as taxis while not having to...
Why are residents leaving Hawaii?
It’s too expensive. That’s why most people move away from their beloved Hawaii. Consider the story of Christopher Peralta, who left Honolulu in 2009 and now lives in Portland. He told the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii: “I was working three jobs and had nothing to show...
Our Santa wish list for Hawaii
Well, it’s Christmas season again, so here is what I drafted recently for Santa to consider: Dear Santa, We at the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii were very good this past year about defending the free market. We helped educate policymakers, stood for transparency and...
Ige can count us to help Hawaii ‘move forward’
I heard something strangely familiar in Gov. David Ige’s inauguration address last week. As the governor began speaking of the challenges facing our state, he issued a plea that we all work together to make things better. He even unveiled the theme of his speech: ʻOni...
Maui rental fines not fine
Say you’re in desperate need of money and decide to rent a room in your Maui home through Airbnb. You look at the other rentals being offered and decide to make your price competitive at $100 a night. You know this won’t make you a millionaire — you’re just hoping it...
Vacation rental fines inviting legal trouble
This article was published as a letter to the editor in The Maui News on Nov. 14, 2018. On Nov. 6, Maui voters decided to drastically increase the fines for illegal short-term vacation rentals on Maui, which could expose the county to dangerous legal challenges....
Hawaii rank goes up, but not its economic freedom
The Economic Freedom of North America 2018 report outlines Hawaii’s statistical paradox HONOLULU, Nov. 13, 2018 >> Hawaii moved up a surprising eight notches this year in a national ranking measuring economic freedom in all 50 states, from 45 in 2017 to 37. That...
Hawaii moved up in rankings, despite lower score in economic freedom
At first it would seem like great news that Hawaii moved up a surprising eight places in the latest annual "Economic Freedom of North America" index, from 45th among all U.S. states in 2017 to 37th in 2018. But things are not always what they seem. In this case,...
Higher taxes do not make housing cheaper
Many Hawaii taxpayers breathed a sigh of relief after the state Supreme Court on Oct. 19 voided a ballot question that would’ve allowed the state to raise taxes on investment real property. Supporters of the proposal had argued that higher taxes could be the key to...
Honolulu could be leader in taxi deregulation
Honolulu has a chance to lead the way in the nationwide battle between municipalities, taxis and ride-hailing services. But will the city move toward a free market or greater government control? The Grassroot Institute's Malia Hill considered that question in her...
Brave new world for taxis
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Tuesday (June 19) vetoed a bill that would have capped surge pricing for ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft. And kudos to the mayor for that. The City Council has until July 19 to override the veto, but at the moment economic...
At least we’re not as bad as California …
This week I am writing to you from Dallas and the Economic Freedom of North America (EFNA) conference. Every year I join with leaders of policy think tanks from other U.S. states, plus from Canada and Mexico, to meet with economists who measure and study ways to...
A ‘first’ Honolulu doesn’t need
MEDIA RELEASE from Grassroot Institute of Hawaii CONTACT: Joe Kent, (808) 987-7322 or jkent@grassrootinstitute.org HONOLULU, June 7, 2018 >> The Honolulu City Council yesterday approved what could be the nation’s first ban on “surge pricing” by...
Caution: Government at work
Good intentions pave road to homelessness
We are all aware of Hawaii’s "pay to play" culture and "friends and family" cronyism, but the high cost of housing does not appear to be the result of widespread corruption. It is more a case of good intentions gone awry. That was the message of David Callies, law...
State encouraged building in risky lava zone
MEDIA RELEASE from GRASSROOT INSTITUTE OF HAWAII CONTACT: Joe Kent, jkent@grassrootinstitute.org (808) 987-7322 State encouraged building in risky lava zone Grassroot Institute of Hawaii president says ongoing disaster could have been avoided HAWAII ISLAND (May 17,...
Ditch minimum wage; help the poor
Hawaii’s Legislature did not approve a higher minimum wage this year, and that’s a good thing, if you want to help the poor. In 2010, researchers from the National Bureau of Economic Research and the Federal Reserve Board compiled the results of 53 scholarly studies...
Government fanned flames of volcano disaster
As lava engulfs the homes of many unfortunate Hawaii Island residents, it’s important to remember that the state originally encouraged the building of homes in this dangerous area by offering lava insurance where no private company would. In the 1990s, the town of...