Socioeconomics
Gas tax proposal just more of the same
After watching so many State of the State addresses, I’ve learned to regard them as something more than a summary of the state’s political outlook. In fact, they’ve started to seem a lot like wish lists. The governor outlines everything his party would like to get in...
Cost of living to go up — again
Get ready to pay more for goods you purchase on the internet. A new Hawaii law, Act 41, that goes into effect July 1 will subject internet retailers that have neither persons nor property in Hawaii to the state's general excise tax, so long as they make more than...
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...
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...
Hawaii bail system victimizes taxpayers, too
It’s important for Hawaii to consider the enormous costs of its harsh bail policies and long pretrial delays, both for the unlucky individuals unnecessarily detained by such government inefficiencies and for the taxpayers footing the unnecessarily excessive bills.
Overcharged for health care
"There’s no real story here for why we should think that giving the government control of the health care economy would lead to a cost reduction. Cost reductions benefit consumers who are very widely distributed and disorganized, whereas the producers of health care...
‘He’s making a list’
You better watch out You better not cry Better not pout I'm telling you why Santa Claus is coming to town Who doesn't love Santa Claus? He's the enduring symbol of Christmas and, at his best, the embodiment of generosity and holiday spirit. At his worst, however, he...
Empty retail an opportunity
It’s clearly not the end of brick-and-mortar retail, but retail vacancies on Maui are on the rise, and mall owners may need to find new uses for their properties. Given Maui’s housing shortage, could empty retail space be transitioned into housing? Aaron Lief of the...
Raising taxes awful … unless?
"As Mr. Carnicelli said, the county likes a tax hike when the money goes to the county, but dislikes it when it goes to the state." Read more.
Public park model not working in Kakaako
Kakaako Waterfront Park was supposed to be the kind of scenic public space that leaps, unprompted, to the imagination at the words “Honolulu” and “park.” On the cusp of its opening in 1992, politicians spoke about how it was going to be “people-oriented.” The park...
How to fix health care
Hawaii’s health care system is in bad shape, and the way to make it better is to foster greater competition among doctors, hospitals, drug companies and insurance companies, by simplifying the regulatory environment in which they operate. That’s according to former...
Americans no longer confident about college
By Keli'i Akina, Ph.D. For decades, teachers and parents around the country have been repeating the same message to children: “To have a bright future, you need to go to college.” But now, in Hawaii at least, it’s starting to look like the younger generation isn’t...
Why Hawaii isn’t rich like Texas
There is a big difference between living in a state with rich people and living in a rich state.
Maui Event: Peggy Grande, confidant to President Ronald Reagan
Peggy Grande will speak on Maui on Saturday, August 5, 2017.
Economic freedom needed to increase affordable housing
A respect for property rights and economic freedom can help provide housing for local families, said Dr. Akina at an affordable housing summit on Maui.
There’s No Place Like Home
Last week, the Grassroot Institute released a short video about the large number of locals who are forced by economic considerations to leave Hawaii for the mainland. It was one of our most successful videos to date and touched a chord with the large group of "expat"...
Democrats dominant in Hawaii because voters like their ideas
Mark Coleman looks into the state of political competition in Hawaii and suggests that ideas are why the Democratic Party of Hawaii has been top dog for so long.