My heart goes out to all the families and business owners throughout our islands who are faced with recovering from yet another natural disaster. Just last week, Hurricane Lala battered Hawaii Island and continued on a path of destruction across the state, making it Hawaii Island's closest brush with a
Today marks the third year since wildfires tore through much of Maui’s beloved Lahaina town, claiming 102 lives and destroying more than 2,200 structures. I wish I could report that the once-thriving cultural and tourism hotspot is well on its way to recovery. But so far only about 220 houses
The following commentary was originally published Aug. 6, 2026, in The Maui News under the headline “It’s too soon to applaud rebuilding in Lahaina.”____________ Maui County officials convened a community meeting in Lahaina on July 1 to celebrate that reconstruction of the wildfire-ravaged town is finally on track — nearly three
More than 200 homes have been rebuilt in Lahaina after the devastating 2023 wildfires, but the recovery for commercial and multifamily structures remains bleak, according to Grassroot Institute of Hawaii policy analyst Jonathan Helton. Speaking with H. Hawaii Media radio host Johnny Miro on Sunday, Aug. 2, Helton said work
Hawaii and California differ greatly in size, but they have plenty in common — including great weather and notoriously bad permitting systems. It’s easy to joke about the absurdity of bureaucratic dysfunction. But the consequences when disaster strikes are no laughing matter. Just ask comedian Adam Carolla, who has been vocal about
The following commentary was first published July 15, 2026, in The Washington Post under the headline “Maui went from wildfires to purgatory. Here’s why it struggles to rebuild.”_____________ Nearly three years after wildfires engulfed Lahaina, Hawaii, rebuilding continues to move at a glacial pace. The blazes claimed more than 100 lives and
The following commentary was first published on May 24, 2026, in Maui Now under the headline “HB1823 could make rebuilding infrastructure in post-wildfire Lahaina easier.”_____________ Rebuilding Lahaina’s roads, water lines and sewer system in the wake of the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires could soon be easier, thanks to a bill passed earlier
The following commentary was originally published April 30, 2026, in The Maui News under the headline “Don’t pave paradise to put up parking lots.”____________ Imagine if every reconstructed shop in Lahaina had to be surrounded by a parking lot. Not only would that force businesses to downsize — since property owners
Many of the lessons learned from Maui County’s ongoing wildfire recovery efforts could help streamline statewide efforts to rebuild flood-damaged homes, farms, businesses and infrastructure following the recent Kona low storms, according to Jonathan Helton, policy analyst at the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Helton detailed some of those lessons in
April 9, 2026, 10:01 a.m. Hawaii State Capitol Conference Room 016 and Videoconference To: Senate Committee on Judiciary Sen. Karl Rhoads, Chair Sen. Mike Gabbard, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF HB1823 HD2
My heart goes out to all the families and business owners throughout our islands who are faced with recovering from yet another natural disaster. Just last week, Hurricane Lala battered Hawaii Island and continued on a path of destruction across the state, making it Hawaii Island's closest brush with a
Today marks the third year since wildfires tore through much of Maui’s beloved Lahaina town, claiming 102 lives and destroying more than 2,200 structures. I wish I could report that the once-thriving cultural and tourism hotspot is well on its way to recovery. But so far only about 220 houses
The following commentary was originally published Aug. 6, 2026, in The Maui News under the headline “It’s too soon to applaud rebuilding in Lahaina.”____________ Maui County officials convened a community meeting in Lahaina on July 1 to celebrate that reconstruction of the wildfire-ravaged town is finally on track — nearly three
More than 200 homes have been rebuilt in Lahaina after the devastating 2023 wildfires, but the recovery for commercial and multifamily structures remains bleak, according to Grassroot Institute of Hawaii policy analyst Jonathan Helton. Speaking with H. Hawaii Media radio host Johnny Miro on Sunday, Aug. 2, Helton said work
Hawaii and California differ greatly in size, but they have plenty in common — including great weather and notoriously bad permitting systems. It’s easy to joke about the absurdity of bureaucratic dysfunction. But the consequences when disaster strikes are no laughing matter. Just ask comedian Adam Carolla, who has been vocal about
The following commentary was first published July 15, 2026, in The Washington Post under the headline “Maui went from wildfires to purgatory. Here’s why it struggles to rebuild.”_____________ Nearly three years after wildfires engulfed Lahaina, Hawaii, rebuilding continues to move at a glacial pace. The blazes claimed more than 100 lives and
The following commentary was first published on May 24, 2026, in Maui Now under the headline “HB1823 could make rebuilding infrastructure in post-wildfire Lahaina easier.”_____________ Rebuilding Lahaina’s roads, water lines and sewer system in the wake of the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires could soon be easier, thanks to a bill passed earlier
The following commentary was originally published April 30, 2026, in The Maui News under the headline “Don’t pave paradise to put up parking lots.”____________ Imagine if every reconstructed shop in Lahaina had to be surrounded by a parking lot. Not only would that force businesses to downsize — since property owners
Many of the lessons learned from Maui County’s ongoing wildfire recovery efforts could help streamline statewide efforts to rebuild flood-damaged homes, farms, businesses and infrastructure following the recent Kona low storms, according to Jonathan Helton, policy analyst at the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Helton detailed some of those lessons in
April 9, 2026, 10:01 a.m. Hawaii State Capitol Conference Room 016 and Videoconference To: Senate Committee on Judiciary Sen. Karl Rhoads, Chair Sen. Mike Gabbard, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns RE: TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF HB1823 HD2
