The following commentary was originally published July 16, 2026, in The Garden Island under the headline “New rainwater catchment law could boost housing stock.”_____________ The Hawaiʻi Legislature passed a bill this year that now allows folks across the state to install rainwater catchment systems. HB1728, which took effect July 1, is a victory for
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 need for less costly housing is a hot topic in Hawaii, and Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Executive Vice President Joe Kent reminded local radio listeners recently that lifting burdensome regulations is an important piece of that conversation. Speaking with KHVH radio host Rick Hamada on July 13, Kent said
The following “Island Voices” commentary was first published on July 8, 2026, in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser under the headline “State ‘millionaire tax’ might backfire.”_____________ Lawmakers sometimes forget that tax policy does not play out in a vacuum. Tax hikes, for example, can nudge people to reduce discretionary spending, cut back on charitable
A new state law that has been framed as a campaign finance reform measure is actually a sweeping threat to the free speech rights of ordinary Hawaii residents, Grassroot Institute President and CEO Keliʻi Akina explained in a recent radio interview. The Grassroot Institute has filed a lawsuit challenging the
The following commentary was first published May 30, 2026, in West Hawaii Today and May 31, 2026, in the Hawaii Tribune-Herald under the headline “Local food bills on the table after legislative session.”_____________ The Hawaiʻi Legislature this year approved at least three bills that could help the state achieve its goal of increasing the
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 biggest takeaway from the 2026 legislative session is that lawmakers appear to still be focused on addressing Hawaii’s affordability crisis, especially when it comes to passing housing reforms and turning down major tax increases, according to Ted Kefalas, the Grassroot Institute’s director of strategic campaigns. Kefalas joined H. Hawaii
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
The following “Island Voices” commentary was first published April 22, 2026, in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser under the headline “Now is no time to retreat on proposed isle tax cuts.”_____________ Less than two years ago, Hawaii lawmakers unanimously passed historic income tax cuts to help relieve residents from one of the highest tax
The following commentary was originally published July 16, 2026, in The Garden Island under the headline “New rainwater catchment law could boost housing stock.”_____________ The Hawaiʻi Legislature passed a bill this year that now allows folks across the state to install rainwater catchment systems. HB1728, which took effect July 1, is a victory for
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 need for less costly housing is a hot topic in Hawaii, and Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Executive Vice President Joe Kent reminded local radio listeners recently that lifting burdensome regulations is an important piece of that conversation. Speaking with KHVH radio host Rick Hamada on July 13, Kent said
The following “Island Voices” commentary was first published on July 8, 2026, in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser under the headline “State ‘millionaire tax’ might backfire.”_____________ Lawmakers sometimes forget that tax policy does not play out in a vacuum. Tax hikes, for example, can nudge people to reduce discretionary spending, cut back on charitable
A new state law that has been framed as a campaign finance reform measure is actually a sweeping threat to the free speech rights of ordinary Hawaii residents, Grassroot Institute President and CEO Keliʻi Akina explained in a recent radio interview. The Grassroot Institute has filed a lawsuit challenging the
The following commentary was first published May 30, 2026, in West Hawaii Today and May 31, 2026, in the Hawaii Tribune-Herald under the headline “Local food bills on the table after legislative session.”_____________ The Hawaiʻi Legislature this year approved at least three bills that could help the state achieve its goal of increasing the
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 biggest takeaway from the 2026 legislative session is that lawmakers appear to still be focused on addressing Hawaii’s affordability crisis, especially when it comes to passing housing reforms and turning down major tax increases, according to Ted Kefalas, the Grassroot Institute’s director of strategic campaigns. Kefalas joined H. Hawaii
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
The following “Island Voices” commentary was first published April 22, 2026, in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser under the headline “Now is no time to retreat on proposed isle tax cuts.”_____________ Less than two years ago, Hawaii lawmakers unanimously passed historic income tax cuts to help relieve residents from one of the highest tax
