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 April 4, 2026, in The Garden Island newspaper on Kaua‘i._____________ The Kaua‘i County Council is considering a bill that would make it easier for farmers and ranchers to grow and sell more local food — something that would benefit all island residents. The measure at hand is Bill
Joe Kent, executive vice president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, had a wide-ranging conversation with KHVH radio host Rick Hamada on April 2 that touched on fuel prices and energy policy, the recent Jones Act waiver, some of Grassroot’s legislative priorities this session, cutting the state budget, the government’s
Jonathan Helton, policy analyst for the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, appeared on Rick Hamada’s KHVH radio show March 31 to provide insight into the state budget and proposed changes to previously enacted income tax cuts. Helton explained that House lawmakers “cut about $150 million from the governor’s budget and then
Not long after President Donald Trump issued a 60-day waiver of the Jones Act to help reduce oil prices in the wake of war in Iran, Grassroot President Keli’i Akina sat down with KSSK radio host Michael W. Perry on March 26 to discuss the impact the waiver could have
The state doesn’t have a budget crisis. It has a spending crisis. That’s what Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Executive Vice President Joe Kent told KHVH News Radio 830 host Rick Hamada during “The Rick Hamada Program” on March 16. Kent said the state’s latest budget woes are “less about the
The following “Island Voices” commentary was first published on March 19, 2026, in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser under the headline “Relax health care facility, service regulations to boost access.”_____________ Hawaii is facing a health crisis, and we cannot regulate our way out of it. In fact, our only hope might be to reduce
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 April 4, 2026, in The Garden Island newspaper on Kaua‘i._____________ The Kaua‘i County Council is considering a bill that would make it easier for farmers and ranchers to grow and sell more local food — something that would benefit all island residents. The measure at hand is Bill
Joe Kent, executive vice president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, had a wide-ranging conversation with KHVH radio host Rick Hamada on April 2 that touched on fuel prices and energy policy, the recent Jones Act waiver, some of Grassroot’s legislative priorities this session, cutting the state budget, the government’s
Jonathan Helton, policy analyst for the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, appeared on Rick Hamada’s KHVH radio show March 31 to provide insight into the state budget and proposed changes to previously enacted income tax cuts. Helton explained that House lawmakers “cut about $150 million from the governor’s budget and then
Not long after President Donald Trump issued a 60-day waiver of the Jones Act to help reduce oil prices in the wake of war in Iran, Grassroot President Keli’i Akina sat down with KSSK radio host Michael W. Perry on March 26 to discuss the impact the waiver could have
The state doesn’t have a budget crisis. It has a spending crisis. That’s what Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Executive Vice President Joe Kent told KHVH News Radio 830 host Rick Hamada during “The Rick Hamada Program” on March 16. Kent said the state’s latest budget woes are “less about the
The following “Island Voices” commentary was first published on March 19, 2026, in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser under the headline “Relax health care facility, service regulations to boost access.”_____________ Hawaii is facing a health crisis, and we cannot regulate our way out of it. In fact, our only hope might be to reduce
