fbpx

In the News

Kent, Kefalas recap wins, losses at Legislature on ‘Capitol Convo’

Joe Kent and Ted Kefalas of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii covered a lot of ground during a recent appearance on state Rep. Lauren Matsumoto’s thrice-weekly “Capitol Convo” radio program on AM 690 and FM 94.3 The Answer. Recorded July 19, the topics included Gov. Josh Green’s recent housing emergency

Read More →

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii wins two journalism awards

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii staffers Dave Swann and Keli‘i Akina were among winners at this year’s annual journalism awards ceremony presented by the Hawaii chapter of the national Society of Professional Journalists. The July 18 event at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii honored some of the best journalism work

Read More →

Kent questions wisdom of running half-completed rail

The first segment of the Honolulu rail opened for service just last month, but Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Executive Vice President Joe Kent says it may be time to shut it down — at least for now.  In a conversation that aired on Monday, Kent explained to Hawaii Public Radio’s

Read More →

Concern builds that Hawaii energy goals not realistic

Hawaii’s plans to switch to 100% renewable energy by 2045 might cause more harm than good, according to Joe Kent, executive vice president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Speaking with H. Hawaii Media radio host Johnny Miro on Sunday, Kent expressed concern that the attempted shift towards a new

Read More →

‘Think outside the box’ to fix Hawaii’s unemployment tax

Hawaii’s state Legislature avoided any major tax increases during its 2023 session, but it failed to address a “silent” increase in the state unemployment insurance tax, the brunt of which many businesses felt earlier this year.  In a conversation that aired Sunday, Grassroot Institute researcher Jonathan Helton told H. Hawaii

Read More →

Governor’s budget cuts were ‘really good thing’ for Hawaii

The biennial budget passed by the 2023 Hawaii Legislature threatened to wipe out the state’s projected surplus by fiscal 2028. However, Joe Kent, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii executive vice president, said now it appears that Gov. Josh Green will be trimming $1 billion from that budget before signing off on

Read More →

How the Grassroot Institute is working for a better Hawaii

From property taxes to permitting backlogs, Ted Kefalas, director of strategic campaigns for the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, covered a wide range of topics during his first-ever visit to the “Rick Hamada Program” on KHVH-AM.  During the morning radio show on June 8, Kefalas offered insights on issues that are

Read More →

Want more housing? Why not just cut the red tape?

If an “empty homes” homes tax were to serve no other purpose than bringing in tax revenues to fund affordable housing initiatives, wouldn’t that be worth pursuing?  Speaking with H. Hawaii Media radio host Johnny Miro on Sunday, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii research associate Jensen Ahokovi answered, “I wouldn’t think

Read More →

The good, bad and ‘mostly ugly’ at 2023 Legislature

Mostly ugly. Some bad. But also some good.  That was how Joe Kent, executive vice president of Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, described the results of the recent legislative session when he appeared Monday on Rick Hamada’s radio show on News Radio KHVH 850 AM. The hands-down ugly would have to

Read More →

Kent, Kefalas recap wins, losses at Legislature on ‘Capitol Convo’

Joe Kent and Ted Kefalas of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii covered a lot of ground during a recent appearance on state Rep. Lauren Matsumoto’s thrice-weekly “Capitol Convo” radio program on AM 690 and FM 94.3 The Answer. Recorded July 19, the topics included Gov. Josh Green’s recent housing emergency

Read More →

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii wins two journalism awards

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii staffers Dave Swann and Keli‘i Akina were among winners at this year’s annual journalism awards ceremony presented by the Hawaii chapter of the national Society of Professional Journalists. The July 18 event at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii honored some of the best journalism work

Read More →

Kent questions wisdom of running half-completed rail

The first segment of the Honolulu rail opened for service just last month, but Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Executive Vice President Joe Kent says it may be time to shut it down — at least for now.  In a conversation that aired on Monday, Kent explained to Hawaii Public Radio’s

Read More →

Concern builds that Hawaii energy goals not realistic

Hawaii’s plans to switch to 100% renewable energy by 2045 might cause more harm than good, according to Joe Kent, executive vice president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Speaking with H. Hawaii Media radio host Johnny Miro on Sunday, Kent expressed concern that the attempted shift towards a new

Read More →

‘Think outside the box’ to fix Hawaii’s unemployment tax

Hawaii’s state Legislature avoided any major tax increases during its 2023 session, but it failed to address a “silent” increase in the state unemployment insurance tax, the brunt of which many businesses felt earlier this year.  In a conversation that aired Sunday, Grassroot Institute researcher Jonathan Helton told H. Hawaii

Read More →

Governor’s budget cuts were ‘really good thing’ for Hawaii

The biennial budget passed by the 2023 Hawaii Legislature threatened to wipe out the state’s projected surplus by fiscal 2028. However, Joe Kent, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii executive vice president, said now it appears that Gov. Josh Green will be trimming $1 billion from that budget before signing off on

Read More →

How the Grassroot Institute is working for a better Hawaii

From property taxes to permitting backlogs, Ted Kefalas, director of strategic campaigns for the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, covered a wide range of topics during his first-ever visit to the “Rick Hamada Program” on KHVH-AM.  During the morning radio show on June 8, Kefalas offered insights on issues that are

Read More →

Want more housing? Why not just cut the red tape?

If an “empty homes” homes tax were to serve no other purpose than bringing in tax revenues to fund affordable housing initiatives, wouldn’t that be worth pursuing?  Speaking with H. Hawaii Media radio host Johnny Miro on Sunday, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii research associate Jensen Ahokovi answered, “I wouldn’t think

Read More →

The good, bad and ‘mostly ugly’ at 2023 Legislature

Mostly ugly. Some bad. But also some good.  That was how Joe Kent, executive vice president of Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, described the results of the recent legislative session when he appeared Monday on Rick Hamada’s radio show on News Radio KHVH 850 AM. The hands-down ugly would have to

Read More →