When it became apparent earlier this month that the Honolulu Charter Commission was seriously considering approving a ballot measure asking Honolulu voters whether the City Council should be required to tax so-called empty homes, my colleagues at the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii sprang into action. Thankfully, Grassroot’s advocacy prevailed, and the Commission
For the first time in the 20 years that national news outlet CNBC has been ranking America’s top states for business, Hawaii came in dead last. In particular, the Aloha State finished 50th in terms of infrastructure and the cost-of-doing-business, and landed among the worst for its workforce, business friendliness,
Like many local business owners, Hawaii’s farmers and ranchers have to deal with rules and regulations that often make it harder to run a successful enterprise. They also share the same concerns about the high cost of housing and how it affects their ability to attract and retain employees. This
Happy Independence Day! But this year isn’t just like any other — today we celebrate America’s 250th birthday. Two-and-a-half centuries ago, the 13 British colonies along North America’s Atlantic coast unified to declare their freedom from Great Britain and create a revolutionary form of government based on the consent of
I always enjoy the opportunity to close out the legislative session talking with the people that we at the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii are really working for — the men and women who are trying to live, work and flourish in Hawaii. It’s a great reminder that the bills we
This is a year of celebration — both for our country and the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Almost 250 years ago, on July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. That revolutionary document gave birth to the United States of America, and has shaped hearts and
Free speech is one of our country’s founding principles. But that doesn’t mean it is safe from attack. Just this past month, the Hawaiʻi Legislature passed a bill — which the governor promptly signed into law — that will directly infringe on our First Amendment rights when it goes into effect
What if we had another way to travel interisland? Something cheaper and more environmentally friendly than the usual airport-to-airport grind? No, I’m not talking about resurrecting the Hawaii Superferry. There’s a new option on the horizon, and I’m excited to tell you that my colleagues at the Grassroot Institute of
Do not let it be said that I only criticize government officials. I also like to give credit where credit is due. This week, a substantial amount of credit and praise is owed to the Honolulu Budget Committee, which made the fiscally responsible decision to ax most of the funding
Now that Hawaii’s 2026 legislative session is over, I’d like to tell you about a few meaningful housing reform proposals that passed and are awaiting the governor’s approval. Perhaps the most notable is HB1741. If enacted, this bill could significantly rein in the county practice of inclusionary zoning. This measure would not ban the
When it became apparent earlier this month that the Honolulu Charter Commission was seriously considering approving a ballot measure asking Honolulu voters whether the City Council should be required to tax so-called empty homes, my colleagues at the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii sprang into action. Thankfully, Grassroot’s advocacy prevailed, and the Commission
For the first time in the 20 years that national news outlet CNBC has been ranking America’s top states for business, Hawaii came in dead last. In particular, the Aloha State finished 50th in terms of infrastructure and the cost-of-doing-business, and landed among the worst for its workforce, business friendliness,
Like many local business owners, Hawaii’s farmers and ranchers have to deal with rules and regulations that often make it harder to run a successful enterprise. They also share the same concerns about the high cost of housing and how it affects their ability to attract and retain employees. This
Happy Independence Day! But this year isn’t just like any other — today we celebrate America’s 250th birthday. Two-and-a-half centuries ago, the 13 British colonies along North America’s Atlantic coast unified to declare their freedom from Great Britain and create a revolutionary form of government based on the consent of
I always enjoy the opportunity to close out the legislative session talking with the people that we at the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii are really working for — the men and women who are trying to live, work and flourish in Hawaii. It’s a great reminder that the bills we
This is a year of celebration — both for our country and the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Almost 250 years ago, on July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. That revolutionary document gave birth to the United States of America, and has shaped hearts and
Free speech is one of our country’s founding principles. But that doesn’t mean it is safe from attack. Just this past month, the Hawaiʻi Legislature passed a bill — which the governor promptly signed into law — that will directly infringe on our First Amendment rights when it goes into effect
What if we had another way to travel interisland? Something cheaper and more environmentally friendly than the usual airport-to-airport grind? No, I’m not talking about resurrecting the Hawaii Superferry. There’s a new option on the horizon, and I’m excited to tell you that my colleagues at the Grassroot Institute of
Do not let it be said that I only criticize government officials. I also like to give credit where credit is due. This week, a substantial amount of credit and praise is owed to the Honolulu Budget Committee, which made the fiscally responsible decision to ax most of the funding
Now that Hawaii’s 2026 legislative session is over, I’d like to tell you about a few meaningful housing reform proposals that passed and are awaiting the governor’s approval. Perhaps the most notable is HB1741. If enacted, this bill could significantly rein in the county practice of inclusionary zoning. This measure would not ban the
