Presenters find common ground at event about Hawaii’s housing crisis 20 Oct 5:36 PM (20 hours ago)
Photo by Sofia Luczak By Keli‘i Akina I often tell my colleagues at the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii that we owe it to our principles to know how to win. For example, if we want to make sure we all have places to live in Hawaii, we have to find common ground with others to […]
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Even More TANF Hoarding 20 Oct 8:00 AM (yesterday, 8:00 am)
This week we revisit Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF. Under TANF, the federal government provides a block grant to the states, which then use these funds to run their own programs for relief of the poor. To receive federal funds, states must also spend some of their own dollars on those programs, known […]
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Let Oahu voters vote on major decisions regarding runaway rail? 13 Oct 12:05 PM (8 days ago)
By Keli‘i Akina When it comes to the future of the Honolulu rail, it feels like we’re on a runaway train — pun intended. The Skyline project has blown way past its construction deadlines and cost estimates, and there’s little evidence that anyone is fully in control. It is becoming increasingly apparent that at some […]
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Rebelling Against the Culture of Silence 13 Oct 8:00 AM (8 days ago)
For a very long time, there has been a culture of silence within Hawaii state government. This culture has manifested in various ways. In our Legislature, for example, Civil Beat recently reported that legislators just vote yes to move things along, 98% of the time. UH Professor Colin Moore found this to be just one […]
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Resist resolution to reverse recent gains in Hawaii housing reform 8 Oct 6:08 PM (12 days ago)
By Keli‘i Akina If we want to solve Hawaii’s housing shortage, we need to embrace change. My prime example at the moment is the importance of defending Act 39. State lawmakers enacted this landmark housing reform measure last year with the intent of expanding the use of accessory dwelling units as a way to help ease Hawaii’s housing […]
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Brown Bag Speaker Series #17 – Breaking Bottlenecks: The Future of Meat Processing in Hawaiʻi 8 Oct 12:58 PM (13 days ago)
This free, one-hour Zoom webinar will take place on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM HST, and continues the Center’s deep dive into the vital role of local food infrastructure in Hawaiʻi’s agri-food economy. About the Series The Brown Bag Speaker Series is a monthly webinar featuring 15-minute presentations followed by […]
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Kapō Ma’i Lele (Kapō and her Flying Lady Parts) 6 Oct 8:35 PM (14 days ago)
After 5 years in production, Kapō Maʻi Lele, (Kapō And Her Flying Lady Parts) will premiere at the Hawai’i International Film Festival where it is a Made In Hawai’i Award Nominee. Composed of over 7000 hand painted images as well as original oil painted backgrounds along with original music by I’okepa Seaward, the short film […]
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Nonresident Withholding, Six Years Later 6 Oct 8:00 AM (15 days ago)
If you have, or know of, a partnership, estate, or trust that does business in Hawaii and has investors, owners, or beneficiaries that reside outside of Hawaii, then you might want to read this. About a month ago, the Department of Taxation issued Tax Information Release 2025-03 to provide guidance on a legal requirement that […]
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‘Too much agreement can sometimes cover up serious problems’ 29 Sep 1:32 PM (22 days ago)
By Keli‘i Akina I’m a big fan of cooperation. My colleagues and I at the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii are always looking for opportunities to work with people from across the political spectrum toward a common goal. But this does not mean that we ignore our differences. In fact, too much agreement can sometimes cover […]
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The Deduction for State and Local Tax 29 Sep 8:00 AM (22 days ago)
This week, we look at the push and pull that the federal tax system inflicts on state and local tax systems. Before Trump’s first term, people who had to pay state-specific taxes, such as state income tax or real property tax, could write off those taxes as an itemized deduction. The Tax Cuts and Jobs […]
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Freedom of speech ‘essential to the pursuit of truth’ 22 Sep 11:10 PM (28 days ago)
By Keli‘i Akina In the wake of the recent murder of national political activist Charlie Kirk, there has been an outpouring of confusion, speculation and misinformation about why he was targeted. So much so that I chose to wait before speaking publicly. But regardless of what is ultimately revealed about the killer’s motives, one truth […]
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Need a new printer for your home office? Consider the Epson EcoTank ET-4950 22 Sep 4:42 PM (28 days ago)
Yes, the dream of the “paperless office” has been floating around for decades, but let’s face it: paper isn’t going anywhere. Sooner or later, you’re going to need a new printer. Whether it’s for contracts, school assignments, medical records, or, in my case, cartons of World War II era documents, there’s still a need for […]
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Your Money Stays in Vegas — Then the IRS Wants Some 22 Sep 8:00 AM (29 days ago)
We continue our coverage of the Trump tax act by looking at the new rules on gambling losses. Under prior law, gambling losses are fully deductible, but only against gambling winnings. So if you went to Vegas and spent all day at a blackjack table and you lost the $500 you decided would be the […]
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Kudos to League of Women Voters for tackling blankety-blank bills head-on 15 Sep 6:58 PM (last month)
By Keli‘i Akina I’m pleased that the League of Women Voters of Hawaii has filed a lawsuit intended to stop so-called blankety-blank bills from being introduced at the Hawaii State Legislature. Blankety-blank bills, which I’ve criticized before, have broad and vague titles such as “Relating to government” or “Relating to taxation,” and they contain no actual content […]
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Charitable Giving Under OBBBA 15 Sep 8:00 AM (last month)
We continue our coverage the Trump tax act by focusing on one provision that is very important to charities — like us. In President Trump’s first term, the tax code was changed to give taxpayers a significant boost to the standard deduction, which is what every individual taxpayer can claim just for being alive even […]
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Progress toward housing reform at the county level worthy of praise 8 Sep 12:34 PM (last month)
By Keli‘i Akina You’ve heard much from me lately about how the state Legislature seems to have gotten serious about addressing Hawaii’s extreme lack of affordable housing — and there is recent progress at the county level to highlight as well. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: There is no silver-bullet solution to […]
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No Tax on Tips — Not! 8 Sep 8:00 AM (last month)
Last week our column focused on the “No Tax on Tips” provision in the Trump tax act. This week we look at some news that Hawaii recently dropped. It’s at the very end of Tax Information Release 2025-01. It says that Hawaii General Excise Tax applies to tips. Now, there is an exemption in the […]
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Case introduces federal Jones Act bill worth considering 2 Sep 6:46 AM (last month)
By Keli‘i Akina The most revolutionary Jones Act reform proposed in recent memory seems to be flying under everyone’s radar. On Aug. 1, U.S. Rep. Ed Case of Hawaii introduced HR4839, which would establish the Merchant Marine Allies Partnership Act. This bill proposes exempting Jones Act carriers from the federal 50% tax on major vessel modifications […]
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No Tax on Tips 1 Sep 8:00 AM (last month)
When we last discussed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, we focused on the provision providing no tax on overtime. This week we focus on no tax on tips. The provision itself is reasonably straightforward. An individual who receives tips can exclude up to $25,000 of those tips from his or her gross income. But, […]
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Will the new Aloha Stadium project wind up being another boondoggle? 25 Aug 1:06 PM (last month)
By Keli‘i Akina The work of Grassroot Institute of Hawaii cartoonist Dave Swann — pictured here — was recently featured in a report issued by Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa. It’s always nice to have the work of my colleagues at Grassroot acknowledged, especially on the national stage. What’s not so nice is that the […]
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Classroom Heat 24 Aug 8:00 AM (last month)
“Stop the presses!” The Hawaii State Tax Watch Doggie burst into the room. “What?” I turned around and squinted at the Doggie. “We don’t even have presses. We do everything electronically these days. Website. Email.” “But I just wanted to say that!” “Okay, so what’s the big news you have that is worth stopping the […]
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New Hawaii Tourism Authority on track to look a lot like the old HTA 19 Aug 2:46 PM (2 months ago)
By Keli‘i Akina Some bad ideas just won’t go away. Even when everyone agrees that there are serious problems to be addressed, a hope persists that this time we can make it work. Today’s example is the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Earlier this week, Gov. Josh Green announced the appointment of a dozen members to the […]
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No Tax on Overtime 17 Aug 8:00 AM (2 months ago)
By now, most of us have heard that President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law and some of the tax changes it makes will be effective this year. We’ll dive a little deeper into one of them, “No Tax on Overtime,” this week. The benefit of the new provision is pegged […]
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Two years after Lahaina wildfires, ‘much more needs to be done’ 11 Aug 3:53 PM (2 months ago)
By Keli‘i Akina Maui County was forever changed two years ago when wildfires destroyed much of historic Lahaina. But it’s also been tragic to witness how regulations and bureaucracy have made life so much more difficult for the survivors trying to rebuild. From the very beginning, my team at the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii knew […]
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Encumbrance for the Stadium 10 Aug 8:00 AM (2 months ago)
Last week we were discussing some of the expenditure controls in the Hawaii Constitution that are supposed to rein in spending by our well-meaning government officials. One of these controls is a requirement that all general fund appropriations, namely money given out by our Legislature, must lapse within three years. When the appropriation lapses, all […]
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Got Osteoporosis? You can change the equation 9 Aug 3:12 PM (2 months ago)
It sneaks up on all of us. We get older, and with that comes a quiet, often invisible decline: loss of bone density. It begins subtly after age 30 and accelerates over time. I learned this the hard way. A little over a year ago, I had a DEXA scan—a test that measures bone density—and […]
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Grassroot releases policy brief on ways to expedite rebuilding of Lahaina 7 Aug 1:46 AM (2 months ago)
The following was issued as a news release by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.____________ HONOLULU, Aug. 5, 2025 >> As the second anniversary approaches of the wildfires that destroyed much of Maui’s beloved Lahaina town, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii has released a policy brief detailing additional actions state and Maui County lawmakers could take […]
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Schatz is proof that housing reform has become a nonpartisan issue 7 Aug 1:43 AM (2 months ago)
Sen. Brian Schatz, third from right, looked on as Gov. Josh Green signed housing reform measure SB3202 in 2024. Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor. By Keli‘i Akina A U.S. senator recently made the following statement about the housing shortages across America. Can you guess who it was? “Ask anyone who has tried […]
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Big Island Bees Honey Crowned Winner in “15 Years of Good Food Awards” 4 Aug 3:04 PM (2 months ago)
Editor’s Note: I have to admit a bias. When I first saw this release I wanted to post it. Not just because this is a legitimate award. Good Food Foundation’s “Good Food Awards” are a well-established, U.S.-based annual competition recognizing exceptional craft food products that score highly in blind taste tests and meet rigorous sustainability, […]
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Constitutional Expenditure Controls 3 Aug 8:00 AM (2 months ago)
Recently I was reading through the proceedings of the 1978 Constitutional Convention. The last time our State had a constitutional convention was almost fifty years ago. The delegates to that convention included several people who are political luminaries now. One of the things that the delegates were trying very hard to do was to give […]
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I can hardly wait for Hawaii’s new cottage food rules to be completed 28 Jul 4:55 PM (2 months ago)
By Keli‘i Akina Hawaii Island farmer Rourk Reagan of Pukana Lā Farms in Waiohinu wants to more easily produce and sell jams, relishes and sauces made with local ingredients. Sally Stewart of Sally Jane’s Sweets and Savories, based in Kailua-Kona on Hawaii Island, would like to expand the sales of her homemade baked goods. Mark […]
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Pay for No Work 28 Jul 8:00 AM (2 months ago)
In our state, we have a civil service system that is supposed to protect workers. Workers are not to be fired unless the employer has “cause,” or a good reason, to fire them. But, as we will see, the system that has built up around this principle is now broken. Under most of the union […]
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DOT targeting cruise ships to achieve emission goals clearly a red flag 20 Jul 2:02 PM (3 months ago)
By Keli‘i Akina Hawaii has a problem. When the only plan to accomplish certain goals is to put people out of work and damage the state’s economy, you know we have to look for a better way. My latest case in point is the new climate roadmap from the state Department of Transportation, which calls for reducing […]
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Nonprofit Blankety Blank 20 Jul 8:00 AM (3 months ago)
This week, we are going to add our two cents’ worth to the controversy surrounding Senate Bill 933, now Act 310 of 2025. That bill puts $50 million in the hands of a four-person committee, which will distribute the money among nonprofits. These nonprofits must “have sustained a reduction or termination of their federal funding” […]
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Progress made in permitting reform as governor signs two bills into law 14 Jul 1:39 PM (3 months ago)
Photo by Mark Coleman By Keli‘i Akina After years of complaints and horror stories, policymakers can finally say they’ve taken decisive action to address Hawaii’s notorious permitting delays. SB66, now Act 295, might not be as attention-grabbing as big tax cuts, but it could wind up being one of the most important bills passed by […]
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SNAP Cliffs Are Coming 14 Jul 8:00 AM (3 months ago)
Now that the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act is law, we are going to focus on some provisions that are not as well known as the federal tax changes but may have a profound impact on our state fiscal health. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP for short, has been part of our social […]
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Brown Bag Speaker Series #14 – Food Hubs Part Two: Building the Necessary Physical and Social Infrastructure for a Resilient Food System in Hawaiʻi. 9 Jul 1:05 PM (3 months ago)
This free, one-hour Zoom webinar will take place on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM HST, and continues the Center’s deep dive into the vital role of food hubs in Hawaiʻi’s local food economy. About the Series The Brown Bag Speaker Series is a monthly webinar featuring 15-minute presentations followed by […]
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Building Schools 7 Jul 8:00 AM (3 months ago)
In this past legislative session, we were closely watching a bill that would have axed the “school impact fees” that housing developers now have to pay. As we have pointed out before, the fees have been collected but have not been used, and for a very long time. During testimony on the bill, House Bill […]
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Governor and Legislature come through again with wins for Hawaii 7 Jul 12:27 AM (3 months ago)
By Keli‘i Akina If you’re wondering why I’ve tended to praise Gov. Josh Green and Hawaii legislators in recent years, it’s because I’ve had no choice. They keep passing bills aimed at alleviating Hawaii’s housing shortage, allowing more healthcare freedom and limiting government overreach. Just this week, Gov. Green signed: >> SB66, which allows building permits to […]
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Interstate telehealth easy way to improve Hawaii healthcare access 3 Jul 5:09 PM (3 months ago)
By Keli‘i Akina The Fourth of July is just around the corner, and for many of us, it’s an occasion to reflect on the many freedoms that we have — or don’t have, as the case may be. When it comes to healthcare in Hawaii, it is clear there is room for more freedom. Imagine, […]
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