News
I bet Santa would agree about CON laws
9+ hour, 56+ min ago I've had a funny old Christmas song running through my head lately " "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer." But I've changed the lyrics a bit after reading the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii's newest'white paper'about how to improve healthcare in…...
Grassroot testimonies submitted in mid-December 2025
3+ day, 9+ hour ago Below are testimonies submitted during mid-December 2025 by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Hawai'i and Maui county councils and the Honolulu Planning Commission. >>Bill 103 (2025)" "Limit tax hikes for senior owners as agricultural land values increase" >>Bill 9 (2025)" "Proposed…...
Allow all burned Lahaina structures to be rebuilt to pre-fire heights
3+ day, 9+ hour ago RE: Bill 183 (2025) " RELATING TO BUILDING HEIGHTS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION IN THE LAHAINA NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK DISTRICT Aloha Chair Lee, Vice Chair Sugimura and other members of the Council, The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports " and offers an amendment to "Bill…...
Extension of property tax waiver vital for rebuilding of Lahaina
3+ day, 9+ hour ago Re: Bill 171 (2025) " A BILL EXTENDING MAUl WILDFIRES REAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF Aloha Chair Lee, Vice Chair Sugimura and other members of the Council, The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports Bill 171, CD1 (2025), which would extend until July 1, 2028, the property tax waiver for…...
Limit tax hikes for senior owners as agricultural land values increase
5+ day, 11+ hour ago RE: Bill 103 (2025) " RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY TAX Aloha Chair Inaba, Vice-Chair Onishi and other members of the Council, The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports Bill 103, Draft 2 (2025), which would create a tax-relief mechanism for homeowners older than 65 whose agricultural lands [have…...
City 'living wage' not only unsound but also not allowed by state law
6+ day, 5+ hour ago RE: P024 " RELATING TO A LIVING WAGE Aloha Chair Szewczyk, Vice-Chair Yamamoto and other members of the Commission, The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii opposes proposed Charter amendment P024, which would require the City Council to set a "living wage" level every five…...
Reject empty homes tax proposal
6+ day, 5+ hour ago RE: P170 " RELATING TO AN EMPTY HOMES TAX Aloha Chair Szewczyk, Vice-Chair Yamamoto and other members of the Commission, The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii opposes proposed charter amendment P170, which would create an empty homes tax mechanism to create revenue for affordable…...
Require fiscal assessments for all proposed bills, Charter amendments
6+ day, 5+ hour ago RE: P066 and P156 " RELATING TO THE FISCAL IMPACT OF LEGISLATION Aloha Chair Szewczyk, Vice-Chair Yamamoto and other members of the Commission, The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports proposed Charter amendments P066 and P156, both of which would require an assessment of the financial…...
Amend when tax exemption for newly acquired home takes effect
6+ day, 5+ hour ago Re: Bill 146 (2025) " A BILL ON THE PRINCIPAL HOME EXEMPTION'S APPLICATION DEADLINES Aloha Chair Lee, Vice Chair Rawlins-Fernandez and other members of the Committee, The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports Bill 146 (2025), which would amend how home exemption applications are processed. Currently,…...
Increase property tax exemption for owners of long-term rentals
6+ day, 5+ hour ago Re: Bill 181 (2025) " INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF THE HOME AND LONG-TERM RENTAL EXEMPTIONS Aloha Chair Lee, Vice Chair Rawlins-Fernandez and other members of the Committee, The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports Bill 181 (2025), which would increase Maui County's property tax home exemption…...