Grassroot Institute

The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is a 501(c)3 nonprofit public policy think tank based in Honolulu, Hawaii.[4] The organization's stated mission is to "educate people about the values of individual liberty, economic freedom, and accountable government."[5] It promotes free market values and produces research on subjects like the Jones Act and pension issues. The current Chief Executive Officer is Dr. Keli'i Akina. The Institute was formed on February 12, 2001[1] by Richard Rowland. The organization is a member of the State Policy Network, a network of state-based think tanks.

Grassroot Institute
EstablishedFebruary 12, 2001[1]
FounderRichard Rowland
99-0354937[2]
Legal status501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
ServicesMultifaceted efforts to shed light on government operations and spending; public education regarding the movement to create a sovereign Hawaiian nation and/or other governmental entity; research into the effect of the 1920 Jones Act on the state of Hawaii.[2]
W. Keli'i Akina[2]
Richard O. Rowland[2]
Budget
Revenue: $463,184
Expenses: $470,188
(FYE December 2015)[3]
Websitewww.grassrootinstitute.org

Issues

The Grassroot Institute has published commentary on a variety of political issues, from a legal minimum wage to Hawaiian sovereignty. The Grassroot Institute conducts research and analysis of various issues from a free market perspective. Academic works are inspired by the writings of scholars such as Frederic Bastiat, Murray Rothbard, Milton Friedman, F.A. Hayek, and Adam Smith. Generally, the institute opposes tax increases, such as Hawaii's General Excise Tax.[6]

The Jones Act

The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports reform of the Jones Act that would address the disproportionate effect of the shipbuilding and cargo shipping restrictions on Hawaii from the Jones Act.[7]

Honolulu rail project

The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii has been a vocal critic of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation's rail project in Honolulu. The Institute hasn't made any public comments on whether the rail should stop at Middle Street, which is a popular belief among opponents. The only official position of the Institute is that HART be subject to an independent audit for fraud, waste and abuse.[8]

In 2017, the Institute launched the campaign to audit the rail, which eventually gained momentum and resulted in a financial and management audit by Hawaii state auditor Les Kondo in 2018.[9]

Hawaiian sovereignty

The Grassroot Institute joined with other groups to file suit against the State of Hawaii's efforts to form and gain federal recognition of a race-based, sovereign nation. The lawsuit, filed in 2015, seeks to block state-funded race-based elections in Hawaii.[10][11][12]

References
  1. The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, Inc." Hawaii Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs. State of Hawaii. Accessed December 8, 2015.
  3. "Grassroot Institute of Hawai Inc" (PDF). Foundation Center. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  4. "Supreme Court justice blocks Native Hawaiian vote count". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. November 27, 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  5. "About Us". Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  6. Sterling Burnett, H. (July 31, 2015). "Study Suggest 'Regressive' Gas Tax Hike for Hawaiians". Heartland Institute. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  7. "Jones Act". Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  8. Hawaii, Grassroot Institute of (2019-01-11). "First part of HART audit is bad; will rest be worse?". Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Retrieved 2019-01-11.
  9. "State Auditor Says Rail Agency Is Interfering With His Work". Honolulu Civil Beat. 2018-06-01. Retrieved 2019-01-11.
  10. Blair, Chad (August 13, 2015). "Lawsuit Says Hawaiians-Only Election Is 'Racially Exclusive'". Honolulu Civil Beat. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  11. Essoyan, Susan (August 13, 2015). "Federal lawsuit filed to block Native Hawaiian election". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  12. Daysog, Rick (February 1, 2016). "Na'i Aupuni kicks off amid heated talks". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
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