Grassroot commentaries published during 2025 by local, national media

from Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii produced more than 30 commentaries during 2025 that were first featured by local and national media platforms other than Grassroot’s own website.

The topics of those commentaries included Hawaii’s high cost of living, the state’s housing shortage, barriers to the rebuilding of Lahaina, taxes, healthcare, the Jones Act, job opportunities, Hawaii’s population exodus and more.

Local media that published Grassroot commentaries first were the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Honolulu Civil Beat, The Maui News, Maui Now, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald, West Hawaii Today and the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle.

Nationally, Grassroot conveyed its messaging via Governing magazine, the Washington Examiner, The Hill, Cato at Liberty, and the websites of the Foundation for Economic Education and Americans for Tax Reform.

Here is the complete list of Grassroot commentaries first published during 2025 by media other than Grassroot’s own website, from the most recent in late December to the first in early January.

>> “‘CON laws hurt our community more than they might help’,” by Malia Hill, first published Dec. 20, 2025, by both the Hawaii Tribune-Herald and West Hawaii Today.

>> “Height limits another barrier to rebuilding Lahaina as it was,” by Jonathan Helton, first published Dec. 18, 2025, in Maui Now.

>> “End or reduce capital gains tax on housing to incentivize home sales” by Mark Coleman and Jonathan Helton, first published Dec. 12, 2025, in The Hill. 

>> “‘Parking requirements are closer to sorcery than science’,” by Jonathan Helton, first published Nov. 27, 2025, in The Maui News. 

>> “Jones Act bad; factual errors also bad,” by Mark Coleman and Colin Grabow, first published Nov. 26, 2025 in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. 

>> “Long delay of bowling alley on Lanai suggests need for parking reform,” by Ahryanna McGuirk, first published Oct. 30, 2025, by The Maui News. 

>> “Helton warns federal tax deadlines could hinder Lahaina rebuilding,” by Jonathan Helton, first published Oct. 17, 2025 in Honolulu Civil Beat. 

>> “Brighter days ahead forecasted for Hawaii’s permitting conundrum,” by Keli’i Akina, first published Aug. 16, 2025, in the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle. 

>> “Infrastructure-improvement rules will make Lahaina recovery more costly,” by Jonathan Helton, first published Aug. 21, 2025, by The Maui News. 

>> “The federal Jones Act is a case study of the power of special interests,” by Colin Grabow, first published Aug. 4, 2025, by the Cato Institute. 

>> “Hill makes case in Maui Now for interstate telehealth,” by Malia Hill, first published July 31, 2025, by Maui Now. 

>> “Maui Council doing right thing to support ‘by right’ food truck bill,” by Ahryanna McGuirk, first published July 7, 2025, by The Maui News. 

>> “Inflexible policies continue to hinder Lahaina wildfire recovery,” by Mark Coleman and Jonathan Helton, first published June 24, 2025, in Governing.

>> “Helton highlights good suggestions in Hawai’i County permitting audit,” by Jonathan Helton, first published May 22, 2025, by the Hawaii Tribune Herald and West Hawaii Today.

>> “Honolulu spending continues upward even as population declines,” by Joe Kent, first published April 25, 2025, in the Honolulu-Star Advertiser.

>> “‘Focus should be on job growth and progress, not more and more taxes’,” by Keli’i Akina, first published April 19, 2025, in the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle. 

>> “Kauai, Maui zoning changes would help farmers, food trucks,” by Jonathan Helton, first published April 4, 2025, in Maui Now. 

>> “Puerto Rico gains access to U.S. LNG via Jones Act loophole; could Hawaii be next?,” by Colin Grabow, first published March 25, 2025, by Cato at Liberty. 

>> “Tax hike on tourism would create ‘unintended consequences for all’,” by Grassroot President Keli’i Akina, first published March 23, 2025, in the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle. 

>> “Jaywalking reform would trust people to cross streets safely,” by Ted Kefalas and Abbey Seitz, first published March 17, 2025, in Honolulu Civil Beat.

>> “Let’s steer clear of tax hikes, instead focus on lowering costs,” by Keli’i Akina, first published March 8, 2025, in the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle. 

>> “Jones Act virtually ensures Hawaii reliance on foreign fuels,” by Melissa Newsham, first published March 4, 2025, in the Honolulu Civil Beat. 

>> “Maui makes progress toward plumbing reform,” by Joe Kent, first published on Feb. 23, 2025, in the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle. 

>> “Reform or repeal of Jones Act would help reduce Hawaii energy costs”, by Colin Grabow, first published Feb. 23, 2025, in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

 >> “Bill 105 would help restore Lahaina’s unique old charm,” by Jonathan Helton, first published an. 30, 2025, in The Maui News.

>> “Grassroot victory a plus for Maui housing and Lahaina wildfire recovery,” by Jonathan Helton, first published Jan. 29, 2025, in Maui Now.

>> “Hawaii taxpayers could benefit from new IRS Direct File system,” by Jonathan Helton and Nicole Woo, first published Jan. 22, 2025, in Honolulu Civil Beat.

>> “State income tax cut was bipartisan effort; Hawaii can’t afford to change it,” by Atticus Vernacchio, first published Jan. 21, 2025, in Americans for Tax Reform. 

>> “If anyone can bypass entrenched Jones Act supporters, it’s Trump,” by Malia Hill, first published Jan. 12, 2025, in the Washington Examiner. 

>> “Spending restraint essential to protecting state tax cuts,” by Joe Kent, first published Jan. 14, 2025, in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. 

>> “Hawaii lawmakers act to counter ‘tax flight,’ but more can be done,” by Keli’i Akina, first published Jan. 4, 2025, by the Foundation for Economic Education. 

---30---