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Entries for 'Keli'i Akina PhD'
Thursday, August 31, 2017 |
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Obamacare Could Bankrupt ERS
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 7:18 PM :: 5608 Views :: Hawaii State Government, Labor
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...a 1% increase in health care costs equals a $2 billion increase in unfunded liabilities....
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Friday, August 25, 2017 |
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Rail: How to Gut an Audit
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 4:31 PM :: 5644 Views :: Ethics, Rail
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Hawaii lawmakers are finally embracing the call for a “deep dive” audit of the Honolulu rail project, but how they follow through on that embrace could make it all for naught....
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Friday, August 18, 2017 |
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City rail audit won’t look for fraud?
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 8:11 PM :: 6645 Views :: Honolulu County, Ethics, Rail
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...despite the fact that City Auditor Edwin Young told the committee “the red flags were there”....
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Friday, August 11, 2017 |
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Audit the rail: An idea that’s catching on
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 2:11 PM :: 5030 Views :: Ethics, Rail
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...Mahalo for helping this idea to catch on....
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Monday, August 7, 2017 |
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Why Hawaii Isn't Rich Like Texas
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 12:01 AM :: 6737 Views :: Hawaii Statistics, Labor, Taxes
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Texas has no personal income tax....
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Saturday, August 5, 2017 |
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Why a Tax on Soda is Unhealthy
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 5:14 PM :: 6516 Views :: Health Care, Taxes, Cost of Living
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...Hawaii has no soda tax. But that's not for lack of trying.....
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Saturday, July 29, 2017 |
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Demanding best practices in rail accounting
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 3:51 PM :: 4656 Views :: Ethics, Rail
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What does it say about the state of governance in Hawaii that endorsing basic standards of fiscal responsibility is a revolutionary act?
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Saturday, July 22, 2017 |
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Millennials are public pension losers
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 1:56 PM :: 5243 Views :: Hawaii State Government, Labor
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Hawaii may be giving millennials the short end of the stick when it comes to the state’s unfunded public pension liabilities....
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Friday, July 14, 2017 |
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Giving Rail Credit Where it Isn't Due
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 11:59 PM :: 5307 Views :: Rail, Taxes
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...rail is like the cousin who is always hitting you up for money....
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Saturday, July 8, 2017 |
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Economic freedom needed to increase affordable housing
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 1:31 PM :: 6839 Views :: Jones Act, Land Use, Cost of Living
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Dr. Keli’i Akina gave the following speech on June 30th, 2017, at the 2017 Maui County Affordable Housing Summit, hosted by the Maui Chamber of Commerce and Maui County Department of Housing & Human Concerns....
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Friday, June 30, 2017 |
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SB410: Public union power grab goes too far
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 2:54 PM :: 5303 Views :: Hawaii State Government, Labor
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All employers need a few basic freedoms to be productive, among them the freedom to manage their employees....
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Thursday, June 29, 2017 |
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Akina: Change OHA’s Current Spending Policy
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 1:03 AM :: 4858 Views :: Ethics, OHA
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“Crucial Recommendations for Achieving Fiscal Sustainability”
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Wednesday, June 28, 2017 |
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Grassroot: Feds Should Audit Rail
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 5:24 AM :: 4991 Views :: Ethics, Rail
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We hope that the Department of Transportation’s Office of the Inspector General will be moved to mount a comprehensive fiscal and engineering audit of Honolulu rail ....
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Monday, June 12, 2017 |
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Message to OHA: ‘Clean up your Act’
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 1:29 AM :: 5699 Views :: Ethics, OHA
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Beneficiaries are calling for higher levels of transparency and accountability....
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Friday, June 9, 2017 |
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TVRs: No Taxation Without Legalization!
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 12:48 AM :: 5431 Views :: Taxes, Tourism
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...state lawmakers are eager to capture $26 million dollars in tax money every year from short-term vacation rentals....
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Friday, June 2, 2017 |
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Where Pro-Rail and Anti-Rail Voices Agree
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 11:18 PM :: 5891 Views :: Rail
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...it's something we should have done a long time ago....
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Friday, May 26, 2017 |
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Maui Hospital: The Little Engine That Could
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 4:28 AM :: 7125 Views :: Maui County, Health Care
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...Despite multiple attempts to stop or derail it, things keep chugging along. And come July 1, it looks like Maui residents are finally going to start getting the care they deserve....
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Thursday, May 25, 2017 |
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Akina Praises Trustees Unanimous Support for OHA Audit
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 2:49 AM :: 3827 Views :: Ethics, OHA
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...the SOQ will allow OHA to engage an auditor or auditing firm to conduct an examination of not only OHA but its subsidiary LLCs, for a period reaching back five years....
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Friday, May 19, 2017 |
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State, Counties Pass Tax Hikes off to Each Other
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 4:01 PM :: 3629 Views :: Taxes
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...Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai counties are all considering raising the property tax....
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Friday, May 5, 2017 |
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De-Railing the Legislature
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 3:04 PM :: 5359 Views :: Rail, Taxes
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...the lack of dissent allows tax-and-spend policies to move smoothly through the Hawaii Legislature...until....
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Wednesday, May 3, 2017 |
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Special Audit of OHA and Its Subsidiaries
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 9:02 PM :: 4267 Views :: Ethics, OHA
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...this audit seeks to identify areas of “waste, abuse and fraud...”
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Friday, April 28, 2017 |
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And the Winner is—Not Hawaii
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 2:57 PM :: 6025 Views :: Economy, Hawaii Statistics, Taxes
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The most recent version of Rich States, Poor States has been released, and once again, Hawaii ends up on the wrong end of that title....
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Friday, April 21, 2017 |
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HB165: How Lawmakers can Deal with Annoying Citizens
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 6:34 PM :: 5277 Views :: Ethics, Hawaii State Government
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...HB165 (now headed to a Conference Committee) would modernize the existing Sunshine Law by requiring electronic posting of public agency meeting notices and minutes and making board packets available for public inspection....
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Friday, March 24, 2017 |
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Double Food Production? Failed Central Planning Thrives in Hawaii
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 1:30 PM :: 5135 Views :: Agriculture
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When Governor Ige first announced his plan to double local food production, people wondered....
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Thursday, March 23, 2017 |
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Office of Hawaiian Affairs Ratifies Independent Audit
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 8:04 PM :: 5650 Views :: Ethics, OHA
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...Trustee Keli‘i Akina appointed to chair audit committee....
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Friday, March 17, 2017 |
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The Legislature Just Can't Help Itself When It Comes to the Maui Hospital
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 2:17 PM :: 5524 Views :: Health Care, Labor
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...bills heard this week (HB76, HB233, and HB234) attempt to amend the law passed last summer by adding new severance options for the hospital employees....
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Friday, March 10, 2017 |
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SB1183: A Victory for the People (for now)
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 4:09 PM :: 4966 Views :: Rail, Taxes
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It's true that the session is far from over. And this bill could certainly end up morphing yet again....
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Friday, March 3, 2017 |
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Hawaii's Unsustainable Cost of Public Employment
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 4:04 PM :: 5445 Views :: Hawaii Statistics, Labor
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County workers throughout the state make higher wages than nearly all of their mainland counterparts adjusted for the cost of living....
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Friday, February 24, 2017 |
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It Doesn’t Always Pay to Make More
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 4:04 PM :: 4587 Views :: Hawaii Statistics, Taxes
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In just this legislative session, we've seen attempts to make the surcharge a permanent part of life.... We've seen proposed income tax increases. There's even an attempt to write a tax...into the state Constitution....
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Friday, February 10, 2017 |
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Jones Act and Maritime Security Program
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 11:10 PM :: 5545 Views :: Jones Act, Military
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If it is possible to address the national security concerns of the Jones Act through other, more efficient and effective legislation, then we might clear the path to modernizing the Act....
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Wednesday, February 8, 2017 |
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OHA Audit Passes Committee Vote
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 9:45 PM :: 5464 Views :: Ethics, OHA
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...Akina Appointed to Ad Hoc Audit Committee....
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Friday, February 3, 2017 |
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Basing decisions on evidence, not politics
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 4:42 PM :: 3638 Views :: Hawaii State Government
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Considering how often we are promised "effective" policy or political plans that "work", there's surprisingly little effort spent measuring that effectiveness....
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Thursday, February 2, 2017 |
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OHA Board Sets Audit Vote
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 6:56 PM :: 5811 Views :: Ethics, OHA
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The Board has scheduled voting on Akina's proposed audit for the February 8th meeting of the Resource Management Committee, a committee of the entire Board....
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Friday, January 27, 2017 |
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Governor says treat symptoms, not causes of our economic woes
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 12:42 PM :: 5142 Views :: Hawaii State Government, Taxes
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3,600 words full of spending proposals and sunny guarantees about the future....
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Friday, January 27, 2017 |
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OHA Audit: Trustee says it’s time to reassure beneficiaries
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 12:22 PM :: 5076 Views :: Ethics, OHA
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“OHA currently undergoes three types of audits, but none of these audits focus on identifying internal weaknesses such as fraud, waste, and abuse....”
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Friday, January 20, 2017 |
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How Does Hawaii Score on Healthcare Access?
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 3:11 PM :: 4530 Views :: Hawaii Statistics, Health Care
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Mercatus Center Healthcare Openness and Access Project – Hawaii Ranks 29th....
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Friday, January 20, 2017 |
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Competition Matters … In Sports and Government
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 2:14 PM :: 7253 Views :: Democratic Party, Ethics, Hawaii State Government, Republican Party
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And what was the most memorable part of his remarks? The introductions of Rep. Kouchi's campaign manager and of the highest paid lobbyist....
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Thursday, January 19, 2017 |
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Financial Services: OHA Spire Contract Balloons 760% in Two Years
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 5:35 PM :: 7324 Views :: Ethics, OHA
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...a contract for financial consulting services that ballooned from an initial $95,000 commitment to $723,000 from 2014 to 2016....
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Friday, January 13, 2017 |
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Hawaii Healthcare Access Cut off by Regulations
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 3:21 PM :: 5173 Views :: Hawaii Statistics, Health Care
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...some great scores...and some very, very poor ones....
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Friday, December 30, 2016 |
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10 New Year's Resolutions for Hawaii
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 11:55 PM :: 6371 Views :: Hawaii State Government, OHA, Taxes
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Stop the unconstitutional use of public funds to turn native Hawaiians into a race-based tribe. Instead, focus on what would really help them -- like better schools, more housing, and economic development....
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Friday, December 16, 2016 |
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Anti-Hawaiian? Akina Debunks Critics
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 9:10 PM :: 7426 Views :: Akaka Bill, Ethics, OHA
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On Thursday, the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs held its second meeting since its reorganization....
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Thursday, December 8, 2016 |
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Akina OHA: “Crucial Recommendations for Achieving Fiscal Sustainability”
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 5:49 PM :: 6936 Views :: OHA
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...analysis of the financial statements of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs....
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Wednesday, December 7, 2016 |
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Akina to OHA: E Hana Kakou
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 11:14 PM :: 4342 Views :: OHA
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...OHA is relevant and of concern to the entire community....
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Saturday, November 19, 2016 |
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What the Trump presidency might mean to Hawaii’s economy
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 1:25 AM :: 5682 Views :: Economy
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...a prosperous society is where the rich get richer and the poor get richer....
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Friday, November 11, 2016 |
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Grassroot: Mahalo Nui to our Vets
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 4:53 PM :: 4120 Views :: Military
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I can't think of a single local family that doesn't have multiple service members in it....
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Wednesday, November 9, 2016 |
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Kelii Akina Wins Seat as OHA Trustee - Vows to Challenge Financial Practices and Race-Based Nation Plans
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 6:47 PM :: 6311 Views :: OHA
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Keli`i Akina, Ph.D. has won the General Election race for Trustee-at-Large in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs....
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Saturday, November 5, 2016 |
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Telescope: ‘Stop OHA from interfering with the economy’
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 3:04 PM :: 4334 Views :: OHA
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...Stop OHA from interfering with the economy with its tendency to stand in the way of progress like the Thirty Meter Telescope....
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Friday, November 4, 2016 |
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Hawaii Pensions 70.8% Unfunded
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 1:32 PM :: 4701 Views :: Hawaii State Government, Hawaii Statistics
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One of the interesting things about elections is that so little attention is paid to issues that have major, long-term consequences....
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Friday, November 4, 2016 |
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OHA Incumbents Run Away from Their Records—And Every Community Forum
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 4:37 AM :: 3800 Views :: OHA
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Lindsey and Apoliona, both up for re-election, have failed to participate in any publicly hosted forums or television programs in which they would have faced their respective challengers Mililani Trask and Keli'i Akina....
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Wednesday, November 2, 2016 |
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Akina and Trask: Why Non-Hawaiians Should Vote for OHA Trustees
By Keli'i Akina PhD @ 4:56 PM :: 4023 Views :: Ethics
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...Hawaiians NEED everyone to vote to clean up the problems at OHA....
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