Native Issues

July 2010

Featured Akaka Bill Videos

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Rooted in Reason

July 08, 2010

State Certification Process Perpetuates Unemployment

With approximately 6.6 percent of Hawaii’s labor force unemployed, the legislature needs to revise the state’s complex certification system to make it easier for people to change professions and get back to work. (more)

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Commentaries

June 2010

Follow the Money: Eye-Opening Arithmetic

“Aid...” “Help...” “Equality...” These are the kinds of words that make you feel benevolent. After all, it's good to help those in need who may be contending with financial difficulties, cultural erosion, or lack of opportunities. Unfortunately, the kind of help we’re giving often reflects far more on us and the professional granting and charitable industries than anything else. Which leads to the question of whether all those nice, benevolent emotions we’re enjoying help anyone but ourselves. It was to further examine these kinds of questions that the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii launched 4HawaiiansOnly—a Web site and project that examines grants made for the benefit of Native Hawaiians. (more)

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Research

June 2010

National Battle Rages Over Jones Act Exemption in BP Oil Spill - and Hawaii's Congressional Delegation is in the Fray

Part three in a series

Malia Zimmerman

A national battle is raging over whether foreign crews on foreign vessels with the latest technology will be permitted to help in the BP oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. (more)

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Rooted in Reason

June 07, 2010

Video of the Sam Staley Luncheon

Did you miss the Luncheon with Dr. Sam Staley a while back? Fear not because we have the complete speech by Dr. Sam Staley right here! Make sure you watch all 4 parts! All of the videos are right after the jump so make sure you click on! (more)

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Rooted in Reason

June 07, 2010

What is the Overton Window?

The Overton Window
A new blockbuster novel is named after a think-tank concept, the Overton Window, that helps explain why lawmakers enact the policies they do. (more)

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Commentaries

June 2010

Land Use Key to Understanding Real Solutions to Honolulu Traffic Congestion

O’ahu residents can be excused for being confused about the current state of Honolulu’s transportation policy. This mid-size city faces big city traffic problems, and practical strategies to mitigate its economic and social impacts are hard to see in the current transportation policy debate. This is unfortunate because near-term solutions to congestion exist, although it will take leadership and fundamental rethinking of how the city is changing to give them the priority they deserve. (more)

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Commentaries

May 2010

The Big Gamble

The currently pending version of the Akaka Bill promises that the new Hawaiian Government will not have the power to introduce casino gaming to the islands. Granted, that’s a rare moment of specificity in a piece of legislation that is curiously vague on the other powers that the Hawaiian government would have. Will Native Hawaiians be tried for criminal acts under a separate court system? Don’t know. Will they be subject to the same federal and state taxes? Who can say? But at least there will be no casino gambling. (more)

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Commentaries

May 2010

My Experience at Reagan Ranch: Cameron Hughes

Cameron Hughes' is a student that the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii sponsored to attend Young America's Foundation at the Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara. The following are remarks that Cameron made in his speech delivered on May 31st. The full text of the speech is after the jump. Enjoy. (more)

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Rooted in Reason

May 06, 2010

How to comment on the blog, and new twitter developments!

Hey everyone. In the past couple of weeks, the official Grassroot Institute blog has been getting a lot of readership. With a bunch of guests bloggers contributing as well as our own Hideo Hikida posting his own work, the amount of content the blog has been publishing has been increasing steadily thanks to feedback from all of you! (more)

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Blogs

Rooted in Reason

Grassroot Institute's Official Blog

The Mystery of Hawaiian History

Correcting historical revisionism and misconceptions promoted by the Akaka Bill.

Hawaii Spendometer

How Fast Does The State Government Spend Your Money?

$9,122,166,121.47