Public policy think tank
Grassroot Institute |
| Established | February 12, 2001[1] |
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| Founder | Richard Rowland |
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| 99-0354937[2] |
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| Legal status | 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization |
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| Services | Multifaceted efforts advocating for foreign investment and commercial development in Hawaii, deregulation of industry, decreased government oversight, opposing progress 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] |
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| W. Keli'i Akina[2] |
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| Richard O. Rowland[2] |
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Budget | Revenue: $463,184
Expenses: $470,188
(FYE December 2015)[3] |
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| Website | www.grassrootinstitute.org |
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The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is a right-wing 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] In practice it engages in astroturfing, promoting right-wing moral and economic values, advocating for private business interests in Hawaii, and has been at the forefront of legal challenges to the Hawaiian sovereignty movement. The current Chief Executive Officer is Dr. Keli'i Akina, a staunch advocate for foreign investment and commercial development in Hawaii. The Institute was formed on February 12, 2001[1] by Richard Rowland. The organization is a member of the State Policy Network, a conservative and libertarian network of state-based think tanks.
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 right-wing neoliberal perspective. Academic works are inspired by the writings of classical liberal and neoliberal 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 its disproportionate shipbuilding and cargo shipping restrictions effect on Hawaii.[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]
