Updating Hawaii’s Healthcare Policy. The host for this show is Keli’i Akina. The guest is Matthew Mitchell. Hawaii’s hospitals, walk-in clinics and other healthcare providers have been held back for decades by arcane regulations known as ‘certificate of need’ laws, or CON laws for short. These rules dictate that anyone wanting to open a new […]
Yes, in God’s Backyard (Hawaii Together)
Reviewing California’s Housing Reforms. The host for this show is Keli’i Akina. The guest is Chris Calton. A new law in California — called the ‘Yes in God’s Backyard’ law — makes it easier for churches and other religious institutions to build housing on their properties. Chris Calton, Ph.D., a research fellow at the Oakland, […]
Fixing Hawaii’s Tax System (Hawaii Together)
Decrease Taxes for Families, Businesses. The host for this show is Keli’i Akina. The guest is Andrey Yushkov. Hawaii’s income tax rates are among the highest in the country, and its business climate is consistently ranked poorly. Meanwhile, residents continue to flee the state for less expensive mainland locales. Tax reform could be a course […]
How to Help Lahaina Rebuild (Hawaii Together)
Flexible Housing Options Essential. The host for this show is Keli’i Akina. The guest is Ray Michaels. The wildfires that engulfed Lahaina and parts of Upcountry Maui exacted a disastrous loss of human life, destroyed more than 2,000 structures and wrecked Maui’s economy. Rebuilding will be a slow, arduous process — one that will need […]
Parking Reform Could Boost Housing Stock (Hawaii Together)
Outdated Zoning Mandates Need to Go. The host for this show is Keli’i Akina. The guest is Tony Jordan. Hawaii’s housing crisis must be tackled with a multi-pronged strategy, but zoning codes that mandate a minimum number of parking spaces for each new house or building should be high on the list of reforms. Tony […]
Are Stairways the Key to More Housing (Hawaii Together)
Single Stairs Could Lower Housing Costs. The host for this show is Keli’i Akina. The guest is Stephen Smith. How can rethinking the way we build stairways in Hawaii reduce housing costs? Stephen Smith, director of the Center for Building in North America, joins us today to answer that very question. Talking with host Keli’i […]
Things Going Right at the City Council (Hawaii Together)
Improvements in Permitting and Tax Law. The host for this show is Joe Kent. The guest is Andria Tupola. The Honolulu City and County Council has the task of managing zoning, property taxes, police, social services and a number of other programs and laws on the most populous island in the state. It’s no easy […]
Why Hawai’i Doesn’t Produce More Food (Hawaii Together)
What’s Holding Back Hawai’i Agriculture. The host for this show is Keli’i Akina. The guest is Brian Miyamoto. What legal changes could help Hawaii’s agriculture industry to grow? That’s the question many Hawai’i lawmakers and policy advocates are asking. It’s also the question that Brian Miyamoto, executive director of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, addresses […]
How a 1906 Law Blocks Port Modernization (Hawaii Together)
Foreign Dredge Act of 1906 Needs Reform. The host for this show is Keli’i Akina. The guest is Brad Tomosovic. The supply-chain disruptions that occurred in 2020 and 2021 highlighted just how important U.S. ports are to everyday life. Essential goods such as food and toilet paper must be delivered on time and on budget […]
Combating Corruption in Politics (Hawaii Together)
Legislature Acted, but Should Do More. The host for this show is Keli’i Akina. The guest is Daniel Foley. Accountability, transparency and ethics bills were in the limelight this legislative session in response to several high-profile corruption cases involving several former state legislators. Retired judge Dan Foley, who chaired the Commission to Improve Standards of […]