This week, we get to look at Census numbers, distilled and brought to us by Pacific Business News, that tell us whether we gained or lost people during 2021-2022. We lost. Again. According to the data, 67,257 people left Hawaii … Read More
Every so often, we at the Foundation are asked about Hawaii tax laws. A couple of recent inquiries focused on when the “Wholesale Rate” in the Hawaii General Excise Tax (GET) kicks in. The answer is that you as a … Read More
One of the more innovative items announced by the Governor’s office when it comes to disaster relief measures is the creation of a Lahaina Recovery Fund. In a press release announcing the measure, the Governor’s Office said that the concept … Read More
These days, there is much talk in the news about rebuilding the burn zone that was once Lahaina. Can the former capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii be restored to its former 1800’s glory? Should it be keeping a character … Read More
When we were in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and Governor Ige was peppering us with emergency proclamations early and often, we at the Tax Foundation accepted that the Governor had emergency authority but questioned some of the things … Read More
One of the longest running court cases in modern history is Kalima v. State. The case, filed in 1999, concerned 2,515 beneficiaries of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) who sued the state over its handling of the Hawaiian … Read More
We just got through with a legislative session where, due to anticipated federal aid to our state, we seemed to be swimming in money and were finding money for all kinds of things. At the end of session, however, our … Read More
In Vermont, there is a small town known as Pomfret. It has one of the most picturesque areas of the country for fall foliage, called Sleepy Hollow Farm. The town decided to close two of its main roads to tourists … Read More
Have you ever thought about who, really, pays the cost of something like a Lahaina wildfire or a Hurricane Iniki? In the Lahaina wildfire case, victims are getting assistance from our federal and state governments. Some of them are trying … Read More
You may have heard the phrase “caveat emptor,” meaning “Let the buyer beware.” It’s an old proverb, from the Latin phrase meaning that a buyer of something should make sure that the product is good, and that the seller has … Read More