WEBINAR: How to fix Hawaii's broken emergency powers law

After nearly a year of the governor exercising unilateral power, it is clear the people need a greater voice in dealing with emergencies

From Grassroot Institute, Feb 3, 2021

HONOLULU, Feb. 2, 2021 >> Find out how we can prevent the extended abuse of Hawaii’s emergency powers law by joining us for a free webinar, Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, starting at noon.

Sponsored by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, the one-hour program will feature:

>> Robert Thomas, Grassroot Scholar and constitutional attorney with the Pacific Legal Foundation, who has joined us previously to consider the legality of Hawaii’s emergency measures.

>> Malia Hill, Grassroot Institute policy director, who wrote the institute’s new policy brief, “Lockdowns Versus Liberty,” which outlines specific ways in which Hawaii’s emergency powers law can be reformed.

The context of the webinar is that Hawaii Gov. David Ige has extended the state’s current state of emergency almost 20 times since he first proclaimed it in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

The result is that Hawaii has been in a state of economic and social lockdown for almost a whole year, leading to record high unemployment, more than a thousand permanent business closures, decimation of the tourism industry, massive state debt and many other socio-economic problems.

The governor’s continued exercise of extended unilateral power also has called into question the legality of the state’s emergency powers law, which in plain English says Hawaii’s emergency proclamations are supposed to expire after 60 days.

Clearly there is something wrong with the statue, and this webinar will explore what can be done about it.

(Hint: It has something to do with the Legislature.)

Institute President Keli‘i Akina will moderate the event, which will include questions from the audience fielded by Joe Kent, Institute executive vice president.

To register, please click the button below, call 808-591-9193 or email info@grassrootinstitute.org.

REGISTER HERE

READ 'LOCKDOWNS VERSUS LIBERTY'

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The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and educational institution devoted to promoting individual liberty, economic freedom and accountable government. Its goal is to improve the quality of life in Hawaii through a lower cost of living, expanded opportunities and greater prosperity for all.