Thankful for you

From Grassroot Institute, November 28, 2019

It is a tribute to the people of Hawaii that our state is consistently rated as the happiest in the country.

After all, it’s not as though we don’t have things to complain about. Ask any local, or local-at-heart, about what ails our state and you might have to settle in for a while. The cost of living will be the first thing they mention. Then maybe the lack of government accountability. The taxes. The difficulty of running a business. How so many people have to work two jobs to make ends meet. The traffic. The debacle that is the Honolulu rail project. The lack of affordable housing. The list goes on and on.

And yet, despite it all, we are happy. We love our state and can find the good amidst the bad. More important, we believe that things can change. Maybe not as quickly as we would like, but we can see the potential for a better Hawaii.

Today is a day when we give thanks for our blessings, and Hawaii residents have a special ability to focus on those blessings and find the happiness therein.

That’s why I want to acknowledge my thanks for you, our supporters.

At the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, we are committed to making our state better — more affordable, more prosperous, and with more opportunity. But none of our work would be possible without our committed supporters.

Thanks to you, the Grassroot Institute was able to make great strides for economic freedom and accountable government this year. We pushed back on new regulations and tax hikes at both the state and county levels, championed a rail audit, and explored strategies to create new housing and cut the cost of living. We also welcomed a new ally in our effort to update the Jones Act, Congressman Ed Case.

As a Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supporter, you do more than just help fund our work. You keep us honest, responding to our newsletters, social media posts and research papers with your own feedback and input. You help spread the word by sharing our published research and commentaries, participating in events and getting involved in the political process.

Most of all, you inspire us. You are a constant reminder that the people of our state deserve better, and that it’s up to us to make that a reality. 

Today, we may be happy and grateful for our blessings, but at the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, we will never stop trying to give Hawaii residents more to be thankful about.

E hana kakou! (Let's work together!)  

Keli'i Akina, Ph.D.
President/CEO