Grassroot Cartoonist David Swann featured on ‘Hawaii Together’

From Grassroot Institute, July 23, 2019

Communicating public policy is challenging when you want to raise awareness on an idea without having people read a 20-page study. 

That was made clear Monday when Keli’i Akina, president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, hosted Joe Kent and David Swann on his weekly interview show, “Hawaii Together, on the local online network ThinkTech Hawaii. 

Kent is the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii's executive vice president, and Swann is its editorial cartoonist and illustrator. They joined Akina in a discussion about how cartoons can help people see the bigger picture regarding issues in our community.

Swann, formerly editorial cartoonist for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, and some of whose cartoons can be seen here, said he especially liked that the Grassroot Institute focuses on ideas, not personalities.

“Every time Joe sends over an idea, I’ve always noticed it’s not about a person, it’s about an idea or concept,” said Swann. 

To which Akina responded: “Well, that’s what we want to talk about. We want to raise awareness of ideas.”