Grassroot celebrates defensive wins as Hawaiʻi Legislature comes to close

News Release from Grassroot Institute, May 8, 2026

Grassroot staff sat down with radio host Rick Hamada earlier this week to discuss key outcomes of the legislative session, state budget woes, corruption and more

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Executive Vice President Joe Kent said this year’s state legislative session felt a lot like playing goalie in soccer with “a million balls headed our way.”

He and Grassroot’s director of strategic campaigns, Ted Kefalas, appeared on “The Rick Hamada Program” on KHVH radio May 4 to discuss the Legislature's final days and reflect on a challenging session dominated by defensive battles against tax increases and budget concerns.

That defensive work, Kent said, centered on successfully opposing numerous tax-hike proposals, including capital gains and conveyance tax increases, a “wealth” tax and the governor’s plan to walk back the historic income tax cut plan he signed into law in 2024.

Kent said House and Senate lawmakers have agreed on a bill that would keep those tax cuts in place for lower- and middle-income earners, “pause” the remaining cuts for residents with higher incomes, and actually increase the tax rate on extremely high income. A final version is expected to be voted on and passed today, the last day of the session.

Kent and Kefalas also talked about how the state should be implementing budget cuts rather than tax hikes, with Kefalas pointing out that "the default in Hawaii a lot of times is just increase taxes."

Other topics of conversation included the ongoing corruption investigation of Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, election integrity, cost-of-living concerns, the state’s unfunded pension liabilities and the appointment of a new state Supreme Court Chief Justice with union ties.

Kent highlighted how union-aligned laws prevent counties from using private sector workers, which can contribute to budget inefficiencies.

You can read a full summary and listen to the 40-minute conversation here.