Keliʻi Akina
Keli‘i Akina, Ph.D., is president and CEO of Grassroot Institute of Hawai‘i.
Latest from Keliʻi Akina
Community Voices: Significant fuel shipments quietly head to Hawaiʻi under Jones Act waiver
Hawaiʻi has received four shipments of fuel from refineries along the U.S. Gulf Coast — something that hasn’t happened for at least two decades.
Keliʻi AkinaSeptember 30, 2026
Community Voices: How Honolulu can learn from Auckland
In Auckland, New Zealand, for example, officials in 2016 authorized up to three dwellings per lot in residential areas and taller apartment buildings in certain transit areas. Homebuilding there boomed as a result, and the city issued 112,000 permits for new dwellings in the six years after the sweeping reforms were enacted, increasing the housing stock by 20%.
Keliʻi AkinaSeptember 25, 2026
Community Voices: Building a more free and prosperous Hawai‘i — together
Grassroot Institute of Hawai‘i just celebrated its 25th anniversary. President and CEO Keli‘i Akina, Ph.D., reflects on the organization's successes at building consensus around positive policy changes for Hawai‘i.
Keliʻi AkinaSeptember 15, 2026
Community Voices: Grassroot turns 25, gala tickets still available
Grassroot President Keli‘i Akina shares founder's Dick Rowland's vision for a better Hawaiʻi, and a last call to celebrate together this Friday.
Keliʻi AkinaSeptember 02, 2026
Community Voices: It’s time to fix how Hawaiʻi rebuilds
Current state and county laws make it difficult to rebuild homes, lives and communities after natural disasters. Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi recommends some flexibility in how government officials craft and enforce regulations.
Keliʻi AkinaAugust 26, 2026
Community Voices: Will sky-high Skyline costs ever stop climbing?
"So far, every request for more money or an extension of the county’s general excise tax surcharge has come with detailed justification," writes Keli‘i Akina. "What we haven’t seen is any attempt to reassure taxpayers that fiscal accountability is an important part of the plan."
Keliʻi AkinaAugust 19, 2026
Community Voices: Grassroot still stands with Lahaina, three years later
"I’m not sure I believe Hawaiʻi residents are losing interest in Lahaina," writes Keli‘i Akina on the day of the three-year anniversary of the Maui wildfires. "As president of the Grassroot Institute, I promise you that our team remains as committed as ever to Maui’s recovery."
Keliʻi AkinaAugust 11, 2026
Community Voices: Empty homes tax just empty promises
Grassroot Institute of Hawai‘i helped persuade the Honolulu Charter Commission to not advance a poorly conceived empty homes tax to the ballot. Instead, as GIH proposes, improvements to zoning and permitting could speed the supply of housing.
Keliʻi AkinaJuly 26, 2026
Community Voices: Planting the seeds for progress
Two laws supported by Grassroot Institute of Hawai‘i have passed, allowing farmers to run home kitchen operations on their properties and build on-site housing for much-needed workers.
Keliʻi AkinaJuly 14, 2026
Community Voices: When licensing goes too far
Highlights from Grassroot’s annual legislative wrap-up visits, including how a hair braider in Hawaiʻi got their license to open a small business.
Keliʻi AkinaJune 30, 2026
Community Voices: Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi turns 25, same year U.S. turns 250
A personal invite to Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi's 25th Anniversary Gala on Sept. 4. The theme of the evening is "The Freedom to Thrive," and will bring together Grassroot’s friends from around the Islands and the country to enjoy a meal, open bar, entertainment and more.
Keliʻi AkinaJune 23, 2026
Community Voices: Defending the First Amendment
New law, known as Act 11, will prohibit groups you might normally think of as representing you from saying anything about candidates for public office, ballot measures or political parties. Learn more about the lawsuit filed by Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi.
Keliʻi AkinaJune 16, 2026