Perry Arrasmith
Perry Arrasmith has been navigating the historical complexities of Hawai‘i since his early childhood days on Center Street in Kaimukī. Born in southern Illinois and raised on O‘ahu, Perry earned a Bachelor's in History from Harvard University before returning home to earn a Master's of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. In his free time, he enjoys searching for strawberry guava in the hills of ʻAiea. He is a columnist for Aloha State Daily; the views expressed are his own.
Latest from Perry Arrasmith
Where's our Legislative Analyst?
An Office of the Legislative Analyst was created by law during Gov. Waihe‘e's administration, and was meant to be a non-partisan, data-driven office that could inform legislators about the potential benefits and harms of the laws they pass. And yet, the office has never actually been staffed — it's a phantom, existing only on paper. Yet as lawmaking gets more complex, we need someone to do this work and some lawmakers having been trying to make the office finally happen.
Perry ArrasmithAugust 26, 2026
Election ties and the game of a box
In Hawai‘i's recent primary elections, two tied races were decided with, essentially, a lottery. ASD political historian Perry Arrasmith explains how this came to be legal and when it's been used in the past.
Perry ArrasmithAugust 18, 2026
What Hawai‘i’s 1954 Democratic Party platform says about today
Hawai‘i has been a virtual one-party state since statehood, but how did that happen? ASD political historian Perry Arrasmith explores how, with a look at the local Democratic Party's 1954 platform and a comparison with the party's current priorities.
Perry ArrasmithAugust 11, 2026
In Hawai‘i, where are the multimember districts?
Election season is a good time to ask — why doesn't Hawai‘i go back to having multimember districts? In a such a system, more of Hawai‘i's voters would have representation in the state Legislature.
Perry ArrasmithAugust 05, 2026
The return of Hawai‘i’s Marine Affairs Coordinator
ASD political historian Perry Arrasmith noticed that the state of Hawai‘i has just created a Marine Affairs Coordinator — and it's not the first time. What will the person who gets this position do, and how is different from the last time that Hawai‘i state government created, and eventually abandoned, the same role?
Perry ArrasmithJuly 22, 2026
On the Fourth, read the Declaration
If you really want to understand why we're celebrating Independence Day, go back to the source and read the Declaration of Independence, says ASD political historian Perry Arrasmith. It's only one of the most important documents in history!
Perry ArrasmithJuly 02, 2026
