The Big Island Press Club invites the public to a luncheon talk from noon-1:30 p.m. Thursday at Restaurant Kenichi to hear about the Grassroot Institute’s Transparency Initiative. ADVERTISING The Big Island Press Club invites the public to a luncheon talk
The Big Island Press Club invites the public to a luncheon talk from noon-1:30 p.m. Thursday at Restaurant Kenichi to hear about the Grassroot Institute’s Transparency Initiative.
The Grassroot Institute’s Transparency Initiative has broken new ground in shedding light on keeping government in Hawaii accountable.
Through a series of open records requests, and with the help of the Civil Beat Law Center for the Public Interest and the Office of Information Practices, Grassroot Institute President Keli‘i Akina and policy analyst Joe Kent will review the work Grassroot Institute has done for a better government, economy, and society in Hawaii.
Grassroot has uncovered amazing information that will be uploaded for journalists and the public at OpenHawaii.org.
Among the findings:
• The top 10 highest state public pensions for retirees last year.
• The average pension and base salary for every state department.
• The salaries, overtime, bonus pay and other information for every county.
The Grassroot Institute also will share the struggles with attempting to advance transparency in Hawaii, especially with regard to Hawaii County, which has been one of the least transparent counties in terms of salary and overtime pay.
In addition, speakers will review their transparency work with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Employee Retirement System, among other agencies.
“A society built on democracy rests on an informed public,” Akina said. “Now more than ever, it’s important that we say ‘e hana kakou’ — let’s work together toward an open and transparent government.”
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is a nonprofit public policy think tank dedicated to advancing individual liberty, the free market and limited, accountable government.
Reservations are required. The cost of the buffet lunch (chicken katsu, furikake panko salmon, yakisoba, salad, vegetable and beverage) is $20.
Restaurant Kenichi is at 684 Kilauea Ave. in Hilo. Register with a credit card at bipcgrassrootinstitute.eventbrite.com ($2.09 processing fee) or contact Robert Duerr at surf77@mac.com or 937-9104.
Those interested also can send a check to BIPC, P.O. Box 1920, Hilo, HI 96721, to arrive no later than June 16. Parking is available at Aupuni Center, across the street, for 25 cents per hour.
