MEDIA RELEASE
The Big Island Press Club invites the public to a luncheon talk on Thursday, June 18, from noon until 1:30 p.m. at Restaurant Kenichi to hear about The Grassroot Institute’s Transparency Initiative.
The Grassroot Institute’s transparency initiative has broken new ground in shedding a light on holding 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 President Keli‘i Akina and policy analyst Joe Kent will review the work that Grassroot Institute has done for a better government, economy, and society in Hawaii. Grassroot has been able to uncover amazing information, which will be uploaded for journalists and the public at OpenHawaii.org
Among the findings:
- The top ten highest state public pensions for retirees last year.
- The average pension and base salary for every state department.
- The salaries, overtime, and 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, the 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. Now more than ever, it’s important that we say “E Hana Kakou  let’s work together,†toward an open and transparent government.,” Akina said.
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is a nonprofit 501(c)3 public policy think tank, dedicated to advancing individual liberty, the freemarket, and limited, accountable government.
Reservations are required. The cost of the buffet lunch (chicken katsu, furikake panko salmon, yakisoba, salad, vegetable, beverage) at Restaurant Kenichi, 684 Kilauea Ave., Hilo, is $20.  Register with a credit card at https://bipcgrassrootinstitute.eventbrite.com ($2.09 processing fee) or contact Robert Duerr surf77@mac.com or (808) 937-9104.
Those interested may also send 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.
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