Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is rated Right-Center with Mostly Factual factual reporting by Media Bias Fact Check.
RIGHT-CENTER BIAS
These media sources are slight to moderately conservative in bias. They often publish factual information that utilizes loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appealing to emotion or stereotypes) to favor conservative causes. These sources are generally trustworthy for information but may require further investigation. See all Right-Center sources.
- Overall, we rate the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Right-Center Biased for consistently promoting free-market economics, limited government, and skepticism toward progressive social and climate policies. We also rate it Mostly Factual, as the organization generally bases its arguments on identifiable data and official sources, but strong ideological framing and selective presentation of evidence reduce balance and neutrality.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: RIGHT-CENTER (4.5)
Factual Reporting: MOSTLY FACTUAL (3.6)
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: MEDIUM CREDIBILITY
History
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is a Honolulu-based nonprofit public policy think tank founded in 2001 by Richard Rowland. The organization states that its mission is to educate the public about “individual liberty, economic freedom, and limited, accountable government.” The institute focuses heavily on Hawaii-specific policy issues, including taxation, housing affordability, regulation, the Jones Act, government spending, and economic policy. The organization is affiliated with the conservative/libertarian-oriented State Policy Network and promotes free-market policy solutions inspired by economists such as Milton Friedman, F.A. Hayek, and Murray Rothbard.
Read our profile on the United States media and government.
Funded by / Ownership
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. While it solicits donations on its website, it does not disclose the names of individual donors, thereby limiting transparency. According to InfluenceWatch, it is affiliated with the State Policy Network (SPN), a coalition of conservative think tanks funded by organizations such as DonorsTrust, the Walton Family Foundation, and the Bradley Foundation. SPN members have been linked to opposition to climate policy and national deregulatory campaigns.
Analysis / Bias
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii strongly promotes free-market, limited-government, and libertarian-leaning economic policies, resulting in a clear Right-Center ideological bias. The organization consistently opposes tax increases, supports deregulation, criticizes government spending, and advocates market-based policy reforms.
For example, in Historic 2024 tax cuts rescued for majority of Hawaii residents, CEO Keli‘i Akina praises tax cuts while warning that higher taxes on wealthy residents could create a “doom spiral” by driving businesses and taxpayers out of Hawaii. The article relies primarily on legislative developments and economic argumentation rather than misinformation, though the framing strongly favors supply-side economic principles.
Similarly, Raising taxes to fund disaster relief would be ‘a failure of budgeting’ criticizes government taxation and regulation while promoting reduced state intervention and local community-based solutions.
The institute also heavily advocates zoning deregulation and market-driven housing reforms. In a lengthy transcript of a housing-policy event, the organization collaborates with ideologically diverse groups to support increased housing supply and deregulation measures. While the discussion includes bipartisan cooperation and sourced economic arguments, the overall framework strongly reflects libertarian and market-oriented assumptions regarding regulation and development policy.
Despite ideological advocacy, the institute generally uses credible data, legislative references, public records, and economic studies to support its claims. Reporting and commentary are opinion-driven but usually grounded in fact.
Failed Fact Checks
- There are no direct failed fact checks of Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. However, its association with the State Policy Network, which has supported climate denial and anti-regulatory lobbying, raises concerns about the selective use of evidence and ideological framing.
Overall, we rate the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Right-Center Biased for consistently promoting free-market economics, limited government, and skepticism toward progressive social and climate policies. We also rate it Mostly Factual, as the organization generally bases its arguments on identifiable data and official sources, but strong ideological framing and selective presentation of evidence reduce balance and neutrality. (D. Van Zandt 05/20/2026)
Source: https://www.grassrootinstitute.org/
Last Updated on May 20, 2026 by Media Bias Fact Check
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