Mark Coleman is a longtime journalist currently writing and editing for the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, Hawaii’s leading independent think tank devoted to individual liberty, economic freedom and accountable government.

Prior to joining the nonprofit research and educational organization late last year, Mark had worked almost three decades with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 10 years with Pacific Business News, and two years with Pacific Business News on Guam.

A former Hawaii chapter president of the Society of Professional Journalists, he also has worked in radio, TV and cable, and as a freelancer for trade journals, political magazines and music tabloids.

Before becoming a journalist, Mark was a libertarian activist with organizations such as the Society for Individual Liberty, the New Right Coalition and Young Americans for Freedom. In 1972 he helped form the national Libertarian Party as a delegate to its founding convention in Denver. He also is a former chairman of the Libertarian Party of Hawaii.As a musician, Mark performs regularly as bass guitarist, singer and songwriter with the pau hana blues band, which has been playing almost every Monday evening for the past 10 years at OnStage Drinks & Grinds in beautiful downtown Kapahulu. In 2015, the band released a CD, called “Raw Sugar.”