Small Business News
December 2004 | Online Edition
Small Business Views
By Sam Slom, President and Executive Director of Small Business Hawaii
The November election is still being contested, nationally—and locally. (Bush v. Kerry, Bainum v. Hannemann, GOP v. HGEA, etc.) And the ‘06 campaign has already begun here.
Internet news (HawaiiReporter.com) not “ethical” or “up to the “standards” of the Honolulu Advertiser, KHON-TV, etc.? What a joke. We couldn’t get REAL news in Hawaii without the ‘net. Member Darci Evans said it best: “the local conventional media have betrayed us” by not reporting news they think the public has no right to know about. See p.6
The State DLNR wants to raise small boat harbor mooring fees by 40% and then spend three times previous amounts on long overdue repair and maintenance. Out slips and docks are atrocious. What do you think?
Departures from the Lingle Administration include John Peyton head of Public Safety (who will return to duty in Bosnia for the Federal Government) and his deputy John Sousa. The Governor appointed Deputy AG Rick Bisson as acting director.
Ryan Ushijima resigned from the DCCA as commissioner of securities to accept a position with First Hawaiian Bank as COO. Corinna Wong, a corporate and securities attorney was appointed to succeed him.
Bob Watada, the fearless and courageous head of the State Campaign Spending Commission announced he will step down after the 2005 Legislative session. A lot of sighs of relief from certain politicos who skate on the edge of campaign irregularities.
Furnitureland, a retail store in Salt Lake operated by C.S. Wo, closes this month and a new home furnishings outlet emerges in January at the 18,000-square foot site.
Beginning next January 3, shipping costs will go up again as Hawaii’s two largest freight carriers, Matson and Horizon Lines will hike fees by 3.5%. This follows a 4.4% increase this year. Matson, which accounts for more than 70% of all Hawaii freight, will see container prices increasing $100 and vehicle costs by $25. The “terminal handling fee” also increases from $225 to $265.
Sorry to report the death of Mort Feldman in mid-November. Feldman was a co-founder of the Tori Richard, Ltd. garment manufacturing company and Small Business Hawaii’s first landlord (along with the late Robert Cosco) on Cooke Street back in 1983.
The State Legislature convenes Wednesday, January 19. Expect a lot of fireworks. In case you are wondering, according to the Associates for International Research, Inc. average gasoline prices last month were: Hawaii $2.40; Tokyo, $3.84; Seoul, $4.71; Frankfurt, $5.29; Shanghai, $1.48 and Caracas, Venezuela, 14¢ per gallon.
As we first predicted in 2002 when local Democrats passed the “bottle bill” beverage container tax, it would cause consumer confusion, hardships on small business, and a tax windfall for state government. All have come true. The bill became law three years after passage, November 1, 2004. It is a terrible law. We had hoped the Governor would stall it or work for repeal. Instead the Health Department is using tax dollars to promote it. As a state senator I voted against it in 2002, 2004, and will introduce another bill to repeal the law in January, 2005.
Goodbye Mayor Jeremy Harris—he appointed 30 new board members as a lame, lame duck (he leaves office January 2, 2005). A Grand Jury is still investigating his honor.
SBH’s 29th annual conference on Wednesday, January 12 features new Mayor Mufi Hannemann and others. (see p. 4).
Congratulations to Fred Moore, new head of the Building Industry Association who hold their installation dinner Dec. 3.
The Honolulu U.S. SBA was ranked 2nd in the nation for loan activity during the past fiscal year under Andy Poepoe. SBA will open a low interest federal disaster assistance office to help with the October 30 floods. Loans up to $200,000 are available. Phone 541-2900 for information.
The day after Hawaiian Airlines celebrated its 75th anniversary (in bankruptcy), the pilots’ union set up informational pickets.
The Carlyle Group, purchasing Verizon Hawaii Telephone, must answer questions and criticism raised at several PUC hearings.
There should be an investigation into certain repair contracts at the University of Hawaii (including the Community College System). There is overcharging at best, and criminal action (fraud) at worst.
There is more interest—and urgency—in legislatively encouraging Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs) and (Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) in Hawaii to offer consumers and businesses more choices in dealing with excessive medical premium costs under the Prepaid Healthcare Act.
Celebrate your favorite December holiday: Christmas, Channukah, or Kwanza. Check www.smallbusinesshawaii.com.
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