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Small Business News January 2004
Don't miss Small Business Hawaii's 28th annual business and investment conference, Wednesday, January 14 at the Ala Moana Hotel. A great lineup of speakers awaits you-see program and reservation on page 4. Reserve today! SBH Director and Creative-1 Marketing owner, Bob Sigall's new book, "The Companies We Keep," a collection of the history of 450 Hawaii business firms, is a winner. The book, the first of its kind, belongs on every business bookshelf. It's a fun book as well. Sigall, who also teaches marketing at Hawaii Pacific University, enlisted the assistance of his students to produce the book published by SBH. The $19.95 book is available at area bookstores or through SBH at $15 for members. Call Amee at 396-1724. Watch for fireworks and further attacks on business in the form of more taxes, mandates and regulations, during the upcoming 2004 State Legislative Session which convenes on Wednesday, January 21. The good news is that Governor Lingle is no longer talking about taxes to fund rail transit-this year; she reiterated it is a county decision. Local House Democrats and Speaker Calvin Say "...slow down Linda Lingle, you're movin' too fast..." have a series of carefully selected community meetings entitled "Lawmakers Listen." It is only Democrat lawmakers involved. They insist this is not a response to the highly successful and popular "Talk Story" sessions led by the Governor and Lt. Gov. Not a response? Right! Highly partisan and vocal Department of Education (DOE) chief spokesman, Greg Knudsen, along with union buddies, doesn't want meaningful education reform in Hawaii. Educational improvement is a priority with Hawaii businesses. The former Democrat candidate for the State House, member of the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board, and husband of Board of Education member, Karen, took it upon himself to attack the Lingle CARE education initiatives-which eventually might cause him and others who support the status quo to dumb down Hawaii public education kids to lose their jobs. Knudsen embarassed himself and the DOE by sending a self-serving, critical e-mail about author "Theory Z ", management guru, and Hawaii education volunteer, Dr. William. Ouchi, to his superior, Bruce Wilson, at UCLA. The DOE decided no discipline was required. Had a chance to reconnect with former media mogul and Hawaii Congressman Cec Heftel on December 5 at the University of Hawaii student political panel along with lobbyist Bob Toyofuku. Heftel, the former innovative brains behind radio and TV giant, KGMB, and the first person to do daily issues editorials in Hawaii, hasn't lost his touch. The successful investor-entrepreneur has relocated back to Honolulu from Las Vegas. The good news: there is a great demand for new jobs and employees in Hawaii's steadily improving economy; the bad news: many of the applicants are not qualified, ill-prepared, and drug use is a drawback. Aloha Airgroup, Inc., parent of Aloha Airlines, last month announced the sale of subsidiary Island Air to Gavarnie Holding LLC. Residents-especially business people-already complain that the cost of interisland travel-which has reached $200 round trip-is prohibitive and many rural N.I. communities are not served adequately. The new company plans to add new routes and both Aloha and Hawaiian are discussing possible rate reductions. Our members in the news: Popular Hawaiian song stylists, Willie K. (Kahaialii/Willie K. Enterprises) and Amy Hanaialii Gilliom (Music Land Windward LLC) were together again after several years for two concerts at The Hawaii Theatre in December. They were awesome! Member Mark Heilbron assisted Business Brokers Hawaii, LLC-an SBH conference sponsor-in opening their new office on Oahu. Mark has been building and managing businesses for three decades. Edward Jones' David Livingston was appointed to the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board last month; he previously served on the board from 1999 - 2001. Heather Moir-Dangler, president of The Moir Financial Team, earned her Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) professional designation from The American College, Bryn Mawr in PA. Meaghan Turner is the newly appointed office manager for the Hawaii Women's Business Center (HWBC), located within the Small Business Development Center in Chinatown. A number of SBH members-particularly those in Mapunapuna by the Airport- were severely impacted by the storm-related rain and floods last month. LG Duke Aiona was trying to arrange low interest disaster loans and other help from the U.S. SBA. Many businesses also lost phone service. SBH wishes you the best New Year!
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Happy New Year-the Year of the Monkey!