Small Business News
May 2004 | Online Edition
Small Business Views
By Sam Slom, President and Executive Director of Small Business Hawaii
Hooray! May is Small Business month. Time to Celebrate!
Last month we reported the death of SBH leader Gary Arizala. A few days later, my former coworker at Bank of Hawaii, and Mr. Maui, Mike Lyons II died; just days after being inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame. A real loss to Hawaii.
Much to the surprise of many in our community—and Legislature—Central Pacific Bank completed its “hostile” takeover of City Bank. City Bank fought hard, but in the end, the lure of top dollar, plus the guarantee of continued employment for top executives won out—as it usually does. We wish the new bank and its employees much success.
One of the most powerful business leaders in Hawaii, Walter Dods, Chairman and CEO of First Hawaiian Bank—and a major Democrat strategist and marketer—will step down from the bank in July. Will he consider a run for Governor in ’06 as he did in ’02? He says no; read his lips. He is already doing print ads for HMSA.
Former Hawaii business owner (media mogul) and Congressman, Cec Heftel, returned from Las Vegas to live again in Hawaii. In an April speech, he discussed the corporate takeover of the media and said his greatest mistake was selling KGMB radio (now KSSK) and TV. Don’t be surprised is you see and hear more of Cec who is passionate about educational and governmental reform.
Hawaii viewers to the Fox American Idol show in late April made a record 4.2 million telephone calls in behalf of our own Jasmine Trias. Good thing we don’t have telephone or internet voting; there are only 1.2 million people total in Hawaii. AT&T must be very happy.
Member New Tech Imaging offering a 15% discount to SBH members on ALL work this month. Call 532-6566 or 831-6500. Free pick up and delivery.
Most contentious legislative session in any one’s memory concludes May 6. SB News will give you a full wrap-up next month as well as a business rating for each of the 76 lawmakers. Not much good news for business. Especially, the trashing of the very popular DCCA under Mark Recktenwald.
Lee Donahue stepping down as HPD Chief after 7 years and 40 years on the police force. The Police Commission tells us it will cost $50,000 to find a replacement through a headhunter. Some issues may still remain.
Matson will increase its freight surcharge again in July citing increasing fuel prices. Hawaii is no longer #1 in gas costs.
The proposed new federal wage overtime bill is to take effect in August. It came from a series of meetings and proposals and was released by US Labor Secretary Elaine Chao. Unions and Democrats generally don’t like it. Good news: embalmers are exempt from the rules. For more details, read Jeff Harris’ column in Hawaii Business.
Scavenger bottom feeding attorney Lunsford Dole Phillips got poetic justice when the Hawaii Supreme Court lifted his license for a year and a day starting May 17 for misappropriating funds. Phillips used the ADA as a backdrop to threaten businesses and government with lawsuits that had little to do with the disabled. It was always about the money and many small businesses paid the hefty cost.
Former Democrat State Rep. Nathan Suzuki was sentenced to prison for money laundering and fraud.
Councilmember and small businessman Mike Gabbard has filed to run against Congressman Ed Case in the 2nd Congressional District this fall.
Ted Hong was fantastic at the April 29 SBH Sunrise. Hilo lost a teriffic judge; the population of the state has lost the contribution of a great leader—for now.
Alexander & Baldwin’s President and CEO, Allen Doane speaks at the next SBH Sunrise on Thursday, May 27.
The state’s $350 million Convention Center in Waikiki is beautiful but has continually performed —in terms of major outside business and professional bookings—below par. A bill was introduced this Session to keep secret the name of the organization (or individual) who was renting the Center. It got a bipartisan thumbs down but was still alive in conference. Primary backers, like Sen. Donna Mercado Kim and the HTA’s Rex Johnson, argued that if the bill passed, the Center would realize millions in new rentals. Huh? A public financed center that would thrive only in secrecy? Stay tuned to see if this bill becomes law or is vetoed by Gov. Lingle.
The U.S. SBA, along with First Hawaiian Bank will be going door-to-door in a major busses outreach which began in Hanalei and continues in Hilo May 25 and Kona May 26.
Don’t forget to call SBH (396-1724) or email: sbh_a_t_lava.net if you’re experiencing any business problem. We’ll try and help.
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