Small Business News
December 2005 | Online Edition
Economic Momentum Commission Delivers Report
Sustaining Hawaii's current economic boom is one of the main objectives of the Governor's Economic Momentum Commission. Tourism and construction have been up in recent months. Above: Shoppers at Ala Moana Center.
The Economic Momentum Commission (EMC) released a list of draft recommendations in a report aimed at “sustaining the state’s current economic momentum over the longer term.” The Commission was formed by Governor Linda Lingle and includes the bipartisan support of the Senate President and Speaker of the House, both of whom serve as commissioners, as well as other legislative and elected leaders; and representatives from small and large businesses, labor unions, non-profit, environmental, cultural and educational organizations, government and the military.
The process was divided into five phases:
• Phase I July – August Identify Economic Challenges
• Phase II September Identify Solutions
• Phase III October Prioritize Solutions
• Phase IV November Request Public Input
• Phase V December Vote on Final Package
The Commission completed Phases I, II and III. They envision a holistic approach to sustaining the economy of Hawaii. Central to the EMC’s core of this vision “are all the people of Hawaii.”
The draft recommendations are aimed at sustaining Hawaii’s current economic momentum over the longer term. The recommendations suggest changes in areas such as housing, taxation, education, workforce development, tourism, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, health care, the environment and Native Hawaiian issues.
Among the recommendations are the following:
• A rebate of a major portion of the state tax surplus back to the taxpayer as required by the State Constitution.
• A moratorium on the GET for food and over the counter drugs and medication.
• Major improvements to the public education system in five critical areas: teachers, principals, facilities, curriculum and parents
• The merger of the economic development programs of the Dept. of Business, Economic Development & Tourism with the workforce development program of the Dept. of Labor and Industrial Relations.
• Redevelopment of the Honolulu International Airport to a “state of the art” facility with “an authentic Hawaiian experience”
• Similar improvements to neighbor island airports
• Legislation that would encourage the production and use of biofuels and biodiesel utilization.
The 11 categories of recommendations reflect the Commission’s strong sentiment that economic growth should go hand in hand with improvements to Hawaii’s quality of life.
The Commission acknowledged that “these recommendations are not all-inclusive; our goal was to adopt recommendations that could be implemented within a relatively short time frame. We have specifically designed the process to encourage public/stakeholder recommendations and comments.”
The EMC’s website, http://www.emc-hawaii.com is fully interactive to allow for comments and recommendations. Input from the public is welcome.To see the draft recommendations report, go to: http://www.emc-hawaii.com/recommend.htm
Members of the Economic Momentum Commission included: Don Horner, CEO, First Hawaiian Bank; David Akina, president, Paradise Yellow Pages; Haunani Apoliona, chair, board of trustees, Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Elias Beniga, financial advisor, Merrill Lynch, and chair of the Filipino Centennial Celebration Commission; Stanley Brown, vice president Pacific Island and Japan, Marriott International; Robert Bunda, president, Hawai‘i State Senate; Suzanne Case, executive director, The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i; Robin Danner, president and chief executive officer, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement; Mitch D ‘Olier, chief executive officer, Kane‘ohe Ranch; Admiral Thomas B. Fargo, retired, U.S. Navy, and CEO Trex Systems International; Lynn Finnegan, House Minority Leader, State House of Representatives; Fred Hemmings, Senate Minority Leader, State Senate; Georgina Kawamura, state budget and finance director; Gregory Kim, founder and partner, Vantage Counsel LLC; Dee Jay Mailer, chief executive officer, Kamehameha Schools; Geri Marullo, president and chief executive officer, Child & Family Service; Susan Matsushima, president, Alluvion Farms; Dr. David McClain, interim president, University of Hawai‘i; Nolan Moriwaki, business manager and finance secretary/treasurer, Masons and Plasterers Union; Dayton Nakanelua, state director, United Public Workers Union; Marcus Oshiro, majority leader, State House of Representatives; Dr. Virginia Pressler, vice president, Hawai‘i Pacific Health Services; Harry Saunders, president, Castle & Cooke Hawai‘i; Calvin Say, speaker, Hawai‘i State House of Representatives; Myles Shibata, chief operating officer and vice president, Kawailoa Development; Jeanne Skog, president and chief executive officer, Maui Economic Development Board; Kelvin Taketa, president and chief executive officer, Hawai‘i Community Foundation Barry Taniguchi, president and chief executive officer, KTA Super Stores; Dr. Rose Tseng, chancellor, University of Hawai‘i-Hilo; Lucien Wong, Senior VP, Actus Lend Lease LLC.
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