February 2006 | Small Business News
Small Business Views
By Sam Slom, President and Executive Director of Small Business Hawaii
SBH's 30th annual conference January 11 was tremendous. Founder Lex Brodie made the event really special; author David Heenan “Flight Capital” gave everyone a dose of reality. Robert Thomas of Pacific Legal Foundation, Congressman Ed Case, the Governor’s team of Linda Smith, Rod Haraga and Mark Recktenwald, our Success Stories, a real Akaka Bill debate with Sandra Burgess and OHA’s Rowena Akana and Bill Green giving us the truth about the gas caps, made it an informative day. See stories starting on page 4
On January 19, Democrat Congressman Ed Case, always independent, and a friend of small business, announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate, to run against veteran Sen. Dan Akaka, stunning old boy Democrats. They were quick to condemn Case for not listening to political godfather, U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye and others, about “waiting his turn.” Akaka and Inouye are both 71; Case is 53. The worst performance was given by an angry, arrogant and pathetic Rep. Neil Abercrombie who has long coveted one of the Senate seats and sincerely believes in the “divine right of kings,” whereby he should be “given” that seat when it opens. Now the public electorate will get to decide. Hooray for Ed — more politicians should rock the boat. Hawaii needs change.
Now there is a scramble to run for Case’s 2nd Congressional seat by several state House members, many Senate members, former Lt. Gov. Hirono and even (perhaps) losing Mayoral candidate (2004) Duke Bainum freshly returned from Maryland. But where are Republican challengers?
The Hawaii Legislature began January 18, a time when business has cause to be pessimistic, amid its usual pomp and circumstance and talk of working together. We’ll see when it adjourns May 4. Biggest topic: how to spend your money ($575 million surplus) better than you can.
Veteran (20 years) State Rep. Ezra Kanoho (D-Kauai) announced he would not seek re-election. Anne Stevens was appointed to fill Galen Fox’s remaining term in the 23rd District (Waikiki) by Governor Lingle 2 days before the Session began. Rumors persist that Sen. Brian Kanno and even Senate president Robert Bunda will leave the Legislature after this session.
As SBH predicted, bottle tax supporters want to raise the 6¢ tax by another 1/2 to 1¢.
State Senator Bob Hogue said it best: “the Governor hit a home run” with her January 23 State of the State speech (her 4th) before the Legislature. She provided something for everyone and hit all the bases. Her delivery was flawless and Governor Linda Lingle was interrupted by applause nearly 40 times; no wonder no Democrat has come forward to run — or debate — against her for her re-election campaign. No chance!
The January 12 SBH & ITEX Hawaii “5-Minute Networking” at the Ocean Club, organized by master networker Joe Lopez was very successful.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and SBH joined for a special one on one starting your business session at the East Oahu SBH office on January 12 led by SBA’s Kim Hite.
Hawaii’s gas cap continues to harm local residents who pay the nation’s highest gas and watch gas rise to over $3 a gallon again. Some Democrats, who refuse to debate the law in public, want to expand the law to regulate diesel as well. Are you kidding?
Sorry to report that Hackfield’s the restaurant named for the founder of AMFAC (and Liberty House) closed in January at Macy’s, Ala Moana. More of our history gone
Remember the old Young Sing Chinese restaurant in downtown Honolulu? The site of many political discussions and fundraisers closed several years ago but has reopened as The Mandalay.
And the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Kahala, formerly the Kahala Hilton, was sold again and after $20 million in renovations will be simply The Kahala.
Sorry to see the Hula Bowl drew only 7,000 — including many free military tickets.
Congratulations to Melissa Pavlichec who this month succeeds Bette Tatum, a 25-year veteran, as head of Hawaii’s NFIB.
So many SBH events going on and you don’t want to miss them: Sunday, February 12, 11:30 am – 2 pm join us for a whale watching cruise on the Star of Honolulu; then, the next Sunday, February 19, its off to Kailua and Wally Amos’ Chip n’ Cookie for cookies, milk and storytelling, 10 am to 4 pm.
See you Thursday, February 23 at the SBH Sunrise (Pineapple Room at Ala Moana Macy’s) to hear “Mass Transit & Mass Confusion” by UH prof. Panos Prevedouros.
Don’t forget to regularly check our website www.smallbusinesshawaii.comfor updated employer alerts and info. Aloha!
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