Robert Kiyosaki, "Rich Dad, Poor Dad,"
to Keynote SBH Business Conference

Small Business Hawaii is excited to announce that leading financial expert and bestselling author, investor, entrepreneur and educator Robert Kiyosaki will keynote its 33rd annual conference Wednesday, January 14th, 2009 at the Ala Moana Hotel.

The conference theme is, “Small Business 2009: Overcoming Hawaii’s Economic Challenges.”

The SBH Conference is the first major business and economic conference of the New Year.

“A common mistake all businesses make when faced with difficult times is deserting their instincts and reducing marketing and promotional efforts,” said Kiyosaki. “Having been through these cycles in my own businesses, there are ways that companies increase sales and income even in these tough economic times.”

Kiyosaki is the author of the international best-seller, “ Rich Dad, Poor Dad “ and a native of Hawaii. A Marine Corps officer who served in Vietnam before founding the company that brought the first nylon-Velcro surfer wallets to market and then founded The Rich Dad Company, which provides financial and investment education to people around the world. Robert with his wife, Kim, a successful author and businessperson in her own right, operates the Rich Dad group of companies focused on international financial literacy.

“We go to school to learn to work hard for money,” says Kiyosaki. “I write books and create products that teach people how to have money work hard for them.” His most recent books include “Why We Want You To Be Rich” with Donald Trump and “Increase Your Financial IQ.” To find additional information on other Rich Dad products and services, go to http://www.richdad.com.

SBH is very pleased that Robert Kiyosaki will highlight what will be a most important and timely annual conference. SBH is also most grateful to Mr. Kiyosaki for donating his usual fee to the Small Business Hawaii Entrepreneurial Education Foundation, which will be able to carry forward his mission in its own efforts.

A program agenda and reservation form appear on page 4. This is an excellent opportunity for you, your associates and employees to get positive answers to Hawaii’s economic challenges. Reserve now, available seating is expected to go quickly.

DOWNLOAD & SEND IN THE RESERVATION FORM TODAY

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Issues New Brief on Hawaii Education

By Tom McAuliffe, Communications Director, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii has released a new policy brief outlining how the Hawaii taxpayer keeps investing more dollars in the public school system while getting diminishing returns. Getting Less for More–Feeding the Government Education System in Hawaii examines the fact that Hawaii spends almost $14,000 per student per year yet consistently ranks near the bottom of scholastic achievement rankings. The brief also finds that one third of high school freshmen do not graduate with a high school diploma.

“The Hawaii taxpayer deserves an explanation as to why we keep putting more and more money into an education system that is expensive, overly bureaucratic, and not producing the results we need,” stated Grassroot Institute President Jamie Story. “We again call on the Hawaii Department of Education to embrace full transparency and open its financial checkbook so the community can see how its money is being spent. Perhaps together we can help DOE find a better, more cost effective way to educate our children,” she said.

The new brief, which is available free from the Institute’s web site, also found that the DOE’s budget has increased 150% in just eight years—from $972 million to $2.4 billion—despite declining enrollment. The report goes on to state that the proposed $46 million budget reduction requested recently is a mere 1.9% of the total DOE budget. Getting Less for More was written by Policy Intern Kenny Lee, who is also a student at Hawaii Pacific University majoring in Finance.

Earlier this year, the Grassroot Institute embarked on a new initiative to bring transparency and accountability to Hawaii state and local government, including the Department of Education. The mission of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is to promote individual liberty, free market economic principles and limited, more accountable government. Please visit: http://www.grassrootinstitute.org for more information.