February 2008 | Small Business News
Small Business Views
By Sam Slom, President and Executive Director of Small Business Hawaii
WOW! SBH Keynoter Gene Simmons really rocked at the 32nd Annual SBH Conference January 9! The morning business speakers were voted the best. More than 400 people attended at the Ala Moana Hotel. (See story on page 5). Mayor Mufi Hannemann came by to listen (not to sing) and presented Simmons with a proclamation for Gene Simmons Day, January 9, 2008, in the City & County of Honolulu. Governor Linda Lingle again declined to come to the SBH Conference.
It was like a death in the family when UofH football coach of nine seasons, June Jones, on the heels of the miracle 12-0 2007 season, and an appearance in the BCS Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on New Years Day (UH was crushed 41-10 by the Georgia Bulldogs) announced he had accepted the head coaching position at SMU in Dallas. Shock was replaced with anger, and unpopular UH AD Herman Frazier was fired a few days later. All ended well with the appointment of defensive coordinator Greg McMackin at a cool $1.5 million annually. (See the Governors comments on Jones on page 10). McMackin, met at a Governor sponsored Washington Place reception on January 22, is much more personable and outgoing than Jones. Best of luck to him and the team in 08.
The Governor laid out her tax proposals on January 17 (see page 3) and on January 18 announced an agreement on ceded lands with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) which has been a contentious issue since Statehood in 1959 and the last Constitutional Convention in 1978. The agreement, which still must be ratified by an anti-Lingle Democrat State Legislature, would cost taxpayers $200 million-plus, state lands, and $15.1 million in annual rental payments.
On January 22, the Governor unloaded a bombshell at the end of her State of the State speech to the Legislature: she wants the state (taxpayers) to buy the 850-acre Turtle Bay Resort, condos, and property to keep it country. Another message from Hawaii to investors locally and internationally. The estimated price tag: 1/2 to 1 Billion $. Maybe OHA can operate that too.
Great story in the Honolulu Star- Bulletin (1/20/08) on member and former SBH Director Jim Sharp and his family who own and operate the family business, Aloha State Sales, a counter top manufacturer/distributor
This is the Chinese Year of the Rat.
Corporate America going Green for the Green. Big corporations among the first to jump on the environmental green bandwagon and have shifted major advertising to reflect their commitment to a green America. That means different things to different people but it makes ad sense to big business.
Several communities have banned plastic bags and Hawaiis Legislature is expected to jump on the anti plastic bandwagon.
Pattys Chinese Kitchen pau in Ala Moana Shopping Center and The Crouching Lion in Kahaluu closed for renovations.
The multimillion dollar deal between Hawaiian Airlines and Airbus may be unraveling because of union expenses and fuel charges. A chance for Boeing? Maybe.
Valentines Day is very romantic and what could be more romantic than participating in the government universitys Condom Fair 2008 at Manoa? The aim is to, educate students about healthy relationships in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Maybe we should try that at the State Legislature too.
SBH member Hagadone Printing Co. has been named the graphics industrys Best Workplace in the Americas for 2007. The company was given the award for its exemplary human resources practices. PIA/GTF, a Pennsylvania-based graphic arts trade association, owns the Best Workplace in the Americas Awards. This was the eighth year for the program. Applicants were judged on management practices, work environment, training and development opportunities.
Breaking News: Award-winning Hawaii newspaper columnist Charles Memminger will not join former University of Hawaii football coach June Junes in Texas when he takes over the SMU football program.
First Hawaiian Bank, celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, is far more aggressive in local banking circles than in past years. FHB stole the Safeway Kapahulu branch with an in-store bank, replacing Bankoh who has most other Safeways, and supplanted Bankohs ATMs at 7-11s.
Central Pacific Bank (CPB) hit hard by the national sub-prime loan crisis.
Join us Thursday, February 28 (7-8:30 am) at the Pineapple Room in Ala Moana for our monthly SBH Sunrise featuring plenty of networking and Panos Prevedouros on rail transit issues facing Honolulu.
Check our SBH website at www.smallbusinesshawaii.com for the most updated employer alerts and schedule.
|
