January 2006 | Top of the News
Small Business Views
By Sam Slom, President and Executive Director of Small Business Hawaii
Happy New Year, (the Year of the Dog), the time when small businesses are most optimistic. Then reality hits.
The Hawaii Legislature begins January 18, a time when business and consumers have cause to be pessimistic — and hold onto its wallets. There will be more tax and cost proposals this year as well as a money grab for the $600 million surplus — which should be returned to you and me.
This year is a major election year in Hawaii and the campaign is underway. It promises to be extra nasty, with the truth about issues and costs the first casualty.
A higher minimum wage and gasoline increases are being cited for a wide range of price increases in Hawaii.
The Hawaii gas cap is instrumental in raising gas prices once again. Some misguided folks want the legislators to regulate diesel fuel as well.
Hawaii’s bottle tax subject of a critical audit (see p. 3). State still making a killing on gas cap, bottle tax and conveyance tax increases from last year.
Alexander & Baldwin has scaled down its plans for redevelopment of Kakaako but still features two 20-story luxury high-rises (in tsunami zones) which has critics still fuming.
Citizen power: protesters changed a 5-4 City Council vote supporting the sale and residential development of Waimea Valley to a 9 – 0 vote against.
Bird Flu? Is it really that dangerous? Never fear, Kim Chee touted as the cure.
Daiei, Inc.’s four Hawaii stores — all on Oahu — will be sold to another Japanese firm, Don Quijote Co. of Tokyo. The deal is expected to be finalized in early February.
The Clark Surfboard Company of California and Hawaii, a leading designer of foam board molds, shutdown suddenly last month creating unemployment, a shortage of quality foam designs and an immediate spike in prices. The reason? Alleged environmental toxicity and threatened fines and possible imprisonment for Clark by the EPA.
An agricultural irradiator planned near Honolulu International Airport, is running into increasing political environmental attack amid fears of accidents and terrorism. The project is strongly backed by the state Department of Agriculture who sees the irradiator as a key to expanding Hawaii’s agricultural products.
Starbucks & T-Mobile teaming up for high speed wireless at all 46 coffee locations.
The 30th SBH Annual Business Conference is Wednesday, January 11, 2006 at the Ala Moana Hotel. Don’t miss it! Many issues, awards and great speakers for you and your business associates to enjoy. Please join them and SBH. See reservation on p. 4.
Hold Sunday, February 12 for an SBH/Paradise Cruise “Star” Whale Watch Cruise, 11:30 am – 2 pm. Details forthcoming in next month’s issue.
DirecTV is beginning to offer local subscribers seven local TV channels. A new receiver and an expanded dish will be required for Hawaii.
A new, local, cellular phone network debuts in Hawaii this month. Mobi PCS, a subsidiary of Coral Wireless Holding LLC, boasts $50 million in investor backed funding, and will enter the lucrative Hawaii market with low cost, flat rate, no contract, no billing plans . However, initially, the network will only cover Oahu. Bill Jarvis is the CEO of Mobi. Nearly 70% of Hawaii residents have wireless phones.
Many residents offered testimony at two December public meetings related to transit. A Honolulu meeting on the 13th and a Kapolei meeting on the 14th brought out pros and cons on the planned City & County of Honolulu mass transit project — the costliest single project ever proposed. Opponents cited cost, inability to make a dent in Oahu’s growing traffic congestion and failures in other Mainland areas. A 12.5% increase in the General Excise Tax takes effect on January 1, 2007.
The 20th anniversary of Winners' Camp and founder Delorese Gregoire in December was inspiring. She has done so much for Hawaii’s teenagers — and their parents. Delorese also made the cover of MidWeek last month.
June Arunga, a 23-year old lawyer from Kenya, and a strong free market advocate, was brought to Hawaii by Grassroot Institute for a series of speeches and meetings in December. She’s awesome!
Myle’ne Hinkle of Mylene’s Floral Wholesale, wants to talk to you about buying a successful business. Call her at 676-2003.
See you Thursday, January 26 at the SBH Sunrise (Pineapple Room at Ala Moana Macy’s) to hear about “City Issues for 2006” from Councilmember Charles Djou.
SBH will work for a Happy 2006!
Don’t forget to regularly check our website at www.smallbusinesshawaii.com for updated employer alerts and events.
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