Permitting: Insights from across the island chain
For those of you who arent aware, permitting for construction of new developments or renovation of existing structures is a huge problem on Hawaii Island. It has been recognized by the business community as a major barrier to economic development and working toward improvement of the permitting process is one of the three top priority areas for the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce. For those of you who are aware and have been following this issue, youve now got something new to think about.
Building talent: Sage Sounds Musicians Lounge opens in Kainaliu
Theres a new place for aspiring and seasoned musicians to hone their skills, record their music and practice their art in Old Town Kainaliu.
The ConAm returns
Two years ago, we as voters were inundated with impassioned arguments on both sides of a proposed constitutional amendment (ConAm for short). The amendment would have given the State the power to impose a surcharge on real property tax, ostensibly to fund teacher pay raises.
House panel asks whether legislation can keep cash as king
WASHINGTON At some uncertain point in the future, printing cash may be a waste of money. As Americans increasingly rely on credit cards, online transfers, mobile apps and cryptocurrencies to complete transactions, a House panel debated Thursday the promise and potential pitfalls of a cashless society.
Unemployment down slightly in December
Hawaii Islands unemployment rate decreased slightly during the month of December, recently released state labor statistics show.
More special funds?
After going through the hundreds of bills introduced in the 2020 Legislature, a few themes appear to be emerging.
Commerce secretary: China virus could bring jobs back to US
WASHINGTON Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross suggested Thursday that the viral outbreak in China might offer an unexpected benefit for the U.S. economy: It could encourage American manufacturers in China to return to the United States.
Don’t let them double up!
On Jan. 8, Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) Trustee Brandon Kaleiana Lee wrote an op-ed in the Star-Advertiser titled, OHA has right to attorney-client privilege. In that article, Lee was reacting to State Auditor Les Kondos insistence that the OHA trustees turn over unredacted executive session minutes that apparently contain legal advice given by their hired counsel. He contended that it is clear that such communications are clearly protected as part of the OHA boards attorney-client privilege as a matter of longstanding U.S. Supreme Court constitutional law, and turned the matter into an indigenous peoples issue: Why is it when Native Hawaiians seek the same rights and protections to which everyone else is entitled, they are called protesters, are deemed uncooperative, or are accused of hiding something?
In brief
West Hawaii’s first escape room opens in Kona
Escape rooms have been gaining in popularity and popping up around the world, and a Kona woman has brought the experience to West Hawaii.
Hawaiian Electric grant to help ohia
The nonprofit Ka Ahahui o Ka Nahelelehe, which works to protect Hawaiis dryland forests, has received a $27,500 grant from Hawaiian Electric for its Rapid Ohia Death Seed Banking Initiative, an effort to preserve seeds from the native
State orders illegal care homes to cease and desist
HILO The state has slapped a cease-and-desist order and fine on a company it says is operating two unlicensed special treatment facilities, or therapeutic living programs, in Hawaiian Paradise Park.
Tax Foundation of Hawaii: Don’t let them double up
Following a major U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2018 (South Dakota v. Wayfair), many states, including ours, enacted economic nexus legislation, which means that we consider any business that transacts $100,000 or more in Hawaii sales or 200 or more Hawaii transactions to be subject to Hawaii tax laws, and we require such a business to comply with the law by registering and paying tax. That legislation went into effect July 1, 2018.
Small Business Matters: A look back at 2019
The owners of a boat tour company, a veterinary clinic, and a restaurant walk into a bar. Heard that joke setup before?
Business Round-Up: 01-20-20
Free homebuying seminar
Tax Foundation of Hawaii: What really is a minimum wage?
Happy New Year! Its now 2020 and talk already has begun about raising our minimum wage. $10.10 an hour is not a living wage, some say, so we should be hoisting our minimum wage to say $15 or $17, which some say is the minimum required to make ends meet here in Hawaii assuming you are working 40 hours a week.
Business Roundup: 01-13-20
Head appointed Fairmont
Orchid general manager
Tax Foundation of Hawaii: Cooling the schools: the reality
It wasnt long ago that, in response to numerous complaints of students sweltering in their classrooms, Gov. David Ige proclaimed that he would commit $100 million to cool 1,000 classrooms. At the end of the 2016 legislative session, he signed Act 47 of 2016 appropriating the funds to the Department of Education (DOE), and in 2018 he trumpeted this accomplishment during his re-election campaign.