SBH News + Views August 4
By Sam SlomPresident, Smart Business Hawaii and SBH Entrepreneurial Education Foundation
Non-Hawaii headline of the week: "HECO Rates May Rise" Hawaiian Electric rates have risen, will rise, and continue an upward spiral. Who do you think is going to pay for all that "clean" energy? You are. And the new wind turbines, electric vehicles and other power sources? All will be subsidized and all-like the infamous barrel tax enacted by the Legislature this session- will end up in your electric bill. But still, Hawaii will not consider a logical and cost-saving energy: nuclear.
Where has all the oil gone in the Gulf? Those that criticized Rush Limbaugh are wrong; he was right. Mother Nature is amazing and helped reduce the impact of America's worst environmental disaster. Kind of like how our bodies take care of us if allowed to do so.Main thing is the leak is capped and we can continue the cleanup and the economic recovery to make small businesses in that area whole again. Some politicos were shamelessly using this disaster to push their cap and tax bill for more taxes on you.
BP retail gasoline dealers on the Mainland want to go back to their original name, before the buyout by BP: AMOCO.
Congrats to State Department of Transportation Director, Brennon Morioka, who was recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) with the Civil Government Award, which honors members of the engineering profession who have rendered meritorious service in elected or appointed positions in government. He was honored today at the Capitol by Governor Linda Lingle and will gain national recognition in Las Vegas.
It will be a grand celebration Sunday, August 15th for Winners' Camp Hawaii and its founder Delorese Gregoire. The organization that has helped thousands of local teenagers will mark its 25th Anniversary with a special event at the Camp atop Kamehame Ridge in Hawaii Kai, from 1 - 4 pm. Heavy pupu! Food donations by Gyotaku Japanese Restaurant, Outback Hawaii Kai, Roy's Hawaii Kai and The Shack (Hawaii Kai).
What do you do with more than 20,000 tons of garbage? It is all piled up in West O'ahu in plastic wrap for everyone to see. It was supposed to be shipped to the Mainland- at a cost of $100 a ton- last year but permit problems, foul ups and errors kept the garbage coming here. Last week, the Yakama Indian Nation filed suit to block any trash dumping on their lands in Washington State. That apparently is the final straw. The City is now looking to halt the contract with HWS. The contract to haul the trash was to provide relief to the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill and to stall until a third H-Power boiler is completed late next year.
Sorry to report more local small businesses are shuttering their doors. "Turning the corner?" Maybe for hotels, EIS writers and shredding companies, but most smaller retail, service and food establishments battling daily to survive.
However, Kona Brewing, Hawaii's largest local brewery, based on Hawaii Island, was just sold for a reported $14 million in cash and stock to Craft Brewers Alliance. Craft owns Widmer Brothers and Redhook Breweries on the Mainland. Kona was founded 26 years ago and employs about 175 people. It was ranked 23rd largest brewery in the U.S.
Is retail discounter T.J. Maxx going to return to Hawaii? Maybe. The high profile retailer was in Hawaii previously but left in the mid-'90s. While Hawaii's overall retail market is soft, discounters here (Ross, Price Busters, etc.) are posting record profits reflecting the local downturn and economy-minded consumers. The company may be looking for 2-3 locations but no time schedule is set.
The Blackstone Group LP of New York is purchasing the Pearlridge Center, Hawaii's 2nd largest shopping center, for nearly a quarter billion dollars. The Center's first phase opened in 1972.
Alaska Airlines is doing well in the Islands, helping to replace some of the seat losses of Aloha Air and ATR. It is doing so well that it is offering a limited $150 on-line one way fare from Honolulu to Portland.
Sorry to learn that the Washington Redskins cut all-time favorite UH football great, Colt Brennan. Former UH coach, June Jones, predicts he will be back in the NFL where he belongs.
UH Football begins in less than a month, Thursday, September 2, against USC in a $100-million-plus renovated Aloha Stadium. See you there!
The State Senate Judiciary Committee, of which I am a member, held hearings this Monday and Tuesday on judicial nominees for District Court, Circuit Court and the Hawaii Supreme Court. The Committee will make its recommendations tomorrow and the full Senate- now only 23 with the resignations of Bobby Bunda and Gary Hooser-w ill vote on Friday.
A lot is at stake. Controversy swirled Monday on the nomination of Circuit Court nominee, Fa`auuga To`oto`o a 17-year veteran of District Court, a per diem Circuit Court judge, a community role model and leader and the first American of Samoan ancestry to reach this point in the Hawaii judiciary. Every testimony of those present and emails were supportive; only the dysfunctional Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA) testified To`oto`o was "not qualified."
But the HSBA process allows for anonymous input from local lawyers and then refuses to give the candidate or Senate any reason for the thumbs down or the vote of the 20 Directors (of 4,667 members) who decide. They hide behind "the process" which they created 20 years ago.
Isn't the first rule of American justice to be able to face your accuser? Not with this Bar (which by the way differs from the American Bar Association (ABA). On Tuesday, the HSBA was at it again, torching Intermediate Court of Appeals Judge, Kathryn Leonard, nominated for Chief Justice- only the 5th in Hawaii's history- of the Hawaii Supreme Court. Leonard is experienced, a leader and eminently qualified yet the first woman nominee, first graduate of UH Richardson School of Law and yes, first person not born in Hawaii, is facing a hard time becuase of politics, not justice.
She is not one of the "old boy network," and is independent. Some politicos don't like that. Attorney Eric Seitz attacked her, but never met her. Former Circuit Judge Marie Milks "reluctantly" opposed her, as did Attorney Elizabeth Fujiwara. There were 2-3 more opponents from hundreds of supporters. But dozens of prominent attorneys, public servants and former Supreme Court Justice Robert Klein, praised her. Is the flack because she is a woman? Or originally "non-local?" Or, appointed by a Republican Governor? Leonard's politics are unknown and she is very careful in her rulings not to display her beliefs. She should be the next Chief Justice.
$2.7 BILLION for Hawaii's failing public education bureaucracy? Visit our new transparency website shining the light on Hawaii's education issues - http://www.educate808.com
Are you registered to vote? The deadline is next week. The Hawaii Primary election is Saturday, September 18 and the General election is Tuesday, November 2.
Still time to join us with our next monthly SBH SUNRISE, and our special guest speaker, Congressman Charles Djou, Thursday, August 26, 7-8:30 am at the Pineapple Room, Macy's Ala Moana. Call Darlyn for reservations: 396-1724.
Aloha, Sam