SBH News + Views February 27
Who’s Afraid of Friday’s Sequester? You have been getting so much misinformation from the Administration and the monopoly news media about the proposed automatic cuts due Friday under sequestration. IF they occur, and this whole process is all political, it will not be the end of the world but it will be the first step in maybe controlling run away government. Government must be held in check by the taxpayers who are forced to support it and every wasted and misspent dollar. The budget sequestration was after all, President Obama’s idea. Spending cuts MUST be made! The very many non-essential government programs should be eliminated, not essential and Constitutional functions. Don’t be scared.
Oscar Mania. Speaking of politics: Sunday’s Oscar Awards program was very political right own to having the First Lady, Michelle Obama, inject herself into the festivities by presenting the “Best Picture” award to “Argo.” But then, Hollywood is one big special interest cheerleader for the Administration and its liberal agenda.
Tomorrow: Kalbert Young at SUNRISE. State Budget Chief, Kalbert Young, speaks on unfunded liabilities, state finances and how they affect you at the next SBH Sunrise Networking Breakfast, TOMORROW, Thursday, February 28, 7-8:30 am, Pineapple Room, Macy’s Ala Moana Center. Call Darlyn at SBH for info/registration at 396-1724 or go online.
Legislative Crossover. The first major legislative event, the crossover of Senate and House bills, takes place next Tuesday and Thursday. Many tax, fee and mandate bills up for grabs. One of the best bills: a House bill to make it an offense to feed the birds who then poop on your neighbor’s lanai. Now that’s worthy of legislative bird brains.
Hoist Your TABASCO®. There are other hot sauces, even from Louisiana, but there is only one TABASCO® The CEO of the 6th generation family-owned 145 year old company, Paul McIllhenny, 68, died Sunday. TABASCO® (aka McIllhenny Company) is based in Avery Island, LA and is a Hawaii staple right up there with SPAM®.
Cut Your Cheesecake. After a 3-week closure due to a kitchen fire, the popular Waikiki Cheesecake Factory Restaurant reopened Monday. This restaurant grosses more than any other CF anywhere. During the closure, the company paid all employees their full salary—and without any legislative mandate. What a company! Too bad most small businesses in Hawaii could never afford to be that generous.
Wanted: Business Owners to Discuss Minimum Wage. The Hawaii NPR radio series, Conversation, is looking for a small business owner who can speak with Beth-Ann Kozlovich about how they feel about the proposed minimum wage increase. They are trying to book someone as soon as possible, timing the segment to run when there's movement with SB311 and HB916. Please contact Lillian Tsang if you have any questions: 741-8415.
US SBA Awardees. Honored as the 2013 US SBA Small Business Persons of the Year for the State of Hawaii are David Yogi and Dr. James Kwong of Yogi Kwong Engineers, LLC, an innovative geotechnical engineering firm founded in 2005 to provide state of the art technology design and construction management.
The company has established a worldwide reputation as leading experts in trenchless excavation. Despite the tough economic environment, the firm has continued to show significant increases in revenues annually and employs a staff of 40 including top engineering professionals.
Top small business owners were also selected to represent each of the counties in this very competitive category.
The winners are:
* On Oahu, Dr. Patrick Sullivan, CEO of Oceanit Laboratories, took the title of Small Business Person of the Year for the City and County of Honolulu.
* Beatrice Allen of Hanalei Dolphin Restaurant, Fish Market and Sushi Lounge was chosen as the Small Business Person for Kauai County.
* The County of Maui is represented by Brandon LaBonte, CEO of Ardent Management Consulting, a growing software development firm with 55 employees in Kihei.
* John and Nancy Edney of Tropical Dreams Ice Cream and Lalamilo Farms in Kamuela were named Small Business Person of the Year for Hawaii County.
Along with these noteworthy businesses, other business owners and champions in nine categories are being honored for their accomplishments and business acumen:
SBA’s Entrepreneurial Success Award honors an entrepreneur whose venture began as a small business and, with SBA assistance, has grown into a flourishing enterprise and is no longer considered “small”. The State of Hawaii award went to Allan Ikawa of Big Island Candies, a Hilo based specialty food manufacturer and retailer known worldwide for quality, creativity and innovation showcasing the best of Hawaii. Also recognized for exceptional achievement in this category for the City and County of Honolulu is Peter B. H. Kim, president of the restaurant corporation PBHK, Inc., operating Yummy Korean BBQ, Lahaina Chicken Company, Mama’s Spaghetti House, Cheeseburger Factory, Steak and Fish Company, and more.
The Family Owned Small Business Award recognizes a small business with at least a 15 year history that has been owned and operated by the family, creating jobs, increasing revenues and providing opportunities for other family members.
The 2013 State of Hawaii winner is Sterling Kaya, the second generation owner and operator of Hana Pa’a Fishing Company, providing fishing, spear fishing and diving gear at locations in Kalihi and Pearlridge Center.
Other Family Owned Business winners are:
* County of Maui – Georgia Keenan-Abilay & Michael P. Dupree, owners of the Blue Ginger Cafe & Bakery in Lanai City.
* County of Hawaii – Colin Nakagawa of the family owned Seaside Restaurant, an icon in the Hilo community for the past 90 years.
* City and County of Honolulu – Allen Woo, President of Manson Products Company, who has been at the helm of this local produce wholesaler started by his father, Manson, with a single truck, for the last decade.
The Small Business Exporter Award is presented to a small business that derives a significant portion of their sales from export outside the U.S. and is supportive of other efforts to export U.S. made products and services. The State of Hawaii Small Business Exporter of the Year for 2013 is FSC Architects, an award winning architectural and planning firm specializing in hospitality design and mixed use development led by principals Jim Freeman, Ralph Shelbourne and Benjamin Candari.
These and other exceptional small business owners, advocates and leaders from across the islands will be honored tomorrow, Feb. 28 at the 26th Annual Statewide SBA Small Business Awards Luncheon at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. This gala event is hosted by Hawaii Business and many leading local sponsors.
Freitas to Head UH West Oahu. Dr. Rockne Freitas, currently vice president for student affairs and university and community relations for the University of Hawai‘i System, has been named chancellor of the University of Hawai‘i – West O‘ahu (UHWO) for a three-year term following the retirement of UH West O‘ahu Chancellor Gene Awakuni. The University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents confirmed Freitas’ appointment during a public meeting held at UH Hilo on Feb. 21. Freitas is the first native Hawaiian to lead a baccalaureate campus.
Freitas holds doctoral and master’s degrees in education from UH Mānoa and a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Oregon State University. His doctoral research focused on developmental systems and guidelines for drug prevention, education, monitoring and counseling for intercollegiate athletics.
Hawaii HIOSH Alert! Walter Chun of OSHCON, Inc. writes that a recent change to the Hawaii Administrative Rules affects many businesses and homeowners that may not know it. The rule is HAR 12-110-3. It requires a daily inspection even if 1 worker is working and performing construction related activities, e.g. installing PV systems, or solar or painting or roofing. A written record is required and must be maintained on the site. Read more in Hawaii Reporter.com or contact Walter at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Castro Retiring? Cuban Communist President Raul Castro made no news last weekend when he said he would retire—in 2018. That’s five years from now. Will President Obama announce he will retire in 2016??
Want More Business? JOIN SBH! Is YOUR business a member of SBH? No? Lots of benefits. Strong networking organization. Call Darlyn today (808-396-1724) or go online to http://www.smartbusinesshawaii.com.
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Aloha,
Sam