Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Farm reaps holiday bonanza

One beneficiary of this year's shortage of imported Christmas trees was Helemano Farms, which saw a surge in sales of the Norfolk Island pines grown at its Central O'ahu plantation.

Owner Aaron O'Brien said yesterday he had sold about 2,000 trees so far this season, a 30 percent to 40 percent increase from the same time last year. Many buyers made the drive out to the tree farm in Whitmore Village after coming up empty at tree lots in town that carried firs and pines shipped in from the Mainland, he said.

More at the Honolulu Advertiser

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Californian Long wins 'Eddie'

When it comes to winning big-wave surfing contests, Greg Long is no longer a long shot. A victory in the world's most revered big-wave contest proved it yesterday. Long capped a near-perfect day with a perfect ride that led him to victory in the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau big-wave surfing contest.

More at the Honolulu Advertiser

Pipeline Masters on today; wave-face heights 10-18 feet

The opening day of the Billabong Pipeline Masters is on today at the Banzai Pipeline off Ehukai Beach.

Wave-face heights are in the 10- to 18-foot range.

Surfers expected to compete today include Andy Irons, Bruce Irons, Sunny Garcia, Shane Dorian, Jamie O'Brien and Dusty Payne.

The Pipeline Masters is the final event of both the 2009 ASP World Tour and the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. Both titles will be decided at the Pipeline Masters.

More at the Honolulu Advertiser

Lighting Up Haleiwa for Christmas and Parade this Friday 6 PM

Aloha Members and Businesses,

The North Shore Chamber of Commerce's annual "Christmas in Historic Haleiwa" event is on Friday, December 11th. It will consist of the Christmas parade starting at 6 PM, Photos with Santa at the North Shore Marketplace from 4:00 to 5:30 PM and after the parade until 8 PM. The parade will include up to 40 units. We also encourage the merchants to offer specials, sidewalk sales/events and demonstrations and stay open until 9:00 PM especially that night.

· Participate in the Parade. It's not too late to enter the parade. Go to www.GoNorthShore.org for more information and to apply to be in the parade by tomorrow noon. We still need at least two convertibles to carry VIP's! If you have one or know someone who has a convertible, please call me at 637-4558 or cell 342-8557.

* Be a donor. We need monetary donations of any size to help defray the costs of insurance, printing, and candy for Santa to give out, etc. Donations to the Chamber are completely tax deductible and are much needed to support our many efforts. Make your check out to the "NSCOC" and mail to the above address.

· Advise customers to arrive and park in Haleiwa by 5:30 pm and that the parade will be over around 7:15 pm to avoid not being able to get to or from your place of business due to the street closure for the parade.

For more information or to participate, call the Chamber at 637-4558 or contact the following coordinators:

Parade: Antya Miller 342-8557

Town Lighting & Contest: Layne Larson 637-1780

Visit with Santa: Marianne Abrigo 637-3511

Sunday, December 06, 2009

Eddie Aikau big-wave contest on alert

The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau big-wave surfing contest is on alert for a possible day of competition tomorrow or Tuesday at Waimea Bay. Wave-face heights are projected to be in the 40- to 50-foot range, which would meet the requirement to run the prestigious contest.

More at the Honolulu Advertiser

Monday, November 30, 2009

98 acres of Hawaii's North Shore is headed for a sealed-bid sale

Nearly 100 acres of agricultural land next to the Turtle Bay Resort on O'ahu's North Shore are headed for a sealed-bid sale, four years after a Florida-based investment firm bought the oceanfront property for $2 million with plans to subdivide it for potential residential use.

The property on Marconi Road includes an old home and a commercial building that once housed Hawai'i's first wireless telegraph station, established in 1901 under a contract with a company set up by the Italian inventor of the technology, Guglielmo Marconi.

More at the Honolulu Advertiser

Friday, November 13, 2009

Don't Forget Special Meeting with Our Representatives

Aloha Members, 
We are pleased to have our state and city representatives meet together to work with our Chamber members in developing ideas and solutions to issues pertaining to the North Shore . Please come with your ideas for solutions.


The format for Friday's meeting will be for each representative to talk for 8 minutes about the main issues, listed below, facing the North Shore . After each speaks, then Josh will preside over a Question and Answer period for the rest of the time, as our members always have tons of questions for our representatives.



State:
1. Laniakea/Chun's traffic bottle neck and what can be done in the short term
2. Where you stand on small business taxes and how to reduce them (unemployment, etc.)
3. Pot holes on state Kamehameha Hwy.

City:

1. Walkways in Haleiwa Town

2. Pot holes in Haleiwa, Waialua, and other City roads

3. Surf Contest Rules and Permits 



This will be the only agenda item except for announcements. Sign-in, networking and Continental Breakfast at 8:00 AM. Meeting starts at 8:30AM. Members $5.00. Adjourn no later than 10:00 AM.

Look forward to seeing you there!
Mahalo, 
Antya

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

North Shore woman chosen Miss Hawaii USA

Renee Mokihana Nobriga, from Oahu's North Shore was crowned the 2010 Miss Hawaii USA last night at LEVEL4 in the Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki.

Nobriga, 25, is a model and works in sales. She is the daughter of Kealoha and Iwalani Nobriga, lives in Pupukea and graduated from Kahuku High School in 2002. Nobriga has an associate's degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in liberal arts.

More at the Honolulu Star Bulletin

Monday, November 02, 2009

25-foot waves hit North Shore

EHUKAI BEACH — As the big surf crested, curled, rolled and roared at Pipeline yesterday, one intrepid surfer raced across the face of a foaming wave, realized things were definitely not going as planned, kicked his board away and dived out of sight as the next wave in the set crashed down on him like a landslide, like an avalanche, like a cattle stampede.

More at the Honolulu Advertiser

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Business Expo schedule

Whether an existing business or startup company, get in touch with professional resources available to imporve business practices and increase profitability.

Keynote Speakers:
Jim Tollefson, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii "Preparing Your (North Shore) Business to Face the Challenges Ahead"
Howard Dicus, Business Commentator

Topics for Breakout Sessions:
1. Toastmasters
2. Ecommerce/Website
3. SBA
4. Marketing/Branding
5. History of District
6. Patents and Trademark Law
7. Going Green
8. Retirement Planning
9. tax Tips for 2009 & Financial Planning

* There will be three rooms available for breakout sessions and each topic will be run once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

Schedule:
8:00 am to 6:30 pm

8:00-8:45 am
Sign up, meet and greet, vendor setup (cont. breakfast)

9:00-9:45 am
Keynote address


Breakout Sessions
10:00-10:45 am
Better Public Speaking with Toastmasters, Ecommerce/Website, Small Business Administration
11:00 - 11:45 am
Retirement Planning, Marketing/Branding, History of District
12:00 - 12:45 pm
Patents & Trademark Law, Going Green, Tax Tips/Financial Planning

12:45 - 2:00 pm
Lunch

Breakout Sessions
2:00 - 2:45 pm
Patents & Trademark Law, Going Green, Toastmasters
3:00 - 3:45 pm
Retirement Planning, Marketing/Branding, Small Business Administration
4:00 - 4:45 pm
Tax Tips/Financial Planning, Ecommerce/Website, History of District

5:00 - 6:30 pm
Vendor and cocktail reception

Vendor booths on display throughout day of expo.
All activities at the Turtle Bay Resort.

Seminar Descriptions

Going Green
Katie Pere, Kokua Hawaii Foundation
The Kokua Hawaii Foundation will discuss the environmental, health benefits, and cost savings of going plastic free

Toastmasters
Ellyn Sollars, Toastmasters North Shore
Pathway to enhanced public speaking, writing and organization skills, professional contacts, and leadership experience.

Website Development/Ecommerce
Veronica and Jacob Peterson, Aloha Computers
Today's internet has re-written the business world and is an integral part of daily business operations. Find out how small businesses have been give the same level in the playing field when it comes to competing with the larger corporations.

Retirement Planning for Self-Employed and Samll Business Owner
Glennel Warren and Elsa Agdinaoay, John Hancock Financial Network
Explore and compare the retirement options available to the self-employed and small business owner.

Patents and Trademark Law
Martin Hsia, Cades Schutte Fleming & Wright
Protecting your name and your product: What every business in hawaii should know about patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets.

What is Historic About Waialua District?
Boyd Ready and Francis Forsythe
A detailed discussion of what is historic in Haleiwa and Waialua - key points in history worth passing along to your customers.

Marketing/Branding
Noelle Baker, Marketing Consultant
Resources to teach you how to build a "value-added" brand in today's competitive global marketplace by creating an effective integrated strategy involving advertising, marketing, publicity, and research.

Small Business Administration
Mary Dale, SBA
Learn how the SBA helps start, build and grow businesses through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations.

"Hot" Tax tips for 2009 and Financial Planning and Why it is Essential
Amber Doig, Financial Management Solutions
Hear discussion and new tax laws in effect for 2009 and why it is important that individuals accept responsibility for financial security.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Waimea Valley presents "Arbor Day"

Waimea Valley, located at 59-864 Kamehameha Highway (across from Waimea Bay) is proud to present its 2nd Annual “ARBOR DAY” Saturday, November 7, 2009 from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm.

The plant sale and tree give-away will take place in front of Parking Lot 2 (before security guard shack). Participants are encouraged to bring an extra bucket or two to take free mulch home for their yards.

HECO will once again participate by providing the trees for plant give away. Each household will be allowed one free tree and will be asked to complete a short survey before leaving. The survey will help HECO to determine what kind of plants to prepare for the next year.

Waimea Valley will have native and non-native plants for sale and several vendors from across O`ahu will also be selling a wide variety of plants:

• Olomana Tropicals –heliconias, gingers and bromeliads
• Jill Coryell, the Hibiscus Lady – original cultivated varieties of hibiscus
• Alvin Tsuruda of Waihale Products – a very wide variety of exotics, good named Anthuriums
• Ed Miyashita of Growing Creations – herbs, orchids and vegetable starters
• Kay Lynch of La`au Hawai`i– native Ferns

Admission to the Arbor Day Event is free; however, there will be a
parking fee of $5.00 per car.

Monday, September 28, 2009

The Second Annual Business Expo

Aloha Members and Friends,

The Second Annual Business Expo is presented by First Hawaiian Bank. Early Bird Discounts are available until October 10th. So, sign up today!! Download the application on the North Shore Chamber of Commerce website.

Our Luncheon Speaker is Howard Dicus and we hope to have a very exciting keynote speaker as well. The seminars that our Education Chair, Karen Campbell from Waialua Soda Works, has put together are excellent. Bob Boyle of Turtle Bay Resort, the Event Chair, will be hosting us in their beautiful hotel and serving their wonderful food.

Are you looking to expand your business in the North Shore area? Sign up as an exhibitor by October 10th and get the Eartly Bird Discount.

Attendees: If you sign up for this great event, the Continental Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Reception AND six seminars are all included in your registration fee. It's a great bargain, educational and fun.

Mahalo to our Title Sponsor, First Hawaiian Bank, and sponsors Kamehameha Schools, North Shore News and Turtle Bay Resort.

Hope to see you there this year and remember to sign up before October 10th!

Aloha,
Antya Miller, Executive Director
North Shore Chamber of Commerce

Monday, September 21, 2009

North Shore Yoga Festival

True Union presents the North Shore Yoga Festival, an event designed to celebrate the many styles and philosophies that form the ancient practice of yoga. The North Shore Yoga Festival is the first of its kind in Hawaii, bringing together more than a dozen well-known yogis from the Islands and continental U.S. to lead innovate workshops and classes in order to promote yoga awareness. There will be four workshop sessions throughout the day, a keiki yoga class for children, as well as an evening concert by internationally acclaimed musician Ty Burhoe.

Surfers Yoga: Alignment and Fast Flexibility Techniques; Exploring the Parallels of Pilates and Yoga; Yoga Thai Massage Partner Class; Keiki Yoga; Free Your Hips, Free Your Mind; and much more.

Festival fee ranges from $20 for the music concert to $150 for a full day festival pass (four workshops, festival t-shirt, and Ty Burhoe concert). Visit True Union’s website at http://www.trueunion.org to register for festival events.

Contact Kate Baldwin at 757.651.0953 for more information on becoming an exhibitor or sponsor at the North Shore Yoga Festival.

Turtle Bay Resort will be offering a select number of rooms at a discounted rate for those attending the North Shore Yoga Festival. Contact Turtle Bay Resort 808.293.6000 for more information.

Phone: 757.651.0953; email: kate@trueunion.org; Web: www.trueunion.org.

True Union is owned and operated by Kate Baldwin. Kate is a renowned teacher and practitioner of Hatha, Raja and Bhakti Yoga. Kate is a Karma Yogi as well, and has been incredibly active in her community through organizations such as Team in Training, Make A Wish Foundation, Whitman Walker Clinic, Volunteers for the Visually Handicapped, and a number of others. Kate teaches yoga on Oahu at Turtle Bay Resort, North Shore Yoga Co-op, and Open Space Yoga. She was recently selected as one of lululemon athletica’s ambassadors to join efforts in spreading yoga awareness throughout the community.

Friday, September 18, 2009

2nd Annual Business Expo - October 28th

Aloha Members,

Hold the Date!! The Second Annual Business Expo Presented by First Hawaiian Bank and hosted by the North Shore Chamber of Commerce will be held at Turtle Bay Resort on Wednesday, October 28th. Howard Dicus will be the keynote speaker at lunch. Karen Campbell from Waialua Soda Works has done a great job again of lining up a variety of wonderful speakers and Bob Boyle of Turtle Bay Resort will provide us with scruptious food at breakfast lunch and dinner in a beautiful and comfortable conference setting.

This is an all-day affair, so be sure to mark your calendars now! More information will be provided soon.

Mahalo,

Antya

The Voice of Business in Hawaii - Be prepared

- From Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii President Jim Tollefson -

We all agree that our employees are our most valuable asset. Having a healthy and productive staff is critical to our continued success. Anytime an employee is out sick it affects the entire team and the productivity of the office.

Now, more than ever, when many businesses are functioning with smaller staffs or dealing with employee furloughs, any employee illness can have a major impact on a company's ability to perform. As we approach what the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said may be one of our most challenging flu seasons through this fall and winter, it is very important for every business to plan and prepare their company. Along with increasingly stronger flu strains, the CDC has stated they expect the H1N1 influenza to increase and they believe more people and communities will be affected.

Currently, I am serving on the Advisory Council for the Department of Health Pandemic Influenza Public Engagement Demonstration Project. The council recognizes that for Hawaii to be prepared and respond effectively to an influenza outbreak it involves everyone: individuals, communities, businesses, States, Federal agencies, international countries and organizations. Creating public awareness and involvement is important to reducing the impact or spread of severe influenza.

The CDC is asking employers to plan to be able to respond in a flexible way to varying levels of the severity of an outbreak. They have created the "CDC Guidance for Businesses and Employers To Plan and Respond to the 2009-2010 Influenza Season". The new guide recommends actions that non-healthcare employers should take now to decrease the spread of seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu in the workplace. The guide also includes additional strategies to use if flu conditions become more severe and there are new recommendations regarding when a worker who is ill with influenza may return to work. It can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/business/guidance/. We will also be placing this guide and additional links on the Chamber website.

With the potential of increased illnesses within our staffs, or having an employee out who is a primary caretaker, or even more challenging, an outbreak that causes any type of temporary closure, employers must be prepared to respond in order to limit interruptions to their business.
As a small organization, your Chamber recognizes how important it is to plan for flu season. As a team, we will be reviewing an influenza pandemic plan, posting the key health and safety preventative measures, and have options such as the ability for an employee to work from home to continue business. The business community plays an important role in limiting the negative impact of the H1N1 influenza and seasonal flu outbreaks. I want to urge every Chamber member and business to incorporate the CDC's guidance plan and be proactive.

Additional tools and guidance documents have been developed by the federal government to assist employers in their planning. These resources are available online at: www.flu.gov/plan/workplaceplanning/index.html

One-Stop www.flu.gov

2009 H1N1 Influenza Information http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/

2009 H1N1 Influenza Resources for Businesses and Employers http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/business/

Worker Safety and Health Guidance for a Pandemic www.osha.gov/dsg/topics/pandemicflu/index.html

OSHA's Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic http://www.osha.gov/Publications/influenza_pandemic.html

CDC/NIOSH Occupational Health Issues Associated with 2009 H1N1 Influenza Virus http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/h1n1flu/

Jim Tollefson
President & CEO
The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii
The Voice of Business in Hawaii
1132 Bishop Street, Suite 402
Honolulu, Hi. 96813
Ph: 808-545-4300 ext 388
Fax 808-545-4369
www.cochawaii.org

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Honolulu Council bill bans shark tours

The Honolulu City Council on Friday introduced a bill to ban shark tour operations.

Bill 67 calls for penalizing violators up to $1,000, up to one year in jail, or both.

...Currently, at least two shark tour operations — North Shore Shark Adventures and Hawaii Shark Encounters — operate on Oahu’s North Shore, where customers view sharks from a submerged cage.

More information at Pacific Business News

Saturday, September 12, 2009

More jobs, growth of BYUH behind plan for La'ie's future

Opponents of revised design cite expected large influx of people

The plan by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to build 1,200 homes, a shopping center, churches, parks and light industrial complex at Malaekahana may succeed where earlier plans have failed, officials say.

Just a year ago, a proposal to build 550 homes was scrapped when the economy tanked and local support seemed weak.

More at the Honolulu Advertiser

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Membership Meeting at Waimea Valley Pikake Pavillion

Aloha Members and Businesses,

Just a reminder that there is a membership meeting tomorrow at Waimea Valley, Pikake Pavilion at 8AM. The guest speaker will be Katie Kastner from Historic Hawaii Foundation on "Why Heritage Tourism is Good for a Destination like the North Shore." Please see attached agenda.

A delicious Continental Breakfast will be served by Thomas and Brigitte of Waimea Valley Grill.
Members are $5 and non-members are $10.

A big mahalo goes to Waimea Valley Grill for sponsoring this meeting!

See you there!
Antya

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Update on Chamber's New Home and Cancellation of Installation Dinner

Aloha Members,

We announced at our April 30, 2009 meeting that the permit to finish the Telephone Exchange Building (TEB) project is ready to be issued. We are excited that we can now move this much-anticipated project forward to create a home for the Chamber as well as a visitor center for the North Shore. The board of directors wants to move this project along as quickly as possible and we expect that it will take significant efforts from us over the next several months.

In order to focus on the completion of the TEB we decided to cancel the Installation dinner, tentatively scheduled for the beginning of June. Once we are at or near completion, we are planning to have a blessing of the Chamber’s new home and welcome all of you to celebrate your efforts to save a Haleiwa landmark. We are excited about putting the building to many more years of service to the community and historic Haleiwa.

Many members have been very generous with their support in purchasing corporate sponsorships and bricks honoring their friends and family. Thank you very much. However, we need to raise more money and would really appreciate your support to help complete the TEB project by purchasing a brick or corporate sponsorship if you have not done so already. Please fill out the attached form and mail it in with your donation.

In regards to the bricks that have already been ordered, the landscaping and walkway will be the last items to be constructed. We will work as fast as we can to get the project completed so that you may come and admire your brick(s)!

Mahalo,
Antya

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Testimony Needed to Address Assault on Business!

Aloha Members,

Please see the email from Sherry below and click on the link to send testimony. We need to redouble our efforts in stopping this "assault on business." See Star Bulletin's editorial calling this legislation that:

http://www.starbulletin.com/editorials/Legislators_should_stop_their_assault_on_Hawaii_business.html

I know you're busy, but providing testimony to stop this assault is very much more important in the long-run than are the fires you're putting out today.

Mahalo,
Antya


The following bills have been scheduled for hearing and decision-making for Thursday, April 2:

SB 62 - Workers' Compensation: Independent Medical Examination
(Hearing Notice)

HB 952 - Card Check (Decision-making)
(Hearing Notice)

For SB 62, please submit testimony. For HB 952, we are asking our members to contact their senators rather than submitting comments.

Please feel free to use http://www.cocaction.com/mx/hm.asp?id=LAC to submit testimony and letters.

Thank you for your support.

Sherry R. Menor-McNamara
Vice President, Business Advocacy & Gov't. Affairs

Friday, March 27, 2009

Department of the Interior Business Opportunities Conference

The most important conference helping businesses take advantage of exciting opportunities
in the U.S. territories and in nations in "free association" with the United States, is back in Honolulu!

REGISTER TODAY!
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s
Fifth Conference on Business Opportunities in the Islands
April 6-8 2009
Sheraton Waikiki

Among the Featured Speakers
Lee Webber, President and Publisher, Honolulu Advertiser, and Chamber Board Member
Dr. Richard Kelley, Chairman of the Board, Outrigger Enterprises

The agenda is set,
Lt. General Wallace "Chip" Gregson, USMC (Ret)., Former Commander, Marine Forces Pacific,
Dr. Stephen Schneider of Stanford University, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with former Vice President Al Gore and a team of climatologists in 2007.

Also Confirmed
President Manny Mori of the Federated States of Micronesia ,
President Litokwa Tomeing of the Republic of the Marshall Islands
Governor Felix Camacho of Guam
Governor Benigno Fitial of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Governor Togiola Tulafono of American Samoa

Our agenda will also feature David Bice, Director of the Joint Guam Program Office; Tony Neil, Director of the Pacific Power Association; and Theodore Peck, Energy Administrator, Strategic Industries Division, Hawai’i DBEDT. We also expect U.S. Congressional representatives, senior U.S. military officials, and hundreds of business people from the insular areas, the freely associated states, the United States mainland, and around the Pacific Rim.

This year's agenda will feature discussions of opportunities across three major areas:

* Renewable Energy: Increasing energy efficiency and decreasing dependence on expensive imported oil represent major business opportunities. For the first time, a full track of four breakout sessions will be devoted to these projects. Over $45 billion was appropriated nationwide as part of the recent stimulus legislation for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
* Large-scale public infrastructure work, especially construction projects associated with the military construction on Guam: As part of the historic realignment of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, 8,000 Marines will be relocated from Okinawa to Guam. This will require over US$14 billion in new construction and procurement for infrastructure, as well as services to support the enlarged base. Construction is slated to begin in 2010.
* Tourism of all kinds: These areas are among the most pristine and beautiful islands in the Pacific, if not the world. They offer a wealth of opportunities for small and large-scale hotel/resort development aimed at a wide range of clientele. The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is helping plan the tourism track at the conference with the goal of increasing tourism opportunities on the islands and attracting more visitors.

On-line registration is open at www.IslandBusinessOpportunities.com

The conference will also include evening receptions, networking events and, most importantly, prearranged one-on-one meetings, offering participants an opportunity to meet directly to discuss joint ventures. For more information or to register, go to www.IslandBusinessOpportunities.com. For any questions, please contact Angie Williams at Angela_Williams@ios.doi.gov or at (202) 208-3003.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Membership Meeting

Aloha Members,

Our next membership meeting will be this coming Thursday, March 26, 2009 at Waimea Valley.

Our guest speaker will be Sherry Menor-McNamara, Vice President for Business Advocacy & Government Affairs at the main Chamber. She will be reviewing the legislative process and current bills in the legislature that will affect business. This is really important. As you know the Card Check bill is back again this year and could really hurt small business. Come and get informed!

A continental breakfast will be served by Waimea Valley Grill: $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers.

Thank you to our sponsor Chet Naylor of Shark’s Cove Grill for this meeting.

Mahalo,

Antya

Friday, February 27, 2009

Work Comp Bills Hearing on Tuesday

Aloha!

The House Labor Committee has already scheduled two workers' compensation bills that crossed over from the Senate. These bills are moving fast! If they pass the Labor Committee and the Finance Committee schedules them right away, the bills could be sent up to the Governor's office during session, meaning if the Governor vetoes the bills, the Legislature could still override the bills during session. The bills are:

SB 62 Workers' Comp (IME)

SB 695 Workers' Comp (Uninterrupted Medical Treatment)

These bills will be heard on Tuesday, March 3 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 309. Please encourage your members to submit testimony. Please feel free to use the Legislative Action Center website (http://www.cocaction.com/mx/hm.asp?id=LAC), which will enable your members to submit testimony instantly.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your support.

Sherry Menor-McNamara

Thursday, February 26, 2009

State Legislature is Increasing Taxes!

Dear Businesses and Members: I am forwarding main Chamber's email alert for your action.

"Hello all, Just wanted to give you a heads up on two tax-related bills scheduled for hearing on Thursday at 3 p.m. in the House Finance Committee. HB 1742 is a bill that will repeal certain general excise and use tax excise exemptions and exclusions. It also reduces the tax rate on sales to the final consumer from 4% to 3.5%. The bill would impose GET on wages, which are currently exempt. This would be imposed on gross wages, without any offset for deductions. It would therefore amount to the equivalent of a huge income tax increase.

My guess is that the tax burden of the imposition of GET on wages would be greater than the benefit of a reduced rate on retail purchases. Moreover, this increased tax burden would fall entirely on Hawaii residents, while visitors would just enjoy the benefit of the lower GET on retail purchases. Many of our organizations as well will be affected because this bill will remove the GET exemption from non-profit organizations.

Additionally, the bill eliminates the exemptions for non-profit hospitals, cemeteries, sale of prescription drugs and many other exemptions. Real property sales and sales of stocks and other securities which are now exempt, would become taxable for any business entity or individual engaged in a trade or business.

Finally this bill will impose the GET on export sales. HB 1548 is an omnibus tax bill to provide tax equity and stimulate the economy by increasing general excise tax rates, reducing the income tax rate and establishing a hotel and renovation tax credit. This bill increases the GE Tax by ½ %. We will not support the bill, however we will note that if it passes, then we will provide input as to what would be workable and fair.

I do not have a sample testimony to provide you as I am currently working on it, but if you can, please submit testimony regardless if it's a short letter. Here is a link to the hearing notice for HB 1742: http://capitol.hawaii.gov/session2009/hearingnotices/HEARING_FIN_02-26-09_6_.HTM and HB 1548: http://capitol.hawaii.gov/session2009/hearingnotices/HEARING_FIN_02-26-09_4_.HTM.

Thanks.
Sherry R. Menor-McNamara
Vice President, Business Advocacy & Gov't. Affairs
1132 Bishop Street, Suite 402
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Ph. 808-545-4300 x 394
www.cochawaii.org
Fax 808-545-4369
smenor@cochawaii.org


The Voice of Business in Hawaii

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Siren test

Aloha Members,

We need “spotters” (actually “listeners”) to help determine where the new localized sirens can be heard. The Dept of Emergency Mgmt is setting up a warning system that can be given to localized regions, as opposed to the whole island. This will help if Waialua and Haleiwa need to be warned about flooding or Wilson Dam breaking.

Please complete and send the form back to Alenka for Thursday morning’s test. If the dam were to break, it is predicted that both Haleiwa and Waialua would be severely compromised/ damaged.

Mahalo,
Antya

Friday, February 06, 2009

Pipeline Pro hoping to run today with 18-foot surf expected

The North Shore surfing scene was relatively quiet throughout the month of January, so several events are hoping for a rise in February.

Among the contests that could run this month:

• The HIC Pipeline Pro Trials men's surfing contest is expected to run at the Banzai Pipeline today, organizers announced late yesterday.

• The Turbo Pipeline Pro bodyboarding contest has a holding period of Feb. 16 to 27 at the Banzai Pipeline.

• The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational and the Bank of Hawaii North Shore Tow-In Championship are still awaiting for a giant swell to hit O'ahu.

More at the Honolulu Advertiser

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Come to Membership Meeting this Thursday, Jan. 29th 8:00 AM at Haleiwa Joe's

Aloha Members and Friends,

Our regular membership meeting will be Thursday the 29th 8 am at Haleiwa Joe’s.

The guest speaker will be Steve Abdalla of VR Business Brokers: “Recession Proofing Your Business.” Steve has a MBA from Stanford University and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. He is a Director of the Honolulu Executives Association and a member of the International Association of Business Brokers, Hawaii Chamber of Commerce, and Entrepreneurs Organization Hawaii. He has written numerous articles on business acquisitions and strategy that have been published in the Pacific Business News.

Haleiwa Joe’s will provide a continental breakfast. $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers. Remember to use the guest passes we send out in your welcome/thank you packets when you renew.

Hope to see you on Thursday!

Aloha,
Antya

Monday, January 12, 2009

Hidden gem on North Shore worth the effort

One of the island's most unique hikes, Kealia Trail and Access Road is also one of the most overlooked and unappreciated.

Sure, it's something of an acquired taste, but while its profile may not sound particularly attractive — a seemingly endless series of switchbacks at the start; steep climbs up a broad dirt trail; and close proximity to a popular hunting area — it does offer a great, elevated perspective of the activity around the bordering glider port, a safe but worthy challenge for trailrunners and other fitness buffs, and stunning views of Makua Valley and the Wai'anae Mountain range for hikers who don't mind also glancing at wire fences, shot-riddled hunting signs and an occasional water tank.

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