North Shore Chamber of Commerce's Inaugural Business Expo Sponsored by First Hawaiian Bank

Aloha Members and Friends,

I hope that all of you will participate in our inaugural Business Expo. It should be great. We have wonderful seminars and speakers lined up, there will be a dynamite keynote speaker (Mayor is invited), a great luncheon speaker, and exciting exhibitors making North Shore businesses and residents aware of their products. NOT to mention, that the food and company will be great too! For members, you can get an exhibitor booth for $180 if you pay by October 1st. If the fee is a little too much for you, look for someone you can partner with on the booth. It will make staffing easier too. If you "just" want to attend, members only pay $20!! $20 will pay for a continental breakfast, lunch, entrance to Exhibitor Booths and the Cocktail Reception/Business After Hours.

This event will help businesses in many, many ways. So, please sign up today! Registration form, event flyer, and seminar signup form are all available on the chamber website.

Mahalo,

Antya Miller, Executive Director
North Shore Chamber of Commerce

Green Drinks Haleiwa

WHEN: Every THIRD THURSDAY of the month...so come down this Thursday, September 18th~ 6:00-8:00 pm

WHERE: BREAKERS in Haleiwa (North Shore Marketplace) Oahu.

WHO: This month is hosted by the North Shore Chamber of Commerce: www.GoNorthShore.org

WHAT: A very casual after work happy hour (or two)!

WHY: Come enjoy your friends, neighbors and community over drinks & pupus....

*More info on GREEN DRINKS around the world at: www.GreenDrinks.org*

September 20th Dinner Dance

Aloha,
Please join us on Saturday, September 20th at Waimea Valley, Pikake Pavilion, for A Night of Dancing with Sea Ray Jazz Quartet featuring Gabe Baltazar. Doors open at 7:00 p.m., with music at 8:00 p.m.

Presale tickets are $10.00 and available at Grasss Skirt Grill, Kai Ku Hale and Surf N Sea. $15.00 at the door.

Full bar and food available for purchase by Waimea Valley Grill.

Mahalo!

Antya Miller, Executive Director
North Shore Chamber of Commerce

Development, housing key issues in District 46

Experienced foes pose big primary challenge for incumbent Magaoay

The race for House District 46 (Kahuku, North Shore, Schofield) is a five-candidate contest that could ultimately end up pitting two longtime political foes against each other for a fourth time: incumbent Democrat Michael Magaoay and his perennial Republican opponent, Carol Philips.

But before Philips or Magaoay can square off against each other in the Nov. 4 general election, they must first overcome what could be formidable opposition in their own party primaries.

More at the Honolulu Advertiser

First Haleiwa Art Walk - Saturday, July 26th

The North Shore Chamber of Commerce is assisting with the start of a monthly event that we are calling "Haleiwa Art Walk" that will be held the last Saturday of every month. It is similar to "First Friday" events which are great events that many Main Streets across the country use to promote the arts in their towns. Patty Golden of Scoop of Paradise is the spark plug for getting the event started. The first event will be held Saturday the 26th from 6 to 9pm. We encourage the merchants to offer specials, sidewalk sales/events and demonstrations and stay open until 9:00 PM that night.

The purpose of this event is to bring shoppers to your business! We want North Shore and Oahu locals, as well as visitors, to enjoy discovering art in Haleiwa. Support our "Buy Local" campaign by buying from our North Shore merchants!

HOW MERCHANTS CAN PARTICIPATE:
. Dress your store up the last Saturday of each month! We hope that this event will grow to the point that there will be 100% participation in staying open until 9pm.
. Have a sidewalk sale and/or demonstrations/music the evening of the Art Walk. Merchants feel this is the best way to advertise the town.
. Advise customers to park in Haleiwa and walk the town. Parking is available at Haleiwa Shopping Plaza, North Shore Market Place and Waialua Community Association.
. Let us know if you want to participate in this monthly event by calling or emailing us.

For more information or to participate, call the Chamber at 637-4558 or contact Patty Golden at 637-2284.

North Shore restaurants featured in Honolulu Weekly

The annual Honolulu Food & Drink edition of the Honolulu Weekly newspaper features many on the North Shore for their excellence. The June 4, 2008 edition picks some of the favorites of Honolulu restaurants, bars, wagons, food, farms, drinks and markets as a "mele of taste."

Here's some of the North Shore businesses featured:

Romy's Kahuku Prawns & Shrimp, Inc.
The little truck that could. The Aguinaldo family is proving that vision, hard work and family support can manifest in a thriving aquaculture business.

El Palenque
Buen sabor. Serving handmade foods, Armida Duarte's family creates feisty and faithful Mexican dishes at El Palenque.

Turtle Bay Resort
Kua 'aina breakfast. Going North Shore is all about getting outdoors, swimming in the misty rain, hiking in the hills. The Palm Terrace at Turtle Bay offers the fresh fruits you love and some you've never seen before.

Kahuku Superette
No limit poke. "Kahuku Superette 'ahi poke bowl... to die for," says Mark Cunningham, resident of nearby Kawela Bay and member of Defend Oahu Coalition.

Kahuku Corn Stand
Stand no deliver. Drive north along Kamehameha Highway 2.2 miles past Sunset Beach and you'll see the Kahuku Corn Stand on the mauka side of the road.

For the full list and story, visit the Honolulu Weekly website.

Release of funding for Disaster Preparedness Grant-in-Aid

Aloha Members,

Attached for your information is a letter to the Governor to release the $100,000 grant-in aid funds for North Shore Disaster Preparedness and Training. The funds need to be released by the end of the month or funding will lapse. Please write, fax, or call the Governor by the end of day on Tuesday the 24th to release the funding. Please download the attached sample letter for your use.




Governor's Office:
Phone: 586-0034
Fax: 586-0006

We really appreciate your taking the time to help out on this.

Mahalo,
Antya

Antya Miller, Executive Director
North Shore Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 878, Haleiwa, HI 96712
Historic Haleiwa Gym, 66-434 Kamehameha Hwy.
Phone: (808) 637-4558 Fax: (808) 637-4556
Email: info@GoNorthShore.org
Website: www.GoNorthShore.org

Governor signs bill to acquire Turtle Bay

With North Shore business and environmental leaders looking on in approval, Gov. Linda Lingle last night signed a bill into law authorizing the state to acquire the Turtle Bay Resort and keep some of the undeveloped land in preservation.
Advertisement

The bill signing at a North Shore Chamber of Commerce banquet in Waimea Valley was a ceremonial yet important moment for an idea that began as a surprise in the governor's State of the State speech in January.

More at the Honolulu Advertiser

Reserve the Date! Governor Lingle Confirmed for Installation Dinner on June 4th!

Aloha Members,
We've just confirmed that Governor Lingle will attend our annual Installation Dinner Wednesday, June 4th 2008. The theme will be “A Sustainable Future for the North Shore .” One hears the word “sustainable” all the time now, but what would a sustainable future look like? A 21st century economy and jobs, “Being Green” and “Buying Locally” with food grown on the North Shore would all be a part of that future.

The children of today will determine what happens tomorrow. Well-educated, innovative young people will be needed to make a sustainable future happen….young people like the Kahuku High and Intermediate School ’s “We the People” team that just took the state championship and represented Hawaii at the national competition in Washington D.C. This team has been state champions 14 out of 15 years and will be honored at the dinner.

This event is a time when you can see old friends, make new ones, network and have a great time. Please join us.

When: Wednesday June 4th from 6:00 to 9:30pm; 6:00pm: no-host cocktails and displays. 7pm dinner and program

Where: Waimea Valley Pikake Pavilion

Who: The Honorable Governor Linda Lingle will be the keynote speaker and the Kahuku High and Intermediate School's “We the People Team” will be honored. The new Board of Directors will be installed: Marianne Abrigo, Bob Boyle, Karen Campbell, Ed D’Ascoli, Jane Duncan, Kalani Fronda, Norman Fujioka, Josh Heimowitz, Susan Lau, Mike Lyons, Susan Matsushima, Michael Moon, Johnny Moore, Chet Naylor, and Paul Saccoccio.

Prices: Individual tickets: $50 each for members; $60 each for non-members. Corporate Tables $500 and Sponsor Tables $1000. Tables seat eight people

Invitations will be mailed soon. Call me at 637-4558 if you have any questions.

Aloha,
Antya

We Need Your Support Now to Preserve the Telephone Exchange Building to Help Your Business

Aloha Members and Friends,

Your help is needed now! We are getting close to having all the permits we need to move the Telephone Exchange Building. It will be the new home of the Chamber, an information center with a historical display, and it will have your promotional materials available to people/visitors requesting information. The Ace Hardware owners need to have the building moved as soon as possible, but at the most within six weeks. We have been going through the permitting process for over a year now and they want to be able to get their store expansion project under way.

However, we still need an additional $15,000 to cover the cost of building a new foundation and getting the building moved to the new site. While this is a large amount, we are confident we can raise the necessary funds in the next few weeks. We have just received two very generous matching fund donations. One is from an anonymous donor of $7500. The second a $4500 donation from Jack Tyrrell, Rainee Barkhorn Foundation's President. So with an additional $3000, we will have enough money to receive both of these matching gifts and have the $15,000 needed to get the building to the new site!

Once the building is moved, we will head into our final stage of fundraising to get the building operational. One great way to participate in this fundraising campaign is to Donate $100 for a Brick! We will be building a red brick walkway to the front porch of the relocated building with engraved bricks with your own personal message on it. Please use the attached forms to make a donation by May 31st!

I would also like to recognize other major donors that have previously donated to this effort: Atherton Foundation, Bob Fox of Fox Hawaii, Kamehameha Schools, Lee Bryant of North Shore Equipment Rentals, South Pacific Design Center, and Joe Green from Surf and Sea for cash and in-kind donations.

Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions. Thank you for your support of this important project that will provide a much-needed, valuable service to you and our community!

Mahalo,

Antya

Free Kidney Screening

"On Saturday, May 3rd, Representative Michael Magaoay, 46th District, will be sponsoring a free kidney screening in conjunction with the National Kidney Foundation, at Lili'uokalani Church in Haleiwa, from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon. Kidney disease is of critical concern in our state; this particular screening is very inclusive and would normally run an individual over $400.00. The National Kidney Foundation does an excellent job; people should take advantage of the program and early detection may delay or prevent the onset of kidney disease. If you would like to sign-up for the kidney screening, please call Representative Magaoay's office, 586-6380, to schedule a time on Saturday, May 3rd.

'Card Check' Bill: Are you impacted?

Dear Chamber Member,

You are receiving this e-mail either because you may be directly impacted by this bill or if the bill passes, it sets a precedence and provides momentum towards the national movement which will have far-reaching implications and change the scope of how business is done, which in turn, will affect your business and your employees’ free choice in determining labor representation.

HB 2974 denies employees the right to a secret ballot election when deciding whether or not to have a union representation in the workplace and forces arbitration if the employer and union cannot come to an agreement with a certain time period. This bill currently applies to some small businesses, non-profits and agricultural workers.

If vetoed, the Legislature can still override the bill during session. We’ve been sending “Action Alerts” and e-newsletters on this bill, however, we cannot stress enough how important it is for you to take action and send letters to your legislators.

We are running out of time. Please take action via one of the following ways by this Wednesday:

"do not override the veto" letter to your legislators (pre-written message provided) – preferable action

"give permission" to list your company on the Chamber letter to the legislators requesting them not to override the veto

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

Sincerely,
Sherry Menor-McNamara

PARTICIPATE: ENHANCE YOUR STANCE!

URGENT ACTION NEEDED on Bill Eliminating Secret Ballot for Union Elections

Aloha Members,
I am forwarding an Action Alert from the main Chamber that requires your immediate action. Please read below and contact the Governor to veto HB 2974. I've also written a summary of the bill with contact info for legislators. Please act today!

Mahalo,
Antya


MONDAY REPORT - From Chamber President Jim Tollefson – April 7, 2008

Card Check Bill Action Alert!

Last Friday we had a very successful “Walk Around the State Capitol” with over 20 business leaders and chamber representatives meeting legislators and voicing their concerns. Through many of the conversations it became apparent that legislators are looking to hear from the business community and were in need of input from business leaders and their constituents. With only 18 days left (not including weekends) in the session, the time is now.

One bill, HB2974 HD2 regarding labor, also known as the card check bill is in need of your URGENT attention. This bill denies employees the right to a secret ballot election in determining whether or not to have union representation in the workplace and additionally forces arbitration if the parties cannot come to an agreement within a certain time period.

We believe it is the employee’s fundamental right to cast their vote privately, without the undue pressure from management and labor. Secret balloting is part of the democratic process which ensures fairness and the freedom of choice. In fact, the US Chamber of Commerce stated in testimony a poll by Zogby International, where 84% of union members expressed that employees should have the right to specifically vote on whether to join a union. They themselves recognize that secret ballot elections are the fairest solution. Despite this, the card check process continues to be a top issue.

Although the Card Check Bill currently applies to limited categories, such as agricultural employers, and small businesses and non-profits with less than $500,000 in gross annual revenues and not involved in interstate commerce (click here to see additional categories), if passed, it will set a negative precedence impacting both employees and employers. Also, it will provide momentum towards the national movement which will have far-reaching implications for business and change the scope of how business is done.

It is important to take action and ask Governor Lingle to VETO HB2974. The Governor has until April 14th to veto this bill. It is also important to contact your legislators, because if Governor Lingle vetoes the bill, legislators can still override the veto during session. This bill could potentially become law within the next couple of weeks, so take action now. Click here to send a veto letter to the Governor AND click here to send a letter to your legislators to sustain the veto. Visit the Legislative Action Center for more information.

You vote for your legislators, so make sure they hear from you. The more voices, the more attention we bring to the issues impacting our businesses. We look forward to hearing your voice at the Capitol. Inaction will cost us if we as business leaders do not take action and use our voice.



Work Readiness

As Chairman of the Oahu Workforce Investment Board, I wanted to share the following event regarding employee work readiness.

On April 25, 2008 from 9:00am to 11:00am at the Mission Memorial Auditorium the Oahu Workforce Investment Board will be holding an event to preview a state of the art assessment tool customized for Hawaii employers that tests Work Readiness. The assessment provides employers the ability to have greater accuracy in hiring, reduced recruitment costs, minimized employee turnover, and improved employee performance.

The event is Free but space is limited. So sign up today. RSVP by April 22, 2008 at 768-7759 or email amachida@honolulu.gov.

Final Decking “Walk Around the Capitol” Friday April 25, 2008 10:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. RSVP to Courtney at cmenard@cochawaii.org by April 24th .

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 383
Fax 808-545-4369
www.cochawaii.org

Preservation Awareness Day

March 5, 2008

Historic Hawaii Foundation (HHF) sponsored a recent event to bring awareness to the legislature of the importance of Historic Preservation and preserving our heritage. Haleiwa Main Street had a table displaying some of the North Shore's historic buildings including four that are on the National and State Registers.

Kiersten Faulkner, Executive Director of Historic Hawaii Foundation, Antya Miller, Chamber Executive Director and Sen. Bob Bunda at Preservation Awareness Day at Capitol.
Tonia Moy, a director of HHF and a past employee of the State Historic Preservation Division, stands in front of HMS's table at Preservation Awareness Day Event at Capitol

USDA Rural Development Invites Applications for Renewable Energy Loans and Grants

* Only rural small businesses (http://www.sba.gov/size/index.html) or farmers/ranchers are eligible to apply.
* Non-profits, units of government, and institutions of higher education are not eligible.
* Everyplace, except the Honolulu CDP (Red Hill to Makapuu Point, S and W of the crest of the Koolau Mts.) is considered "rural" for this program.
* Residential use is not allowed.
* Funds can be used to purchase and install a renewable energy system (Biomass, Anaerobic Digester, Geothermal (electric generation and direct use), Hydrogen, Wind, Solar (photovoltaic and thermal) and/or make Energy Efficiency Improvements.

USDA will issue one grant solicitation for two separate competitions in FY 2008. For the first competitive window, grant-only applications must be submitted no later than April 15, 2008. (All submissions must be received at the applicable office by 4:30 p.m. local time on the deadline date.)

For the second competitive window, grant-only applications must be submitted no earlier than April 16, 2008, and no later than June 16, 2008. Applications for loan guarantees, as well as those for loan/grant combinations must be completed and submitted to the appropriate USDA Rural Development State Office no later than June 16, 2008.

Guaranteed loan applications will be received and processed, on a rolling basis, until June 16, 2008, or funds are exhausted, whichever occurs first.

Combination packages will also be received and processed on a rolling basis until June 16, 2008. However, due to the grant component, competitive scoring of combination packages will take place on a bi-weekly basis.

To ensure equitable competition, and high quality projects, the grant portion of any combination package must score at least 70 percent of the available points (minimum of 84 points), of which at least 24 points must be for technical merit.

FY08 Funding:

Grants: $15,888,000
Guaranteed Loans: $204,953,560.

http://frwebgate3.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=84357326689+0+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve

Eligible applicants may seek loan guarantees to cover up to 50 percent of a project’s cost, not to exceed $10 million. Grants are available for up to 25 percent of a project’s cost, not to exceed $250,000 for energy efficiency improvements and $500,000 for renewable energy systems.

Fifty percent of the appropriated grant funding ($7.944M) will be reserved for the first grant-only competition. Any unused grant only funds from the first competition will be made available for the second grant-only competition.

Application Tips:

* Read the directions in the funding notice.
* Follow the directions.
* Ask for help, clarity.
* Don’t wait until the last minute.
* If you don’t at first succeed, try, try again.

Resources
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill/index.html
USDA/Rural Development

http://hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/energy
DBEDT—Strategic Industries Division

http://www.eere.energy.gov/
DOE/Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

http://www.hawaiisenergyfuture.com/
Hawaii’ Energy Future

* Template for completing the Technical Reports (under $200K in total project costs).
* Application guides--grant only; guaranteed loan; combination loan/grant

Chamber's Position on Turtle Bay Resort's Proposed Expansion

Aloha Members,

I am writing to inform you of a motion that was passed at our February Board of Directors Meeting and share some of the general feelings of the board. The motion that I am referring to is as follows:

"The Board of Directors of the NSCOC previously decided to NOT take a position on the proposed Turtle Bay Resort expansion. However at the recent January membership meeting, a motion was presented and passed which does not reflect the position of the board nor its entire membership."

As stated in the motion, the board had previously discussed the proposed expansion of the Turtle Bay Resort and felt that as a Chamber of Commerce it would be inappropriate to take a position in this situation. The Chamber's key role is to support business and educate members regarding issues.

Here are the circumstances that led to the above action. At the general membership meeting on Jan 31st a motion was made, in accordance with our Bylaws, to amend our meeting agenda to include a discussion about Turtle Bay . The motion was seconded and we allotted 5 minutes on our agenda to discuss this item. When we reached this item on the agenda the following motion was made and passed:

"The North Shore Chamber supports the existing Turtle Bay Hotel and Operations and opposes the full expansion plan as proposed.”

As I have already stated above, the board does not feel it appropriate to take a position in this situation. Furthermore, I feel while the motions made at the membership meeting were within the guidelines of our bylaws, it was not a fair and open way to deal with this issue. If the Chamber is going to take positions of this nature, I would expect that we would provide a forum to hear from both sides and make our entire membership aware that we would be having this type of discussion. I am not suggesting we do this, rather pointing out that this motion was made and passed without due diligence.

Please feel free to contact me or any of our board members should you want to comment on this issue.

Mahalo,

Josh D. Heimowitz
Chairman
North Shore Chamber of Commerce
Phone: 637-4615 Ext. 32

California Container Tax is Back

The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii - The Voice of Business in Hawaii, is actively asking for businesses in Hawaii to call upon Governor Lingle to ask Governor Swartzenegger not to pass the California Container Tax bill.

Last year, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii advocated against a bill that was going through the California State Legislature. SB 974, also known as the California Container Tax bill, imposed a $30 fee on each 20 ft. equivalent unit. This came out to approximately $68 million in additional costs on consumers in Hawaii.

At the last minute, the author of the bill, Senator Lowenthal shelved the bill. We were recently informed that the bill has been removed from the inactive list Because the bill has gone through the process with unanimous support, the bill will soon go for a full Assembly vote. If passed, the bill will be sent to the Governor, who has indicated that he intends to sign the bill into law.

The estimated $68 million, however, is in addition to other fees that have already been approved and will take effect beginning in October and onward. So, Hawaii could face over $100 million in additional fees to ship goods to and from our state.

Please see the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii website for more information.

USDA Solar Grant presentation

Dear Members an Friends,
This is an announcement pertaining to a grant program for renewable energy
systems (including solar). If you are interested in converting your
business to solar, this informational session may be helpful to you. The
meeting at the Haleiwa Gym is Wednesday the 20th at 7 pm in Cottage #2.

Mahalo,
Antya

Tim Oconnell of the USDA Rural Development Hilo Office Will be presenting an informational talk on the upcoming USDA Rural Development Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Guaranteed Loan and Grant Program.Topics will include eligibility requirements, project parameters, and tips for submitting a successful application. The session is interactive and questions are encouraged.

USDA Rural Development
Federal Building, Rm. 311
154 Waianuenue Ave.
Hilo, HI 96720
Phone: (808) 933-8313
tim.oconnell@hi.usda.gov

Dave Matthews joins Jack Johnson at the fifth annual Kokua Festival

Hawaii's own Jack Johnson is proud to share the stage with Dave Matthews at the Fifth Annual Kokua Festival on Earth Day weekend – April 19th and 20th, 2008 – at the Waikiki Shell in Honolulu, Hawaii. For his first Hawaii appearance ever, Dave Matthews will be performing an acoustic set with guitar master Tim Reynolds. The festival's incredible music line-up will be rounded out with local island favorites Paula Fuga and Go Jimmy Go, and Brushfire Records' latest addition, the Hawaii-born, Minneapolis-based Mason Jennings.

North Shore Membership Meeting - January 2008

Photos from our January 31st membership meeting. Dr. Watson is one of the consultants for the Disaster Preparedness State Grant in Aid; Ray Lovell and Dave Curtis are from the State Civil Defense; Candice is from Muscular Dystrophy Association of Hawaii; and Katie Pere and Kim Johnson from Kokua Hawaii Foundation and Plastic Free Haleiwa.