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
Friday, May 09, 2008
Monday, May 05, 2008
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
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
Friday, April 18, 2008
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.
Monday, April 14, 2008
'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!
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!
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
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
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
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Preservation Awareness Day
March 5, 2008Historic 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
Friday, March 07, 2008
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
* 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
Saturday, March 01, 2008
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
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
Friday, February 29, 2008
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.
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.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
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
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
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
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.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
North Shore January 2008 Meeting
Aloha Members and Friends,
Please see below the announcement for the upcoming meeting:
Chamber Meeting to Address Disaster Preparedness
The North Shore Chamber of Commerce will hold its quarterly General Membership meeting on Thursday January 31st at Haleiwa Joe's at 8:00AM.
The keynote speaker will be Dr. Leon Watson, consultant for Disaster Preparedness Planning. He will describe what the North Shore Hoomakaukau Emergency Preparedness grant will do, how you can begin to prepare yourself and family, and how you can become involved in this community project. This community-based effort to prepare the North Shore for disasters such as tsunami and hurricanes will hopefully become a blueprint for other communities in Hawaii. Dave Curtis and Ray Lovell from the State Civil Defense will also be speaking regarding their role in the process and how they will be working with our community on this project.
Also on the agenda will be a brief business meeting for the Chamber, an update by our elected officials, and how you can help Haleiwa become "green" presented by the Kokua Foundation.
Everyone is welcome to participate. A continental breakfast will be served: $5.00 for members and $10 for non-members. Please call the Chamber at 637-4558 for more information.
Hope to see you all there! This is a very important issue for all of us.
Aloha,
Antya
Please see below the announcement for the upcoming meeting:
Chamber Meeting to Address Disaster Preparedness
The North Shore Chamber of Commerce will hold its quarterly General Membership meeting on Thursday January 31st at Haleiwa Joe's at 8:00AM.
The keynote speaker will be Dr. Leon Watson, consultant for Disaster Preparedness Planning. He will describe what the North Shore Hoomakaukau Emergency Preparedness grant will do, how you can begin to prepare yourself and family, and how you can become involved in this community project. This community-based effort to prepare the North Shore for disasters such as tsunami and hurricanes will hopefully become a blueprint for other communities in Hawaii. Dave Curtis and Ray Lovell from the State Civil Defense will also be speaking regarding their role in the process and how they will be working with our community on this project.
Also on the agenda will be a brief business meeting for the Chamber, an update by our elected officials, and how you can help Haleiwa become "green" presented by the Kokua Foundation.
Everyone is welcome to participate. A continental breakfast will be served: $5.00 for members and $10 for non-members. Please call the Chamber at 637-4558 for more information.
Hope to see you all there! This is a very important issue for all of us.
Aloha,
Antya
Friday, November 09, 2007
Proposed wind farm in Kahuku
Mike Goodman of UPC Wind with Wren Wescott reported that UPC Wind built the wind farm currently on Maui, and within those one and a half years of operation the wind farm has generated about 9-10% of Maui 's electricity. UPC Wind is dedicated to wind farms across the country. The company builds, owns, and operates their wind farms – they are not just developers. Goodman noted that UPC Wind is committed to working with the surrounding neighbors, and highlighted several reasons why a wind farm is needed. Goodman also noted the several steps of building a wind farm, and welcomed anyone that would like to take a tour of the lands at any time.
Kokua Hawai'i Foundation program
The Kokua Hawai'i Foundation has some exciting news! Next year, as we celebrate Kokua Hawai'i Foundation and Kokua Festival’s 5th anniversary, we’ve added a unique program that could include your class or school. We are inviting Hawai'i elementary schools, grades K-6, to start or take part in a Kokua Earth Action Project. Groups submitting outstanding Kokua Earth Action Project proposals will be invited to participate in a Keiki Kokua Festival in 2008. All completed projects will be honored and showcased on our website. Proposals are due November 30. Find more info at www.kokuahawaiifoundation.org/keap.
Aloha,
The Kokua Hawaii Foundation
Aloha,
The Kokua Hawaii Foundation
Annual Christmas Party and Auction
Dear Members and Friends,
The North Shore Chamber of Commerce will be holding its annual Christmas Party and Auction Saturday December 1st, 2007 and hopefully you received your invitation and are planning to attend. The funds raised will go toward supporting the Chamber's programs throughout next year.
As part of this event, there will be a silent and live auction, for which we are asking donations. We hope that you will support this worthy cause by donating goods or services to the Chamber. Attached is a donation form, which must be filled out and accompany the donation to accurately describe and price the item.
You can fax the form to the office at 637-4556 and then we will arrange to pick up the item(s). If you need more information or have questions, please call Jack Walker at 926-3833 or Antya at 637-4558.
Good News! From 8:30 to 10:00 at the party we will have the Sea Ray Jazz Band with a guest appearance by Gabe Baltazar. Come prepared to listen to some great jazz and put on your danzing shoes after the program is over.
Sincerely,
Jack Walker, Auction Chair
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
The North Shore Chamber of Commerce will be holding its annual Christmas Party and Auction Saturday December 1st, 2007 and hopefully you received your invitation and are planning to attend. The funds raised will go toward supporting the Chamber's programs throughout next year.
As part of this event, there will be a silent and live auction, for which we are asking donations. We hope that you will support this worthy cause by donating goods or services to the Chamber. Attached is a donation form, which must be filled out and accompany the donation to accurately describe and price the item.
You can fax the form to the office at 637-4556 and then we will arrange to pick up the item(s). If you need more information or have questions, please call Jack Walker at 926-3833 or Antya at 637-4558.
Good News! From 8:30 to 10:00 at the party we will have the Sea Ray Jazz Band with a guest appearance by Gabe Baltazar. Come prepared to listen to some great jazz and put on your danzing shoes after the program is over.
Sincerely,
Jack Walker, Auction Chair
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
Thursday, August 10, 2006
City's mowing, weed trimming appreciated
Honolulu Advertiser
Sunset Beach
This letter is to acknowledge and say thank you for the frequent mowing and weed trimming along Kamehameha Highway on the North Shore.
Also, the recent weed trimming of the ocean-view areas such as Waimea Bay expose our breathtaking views. The most recent and very noticeable job was the trimming of the bike path foliage. The piles of cuttings were daunting, but they were picked up within two weeks.
The city and county is doing a wonderful job of maintaining our area and I really appreciate it.
Mary Jo BuellSunset Beach
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Lingle is First Governor to Visit North Shore
Governor Lingle attended the North Shore Chamber of Commerce annual installation dinner. As the first sitting Governor to visit the Chamber, the Governor assisted in the installation of five new officers and addressed issues facing the state, including energy self-sufficiency, crime prevention, affordable housing and homelessness, tax relief, and disaster preparedness. The Governor also thanked North Shore farmers for "preserving a rural lifestyle and open spaces" and for their contributions to the State's economy.
Governor's eNewsletter May 20-26, 2006
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Governor Lingle to Attend First Installation Dinner of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce
The North Shore Chamber of Commerce will hold its first annual Installation Dinner at the Waimea Valley Audubon Center on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 from 6:30 to 10:00 pm. The Honorable Governor Linda Lingle will be the North Shore's special guest and speaker for the evening!
"This is a huge honor for the Chamber and the North Shore and we're very excited to have the Governor as our guest, " said Chamber President Kalani Fronda. The theme of the event will be "Flavors of the North Shore," and will highlight what makes the North Shore so special: agriculture and other products grown or produced on the North Shore.
What: North Shore Chamber of Commerce's Installation Dinner, "Flavors of the North Shore."
When/Program: Wednesday, May 24th at 6:30pm: no-host cocktails, buffet dinner highlighting food produced on the North Shore, entertainment, and a display of agriculture products grown on North Shore.
Where: The Pikake Pavilion at the Waimea Valley Audubon Center
Prices:
• Individual tickets: $50 for members; $60 for non-members. Must be prepaid by May 10th 5pm; no sales at the door and no admittance if not prepaid.
• Corporate Table: $400 for a table of 8
• Sponsor Table: $1000 for a table of 8
For more information, call Antya at the North Shore Chamber of Commerce at 637-4558 or go to www.GoNorthShore.org.
"This is a huge honor for the Chamber and the North Shore and we're very excited to have the Governor as our guest, " said Chamber President Kalani Fronda. The theme of the event will be "Flavors of the North Shore," and will highlight what makes the North Shore so special: agriculture and other products grown or produced on the North Shore.
What: North Shore Chamber of Commerce's Installation Dinner, "Flavors of the North Shore."
When/Program: Wednesday, May 24th at 6:30pm: no-host cocktails, buffet dinner highlighting food produced on the North Shore, entertainment, and a display of agriculture products grown on North Shore.
Where: The Pikake Pavilion at the Waimea Valley Audubon Center
Prices:
• Individual tickets: $50 for members; $60 for non-members. Must be prepaid by May 10th 5pm; no sales at the door and no admittance if not prepaid.
• Corporate Table: $400 for a table of 8
• Sponsor Table: $1000 for a table of 8
For more information, call Antya at the North Shore Chamber of Commerce at 637-4558 or go to www.GoNorthShore.org.
Aloha and welcome to the North Shore of Oahu
Renowned for its legendary beaches, Haleiwa is a favorite refuge for Hawaii’s residents and a must-see for visitors.
Nowhere else on Oahu will you find quaint shops and cafes housed in plantation-era buildings less than five miles from world-famous surf spots. More info...
From the vast pineapple plantations near Wahiawa, to the tropical orchards of Waialua, to the more than colorful atmosphere of Haleiwa town, there's plenty to do and see. Travel down the road and you come upon the world-renowned beaches of Pipeline, Sunset Beach, and of course Waimea Bay. Take a hike in Waimea Valley or explore Peacock Flats in Mokuleia on the Waianae Range. Stop by a roadside stand in Kahuku and pick up a fresh papaya or savor a fresh catch shrimp plate. Catch an authentic Polynesian canoe pageant at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, and you have the makings of a fun-filled time on the North Shore.
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