BY SEN. SAM SLOM – Final Call for Breakfast With Ben. Only a few seats remain for the SBH Sunrise Networking Breakfast with former Governor, Honolulu Mayoral candidate, author, and staunch rail opponent, Ben Cayetano, next Thursday, March 29, 7-8:30 am in the Pineapple Room, Macy’s Ala Moana Center. The event WILL be sold out. Call Darlyn (396-1724) TODAY to reserve. No bullets allowed.
Vicky Da Best. Another Cayetano, Vicky Cayetano, has been named “Sales Person of the Year” by the Sales & Marketing Executives association. Mrs. Cayetano is the successful business owner of United Laundry and very active in many community events.
Occupy the Capitol. Occupy Honolulu, FACE (Hawaii’s ACORN), special interest groups and other community activists, jammed the Capitol atrium from 4-9 pm yesterday. They were spreading their word for “economic fairness,” “Rebuilding the Dream,” and support of a state bank. Former Obama energy activist, Van Jones, joined the event. It was Jones who was forced to resign from the Obama Administration several years ago because of his anti-market activism, slurs about Republicans and others, and dirty tricks. His dream must be different from yours. The state that can’t fix potholes, educate our keiki, improve the business climate or control its own spending would operate a bank with taxpayer funds run by politicians? And you think Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are corrupt.
Second Amendment Rights. Local resident Chris Baker’s Concealed Carry Lawsuit against the City and County of Honolulu will be heard at 10 a.m. today, Wednesday, March 21, at the Federal District Courthouse in the downtown Federal building. Hawaii is one of a only a few states that do not permit concealed carry.
Lights Out? The six-year old local hui, KUOKOA, is trying to raise funds to buy out Hawaiian Electric Co. (HECO) according to Alan Tang, the firm’s CSO. The estimated cost is more than $2.3 billion..
New Judges. Supreme Court CJ Mark Recktenwald has nominated two new judges: Shirley M. Kawamura and Paul B.K. Wong in the Hawaii District Court of the First Circuit on Oahu. Both must be confirmed by the State Senate.
No Do-Nut For You. Announcing major new development plans into several western markets in the US, Dunkin’ Donuts will not include Hawaii in those plans and Hawaii won’t get a store in the near future. It was the late Maurice Sullivan who first brought DD to Hawaii in 1968-along with McDonald’s..
AT&T, IPad Score. On Friday, March 16, AT&T set a new single-day record for its iPad sales and activations, demonstrating robust demand for the new iPad on the nation’s largest 4G network, covering nearly 250 million people. A few days later, Apple stock surpassed an all-time high of $601 per share, plus a dividend.
Plastics. Next Wednesday, March 28, the Hawaii Conservation Alliance will sponsor a speech by Stuart Coleman of the Surfrider Foundation, on, “Surfrider Rise Above Plastics Campaign,” 5:30 pm at ING Direct Café in Waikiki. Bring a plastic bag for good luck.
Have It Your Way. Wendy’s with only 6 Hawaii outlets, has overtaken Burger King (34 outlets) in total Hawaii sales. McDonald’s continues to dominate.
“Save Our Honolulu” A Fundraiser for the “Save Our Honolulu” lawsuit. You are invited to an evening of wine, pupus, and good conversation to “Save Our Honolulu” from the worst environmental blight and the most expensive project in Hawaii’s history. This Saturday, March 24th from 6:00 to 8:00pm, Rob and Ann Burns residence, 12 Poipu Place, Portlock. All proceeds will go to the lawsuit to defend Honolulu from elevated rail transit in downtown Honolulu.
There will be some beautiful planters for purchase and Juan de Villbes will entertain with his classical guitar. Cost $100 per person (80% deductible). Reserve your space to bobbie60@hawaii.rr.com. If you cannot come, please send a tax deductable check to: SBH Education Foundation Rail Fund, 6600 Kalanianaole Hwy, Suite 212, Honolulu HI 96825.
Color Me Dumb. How dumb does the City Administration and HART think we taxpayers are? First they refuse to provide information, then they decline to debate the rail issue, then hide emails from them and the Feds and now they give us a rail coloring book-all at taxpayer expense.
Auto Show Coming. The annual First Hawaiian Bank International Auto Show will be held March 30 – April 1 at the Hawaii Convention Center. Special rates for military on Saturday; general admission is $8.
Sunny Honolulu? Mayor Peter Carlisle announced that Sunshine Review, a national nonprofit group that promotes government transparency, has honored the City with a “Sunny Award” for maintaining one of the most transparent government websites in America.
“Our commitment to transparency is serious and will continue,” Carlisle said. “We’re very pleased that the City team’s continuing efforts to make government open, accessible and accountable have been recognized.”
Of more than 6,000 state and local government websites ranked, only 214 earned a Sunny Award. The City’s site, www.honolulu.gov, is “an example of transparency” that ranked high on the group’s checklist, Sunshine Review said.
Grading takes into account the proactive disclosure of information regarding budgets, meetings, elected and administrative officials, permits and zoning, audits, contracts, lobbying, public records, and taxes, as well as the ease of use and availability of information.
“The Sunny Awards recognizes governments that are doing an exemplary job at proactively disclosing information to taxpayers,” said Michael Barnhart, President of Sunshine Review. “There are so many organizations and associations that highlight what is wrong with government. We at Sunshine Review are proud to acknowledge those who are doing it right and setting a transparency standard that all governments can, and should, meet.”
The Sunny Awards coincide with Sunshine Week, recognized March 11 through 17, 2012 by the American Society of Newspaper Editors, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and other groups that promote government transparency.
Click here to see a complete list of the 2012 Sunny Award recipients.
TSA Abuses. “The Freedom to Travel USA” (SCR 15) resolution submitted to curb numerous and recurring TSA abuses of airline passengers in Hawaii, passed a Senate transportation and public safety committee hearing Monday. Many local folks huhu at the TSA groping here.
Always On? My home phone had been out of service for 12 days. My neighbors in Hawaii Kai and elsewhere on Oahu too. The previous storm created a lot of havoc even with undergrounded wiring. Hawaiian Telcom says it’s, “Always On.” But maybe, like that cable tv channel, “Slightly Off.” We will get a refund for non-service, right?
Join Us! Is YOUR business a member of SBH? No? What? Call Darlyn today (808-396-1724) or go online to www.smartbusinesshawaii.com.
Point-Counterpoint on KHVH. Tune in Tuesdays 7-8 am to the Rick Hamada show on KHVH radio (830 am) to hear Senate Democrat Majority Leader Brickwood Galuteria and me tackle the legislative issues at the State Capitol. Call in at 521-8383.
Real News. Go to www.HawaiiReporter.com, for the real news. HR, founded by Malia Zimmerman, 10 years ago continues to break major investigative stories. Tune in to KHVH every week day at 7:40 am to hear Malia’s report.
Want more local business information? Please visit the several SBH websites at: www.smartbusinesshawaii.com, www.educate808.com and www.sbhfoundation.org.