BY SEN. SAM SLOM, R-HAWAII KAI – May Day. Yesterday was May Day, which is Lei Day in Hawaii Nei, but around the world, May Day is celebrated as a communist holiday. The various “occupy” groups around the country announced they were going to shut down capitalism yesterday but it is still standing. Lei Day is nicer.
The Marines Are Coming! About 2,700 of the 9,000 marines being redeployed from Okinawa, will come to Hawaii according to the Governorand Senator Inouye. Both welcome the Marines-and their families-to Hawaii but neglected to mention we are trying to kick out more than 108,000 military personnel on Oahu for reapportionment purposes. That is what the lawsuit is all about on May 18. Hawaii seems to say we want you here for the business you generate but not for being American citizens entitled to Constitutional rights. The state should lose that 14th amendment lawsuit (equal protection-one man one vote) in a few weeks.
Farmers on the Move. The State Department of Transportation, on advice from the Attorney General, has told the Haleiwa Farmers Market they must leave their current popular North Shore location by May 13. Can’t we have a series of extensions like in the Legislature??
Carey on Biz. Outrigger Enterprises CEO David Carey lit up the SBH Sunrise Networking Breakfast last Thursday with a discussion of Hawaii’s visitor industry and Hawaii’s regulated business climate. On tourism,Carey said while revenues and visitors are up, so are costs (taxes, regulations, etc.) so the marginal profit is not as large as the media often report. On business climate, Carey read off a long list of regulatory costs that pull down the industry’s bottom line.
Salaries Down. The Star-Advertiser published its annual survey of highest paid executives in Hawaii last Sunday. Sadly, most CEOs have taken pay cuts of 20-25% since last year. Leading the list is Connie Lauof Hawaiian Electric Industries, who must scrape by on just $5.2 million annually. That is twice the amount of her nearest CEO. Everyone at HECO (execs) is well paid and well taken care of by State Legislators.
UH Football Tickets. Tickets for the 2012 UH football season are in the mail. The new season features new head coach Norm Chow, new Mountain West Conference and plenty of high hopes. Uh-oh, first game (September 1) is against USC in LA. Go ‘bows (I mean Warriors).
Punt? The NFL is being cagey about where and if there will even be a Pro Bowl next year (2013). Stay tuned.
White House Comedy? People still buzzing about last Saturday’s annual White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington. It was carried live on MSNBC and featured jokes by jokemaster B. Obama and ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel. Comedy? It was sometimes brutal, sometimes comedic. There seemed to be more politicians and Hollywood celebs in attendance than correspondents. Obama really went after Romney and Republicans;Kimmel tried to be more bi-partisan. A lot of the material just seemed petty and mean.
Plate Lunch Games. Saw the flick, “Hunger Games,” over the weekend. Good antigovernment, Libertarian movie. Reportedly it cost $78 million to make and has grossed over $375 million thus far. The sequel is under way with part of it being shot in Hawaii. Girls with bows & arrows was stressed, and someone at the Kapiolani Park archery range managed to hit the adjacent tennis court with a 70# compound bow and arrow. The range is now closed and it may be permanent; government always overreacts to problems like this first reported errant arrow in 50 years.
FBI At Next SBH Sunrise. FBI Special Agent and Honolulu scam buster,Tom Simon, will be SBH’s special guest speaker at the next monthly SBH Sunrise Networking Breakfast, Thursday, May 24, in the Pineapple Room, Macy’s Ala Moana (3rd Floor), from 7 – 8:30 am. Call Darlyn (396-1724) to reserve now.
Legislature to End. FINALLY, the 2012 Legislative Session which began in mid-January, is scheduled to come to an end, tomorrow. It was a wild past weekend of extended deadlines and conference committees but all action should be pau tomorrow. An $11.3 BILLION supplemental budget was passed. The Governor has already signed more than 85 bills into law.
East Oahu Meeting. I will give a 2012 Legislative wrap up at the next meeting of the East Oahu Breakfast Club, Tuesday, May 8, 7-8:30 am, at the Hawaii Kai Retirement Residence. The public is welcome.
No Free Speech for You. In Congress, HR 347 seeks to establish “No Free Speech Zones,” for safety and “protection.” The bill would make it a felony to act if the Secret Service (and not the Constitution) decides it is an unsafe area for people to speak up or protest.
Reminder:
The SBA Awards are May 9.
The 25th Annual Statewide SBA Small Business Awards Luncheon
Hosted by SCORE Hawaii
Wednesday, May 9 « Hilton Hawaiian Village
Winners’ Circle – 11:00 a.m. « Registration – 11:30 a.m.
Luncheon and Awards Presentations – 12 Noon
Honor Our Best! Register at www.scorehawaii.org
Sue You. There he goes again: professional Honolulu atheist, Mitch Kahle, who was given $100,000 by the State, has now sued again. This time it is former Senate President and now Congresswoman, Colleen Hanabusa. As I said before, give him the money and watch him sue again. And again. Easy when the state (TAXPAYERS) represents deep pockets.
Hawaii Reporter 10th. Hawaii Reporter.com, Hawaii’s first electronic daily newspaper, celebrates its 10th anniversary on Friday, June 1, at the Waialae Country Club (5:30 – 8 pm). Go to www.HawaiiReporter.com, for the real news. HR, founded by Malia Zimmerman, continues to break major investigative stories. Tune in to KHVH every week day now at 7:05 am to hear Malia’s report.
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.