BY SAM SLOM – Tomorrow is Veterans’ Day. Please celebrate, remember and honor the sacrifices of all our vets. The City ceremony begins at Punchbowl at 10 am and the State ceremony at Kaneohe at 1:15. I’ll be there. Join me!
High school football is so important in Hawaii (maybe second only to Texas and perhaps Southern California) that it really gets the juices flowing. The Kahuku football story has been page one for several days. Judge Karl Sakamoto ruled against the temporary injunction yesterday sought to allow the team to play in the state playoffs despite the ineligible player. Let ’em play?
Then there was the UH drubbing by Boise State Saturday. ‘Nuff said.
Make sure you read Jim Dooley’s exclusive story in Hawaii Reporter.com regarding, “State Fights “Shocking” Price Increases from Hawaii’s Only Statewide Daily Newspaper.”
The U.S. Senate Joint Economic Committee (JEC) The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report last week on employment and unemployment for October (pdf summary available by clicking here).
Highlights of the report:
Unemployment Rate
- The unemployment rate was unchanged at 9.6% in October.
- The percentage of long-term unemployed (those unemployed for 27 weeks or longer) edged up very slightly in October to a level of 41.8%, or 6.2 million persons.
- The size of the labor force fell by 254,000 in October, and remains more than one million below its peak level in May, 2009. The labor force is 5.3 million lower than it would have been if labor force growth had continued at the same pace it did between 2004 and 2007.
- There were 14.8 million unemployed persons in October.
Natalie J. Iwasa, CPA, Inc (aka, Biker Mom). an active SBH and community leader, was appointed to the Stakeholders Advisory Committee for the Statewide Long-Range Land Transportation Plan.
The State is seeking nominations to the Commission on Water Resource Management. A Nominating Committee will screen the applicants and send to the Governor the names of at least three individuals for one open position, which will begin a four-year term starting July 1, 2011.
The Water Commission is composed of seven members that have jurisdiction and final authority on matters relating to implementation and administration of the State Water Code.
Some of the critical water issues now facing the Commission include: implementing recent interim instream flow standards set for streams in East and Na Wai Eha (Wailuku) Maui; determining surface water use permits for the Na Wai Eha parties on Maui; reviewing current water use permits for Waiahole Ditch water; and Kukui Molokai (Molokai Ranch) water use permit due to the Supreme Court remand.
Five members are appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the State Senate. Other members by law are the chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, who serves as chairperson of the Water Commission, and the director of the Department of Health. State law requires that each member have “substantial experience in the area of water resource management.”
Members serve without pay except for reimbursement for expenses, including travel, necessary to do the job.Nominations along with resumes and applications for the State Boards and Commissions may be sent by November 22, 2010 to the Nominating Committee, Commission on Water Resource Management, 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 227, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. Please visit https://hawaii.gov/dlnr/cwrm/ to learn more about the Commission, or to download the application form.
Doug Bandow, Senior Fellow of the prestigious CATO Institute in Washington, DC will talk story Wednesday, November 17, 6 pm at Sam Choy’s Breakfast, Lunch & Crab, about F. A. Hayek, “The Road to Serfdom ” and his famous essay ” The Intellectuals and Society” and why his messages are so very important today-and tomorrow. Bandow is here to address the UH Richardson Law School. This is an event that welcomes families, young people and provides time for interaction and lots of discussion. Call the Grassroot Insitute of Hawaii, 591-9193 for info.
Rodney Maile is the new administrative director of the state’s court system. Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald tapped Maile to replace Rick Keller on December 1. Maile was most recently deputy director of the state DCCA.
Governor elect Neil Abercrombie and Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz will be sworn in on Monday, December 6 at noon at the Capitol. Abercrombie is looking for a few good men-and women. If you would like to apply for a job in the new Administration, contact Abercrombie’s transition team.
You thought the elections were over? Hah! There will be a special election December 29 to fill the vacancy caused by former Honolulu City Council Chair Todd Apo’s resignation this week. Apo will assume the position of public affairs for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts in Hawaii. Nomination deadline is November 19.
Andrew Jackson, no, not the former President, was named president and GM of KITV last week. He succeeds Michael Rosenberg who spent 40 years in local television. Jackson’s most recent title was VP for marketing for BBC America.
Several new stores will open in Ala Moana Center in time for Christmas.
The Rotary Club of Hawaii Kai is planning a social event
Saturday November 20th, 7 to 9 pm, at Wine The Experience in Kapahulu. Please come and join them for some fellowship, food, wine and good times. Please RSVP by November 18 to (808) 396-5535 or rotary@hawaii.rr.com. $15 at the door covers all your food and wine.
Each year on the last Saturday in November, the Hawaii Kai Lions Club and Koko Marina Shopping Center sponsor a HOLIDAY PARADE. LIVABLE HAWAII KAI HUI is invited to participate in this holiday tradition and can only do it with YOUR HELP. They need volunteers to make MAGIC and help CREATE the float plus RIDE THE FLOAT, spread good CHEER and hand out FREE small plants compliments of NEIGHBORHOOD GROWERS, Charles Nii Nursery and R&S Nii Nursery. Come spend the day in Hawaii Kai’s little bit of country, KAMILO NUI VALLEY and help hammer, cut, paint, glue, stick, stuff, wrap, decorate and eat. Yep, they’ll have food, snacks and drinks to keep you going plus rumor has it that SANTA donated some Holiday Door Prizes! Help make Magic in the Valley – help transform a 40′ flatbed into a HOLIDAY WONDER showcasing our unique AGRICULTURE LAND!
The HOLIDAY PARADE will start promptly at 10 a.m. from Kamiloiki District Park, travel down Lunalilo Home Road for about 1.5 miles, and end at Koko Marina Shopping Center.
When:Â Friday, November 26th starting at 8:30 a.m.
Where: Kamilo Nui Valley, by R&S Nii Nursery
Please RSVP to wellerge@manaikaika.com (by Nov. 20th) so we can plan for enough food as well as send you more detailed information. Donations or Gift Cards needed to buy supplies! They need paint, brushes, wood, tie straps, PVC, big and small decorations, holiday paper, ribbon, large bows, toys, and a new Hui banner… They plan to shop at City Mill, Price Busters and WalMart or Kmart.
Can you donate? Send to: Livable Hawaii Kai Hui, P.O. Box 25493, Honolulu, Hawaii 96825. They are a 501c(3) so your donation is tax deductible!
Element Media, Inc. and Pacific Edge Magazine announce their upcoming red-carpet 1st Annual Business Achievement Awards Gala to be held on Thursday evening, January 20th, 2011 from 6-9 P.M. at The Waterfront at Aloha Tower Marketplace.
They are currently accepting nominations for the following awards and encourage you and/or your clients to submit for these categories:
- Young Professional of the Year
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- Business Executive of the Year
- Commitment to Green Award
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Best Social Media Campaign
- Best New Business
- Best Family-Run Business
You can also submit your nominations online click here. All nominations must be submitted by: Friday, December 10th at 6 P.M. If you plan to send in your nomination and supporting materials, please address to: Element Media, Inc., 1088 Bishop Street, Suite 2305, Honolulu, HI 96813 Attn: Krista Sherkey (808-744-9854).
A panel of independent, distinguished judges will be selecting five finalists for each award category and those finalists will be notified by Friday, December 17th of their selection.
Layla Dedrick successful owner of Bella Pietra, will discuss “Successful Women in Small Business in Hawaii,” at the monthly SBH Sunrise Networking Breakfast, tomorrow, Thursday, November 18, 7 – 8:30 am, Pineapple Room, Macy’s Ala Moana. Call Darlyn for reservations, 396-1724.
In these perilous economic times, do you need help with YOUR business? Just starting a business? Call me personally for help at 808-396-1724 or email:SBH@lava.net . Smart Business Hawaii Means Business and we’re here to help you.