Medal of Honor | Get Gored? | Celebrate Human Achievement | You’ve Got the Power

BY SAM SLOM – Join Us Tomorrow for SUNRISE Networking. There’s still time to sign up for the next monthly SBH Sunrise Networking Breakfast, tomorrow, Thursday, March 27, 7 – 8:30 am in the Pineapple Room of Macy’s Ala Moana Center. Networking strategies will be discussed-and practiced. Marketing expert Bob Sigall, Creative-1 and author of the best-selling “The Companies We Keep,” books, will lead the discussion. Public invited. Reservations required. Full breakfast and free parking.  Call SBH for reservations at 396-1724.

Kuhio Day. Today is Kuhio Day, a state holiday, named after, would you believe, a Republican in Hawaii. All right, it was 1920 when Republican Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole was selected as Hawaii’s delegate to the U.S. Congress but it was significant. Under Kuhio’s influence the Congress enacted the Hawaiian Homestead Act.

Medal of Honor. Tuesday was Medal of Honor Day at the State Capitol. In a joint meeting of the House and Senate, Hawaii’s fallen military heroes were presented with Hawaii’s highest civilian award. The Medal of Honor program, enacted 8 years ago, was the idea of State Rep. Mark Takai and has been one of the most successful events at the Legislature. When the first ceremony was held, and in succeeding years, there were many fallen who were honored and medals presented to family members.

Most previous heroes were very young. As of January 20, 2014, Hawaii has lost 331 service members with Hawaii ties, who have sacrificed their lives, while in the line of duty.

The number of the fallen has decreased annually as America withdraws from the Middle East war fronts. Tuesday, there were four recipients including Air Force Captain Reid Nishizuka, Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Edward Balli, Army Sergeant Tofiga Tautolo, and Army National Guard Sergeant Drew Scobie. There was not a dry eye in the Capitol. Family members of previous heroes were also in attendance and recognized.

Hawaii Homeowners Happy. Honolulu HomeLoans, Hawaii’s leading mortgage banker, is releasing a “Happy Homeowner” graphic, which details the many reasons Hawaii’s homeowners are happy, healthy and growing. The illustrations detail Hawaii’s well being rankings from recent Gallup-Healthways polls, average temperatures and days of sunshine, and national fitness rankings. These facts are juxtaposed with HHL’s transactions since 2010, showing how the average loan size and units sold continue to grow each year.

“Over the past few years, we have seen a slow but steady recovery in the Hawaii real estate market,” says Andrew Kim, Chief Production Officer. “For prospective buyers who are contemplating the purchase of a home, this is a good time to put a plan of action into motion. Interest rates are still very low and loan options are prevalent. With the limited inventory of available property currently on the market, the appreciating trend in prices and values are expected to continue in 2014 and beyond.”

Hawea Wetlands. A partnership of public agencies and private non-profit organizations announced that Hawea Heiau Complex & Keawawa wetland is protected as a community-owned and managed Hawaiian cultural heritage preserve. The property is on Hawai’i Kai Drive in the center of Hawai’i Kai – traditionally known as Maunalua – only minutes from Costco, between The Oahu Club (an outdoor fitness facility) and the Hale Ka Lae condominium project.

The Trust for Public Land purchased the property from Hale Ka Lae and transferred the land to Livable Hawai’i Kai Hui (“the Hui”), a community nonprofit that has been caring for Hawea heiau complex & Keawawa wetland since 2009. The Hui is preserving and teaching traditional Hawaiian cultural practices, restoring the land and introducing people to the property’s powerful history. Congrats to the Hui’s Elizabeth Reilly for all her hard work.

Celebrate Human Achievement. This week, the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) will continue “Human Achievement Hour,” an annual celebration of human progress and advancements in various fields of industry including technology, medical, energy and more. The celebration will culminate with a worldwide observance on Saturday, March 29, 2014, between 8:30-9:30 p.m. (local time).

“Observing Human Achievement Hour is about paying tribute to the human innovations that have allowed people around the globe to live better, fuller lives, while also defending the basic human right to use energy to improve the quality of life of all people,” said CEI senior fellow William Yeatman.

CEI developed Human Achievement Hour as the counter argument to the World Wide Fund for Nature’s “Earth Hour,” an event where participants symbolically renounce the environmental impacts of modern technology by turning off their lights for an hour. By contrast, Human Achievement Hour promotes the idea that humans should look to technology and innovation to help solve environmental problems.

Instead of turning off your lights this Saturday, the Competitive Enterprise Institute encourages people to celebrate a human achievement that has improved their lives – everything from indoor plumbing to computer technology, to access to consumer goods and affordable energy. Shower, shop, listen to music, enjoy a cold beer, or simply keep your lights on for an hour. There are numerous innovations to celebrate. Participants may share these activities and join the conversation by tweeting @ceidotorg and using the hashtag #HAH2014.

Follow CEI’s list of human achievements at: OpenMarket.org. For more information about Human Achievement Hour visit www.cei.org/hah.

Ryan Heads NaHHA. The Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association (NaHHA) selected Pohai Ryan as its Executive Director. Ryan brings to NaHHA vast experience in non-profit management and a storied career in local politics, which gives her a unique lens into the community and the visitor industry. Prior to joining NaHHA, Ryan served as the Executive Director of the Kailua Chamber of Commerce and was also in the Hawaii State Senate.

Tech Talk Panel Thursday. Think Tech Global will present its 2014 Legislative Midterm Update featuring Bob Toyofuku of Hawaii Advocates as moderator, with a panel of leading state finance officials at the Downtown YWCA on Thursday, March 27th from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. The panel members include Sen. David Ige – Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee; Rep. Aaron Ling Johanson – Co-Vice Chair of the House Finance Committee; Rep. Sylvia Luke – Chair of the House Finance Committee; and Kalbert Young – State Budget and Finance Director.

You’ve Got the Power. A new half hour television show, You’ve Got the Power, produced by Malia Zimmerman, Irma Baptiste and Shaunna Touchi of Luminescent Productions, will air on Saturday, April 12 at 6:30 p.m. on KGMB TV and Saturday, April 19 at 6 p.m. on KHNL.

See a 30-second clip of the show here by  clicking here

The half hour show, which focuses on people who have overcome great odds to be successful and then help many other people, features Skylar Soares, Delorese Gregoire and Mo Maurer in the first episode.

Soares, 12, is the SBH Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2013. She founded with the help of Make a Wish Foundation and HPU, the HiSky retail business. Gregoire is the founder of Winners Camp and has helped 15,000 teenagers discover their leadership skills and talents. And Maurer, a Maui resident, founded Assistance Dogs of Hawaii and has helped thousands of people in need find they joy and independence they deserve.

Sponsors include HMAA, King Windward Nissan, InControl Diabetes Center, Pharmacare and Hawaii Homestay. If your company would like to be a sponsor, contact Irma May Baptiste at irmamaybaptiste@gmail.com

Get Gored? The Stephen and Marylyn Pauley Seminar in Sustainability at UH Manoa, the University of Hawai’i Sea Grant College Program and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz partnered to bring former U.S. Vice President Al Gore to the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa on April 15, 2014. Former U.S. Vice President Gore, known for his misinformation about Global Warming, the economy and other topics, will be sharing his insight on related topics and how they relate to Hawai’i. Want to go? Tickets are available at the Stan Sheriff Center Ticket Office or the UH Mānoa Campus Center Ticket, Information & ID Office.

Business at the Capitol. For a change, Hawaii business people were honored instead of taxed and banned at the State Capitol. New awardees of the U.S. Small Business Administration business advocates were honored after the Hawaii Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame inductees. Then Prudential made its distinguished awards to students engaged in community service. Quite a week at the Capitol.

Niu Valley to Serenade. The Niu Valley Intermediate School Orchestra, one of the top middle school orchestras in the nation, will be recognized at the Capitol on Friday. They will head to Iowa for competition later.

New Judicial Nominees. Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald released the list of judicial nominees that were provided to him by the Judicial Selection Commission for the upcoming vacancy in the District Court of the Third Circuit (County of Hawaii).  The names of the nominees are Lincoln S.T. Ashida; Paul K. Hamano; Jo Kim; Darien W.L. Ching Nagata; Henry T. Nakamoto; and J Stanley Yoshimoto. Comments on the nominees must be sent no later than Friday, April 4, 2014 to Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald, Supreme Court of Hawaii, 417 S. King Street, Honolulu, HI, 96813, by fax (808) 539-4703, or email:  chiefjustice@courts.hawaii.gov

Mother of the Year. The Senate Minority’s “Extern,” UH Law Student, Mom and business woman Julie Sparks is Hawaii’s Mother of the Year. She was written up in a full-page story in last Sunday’s Honolulu Star-Advertiser and will be honored at a luncheon this Saturday at the Hale Koa Hotel. Way to go Julie!

Surfing in Afghanistan? The International Surfing Association (ISA) is proud to welcome Afghanistan as the ISA’s 82nd Member Nation. Officially called the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the landlocked country is located in South Central Asia and is part of the greater Middle East. It is bordered by Pakistan in the South and East, Iran in the West, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan in the North, and China in the far northeast. The country has a small population of surfers who have come together and traveled for waves.

ISA President Fernando Aguerre said: “While still in its infant stage, there are a lot of opportunities for surfers and SUPers in Afghanistan, and we are excited to provide them with tools so they can grow their existing surfing community and allow their surfers to compete on an international level.”

38th SBH Business Conference, May 13. The SBH 38th Annual Business Conference is set for Tuesday, May 13 at the Ala Moana Hotel, Hibiscus Ballroom.

Best-selling author and motivational business success speaker, Patrick Snow, will be the SBH’s Keynote Luncheon Speaker. Current issue topics, networking, business exhibits and more will be included. Make reservations now by calling SBH at 808-396-1724.

New Facebook Link. The Hawaii Senate Minority has a new Facebook and a new look. Check it out here>
Please like us and invite your friends to like the group as well. If not, you are still able to view the page without creating an account.

Want More Business? JOIN SBH! Is YOUR business a member of SBH?  No? Lots of benefits. Strong networking organization. Call 396-1724 or go online to  smartbusinesshawaii.com.

Hawaii Reporter.com, Hawaii’s first electronic daily newspaper launched in 2002, has all the breaking news and unlike other publications in town, is still free. Award winning Hawaii Reporter and Malia Zimmerman report daily (M-F) on the Rick Hamada Show heard on KHVH radio on 830 AM at 7:05 am. Malia will share the news behind the news.

Tune in to Panos Prevedouros. SBH Director and UH Engineering Professor Dr. Panos Prevedouros is a weekly guest on Rick Hamada’s morning radio show every Tuesday from 7:05 a.m. to 8 am. Tune in!

Read SB NEWS. Don’t forget to read your current (November) monthly SB NEWS by PDF attachment or link. More expanded news and views for the Hawaii business community. A limited number of printed copies are available for mailing if you call SBH (396-1724).

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