BY SEN. SAM SLOM – Government Shuts Down…Or Does It? Yesterday, the federal government “shut down” or did it? Certainly some agencies were dark, notably passports, parks and other “non-essential” civilian jobs, but not Social Security payments, the US Post Office or even Obamacare. The government was “slimmed down” but not really shutdown. People have been inconvenienced including visitors to the USS Arizona Memorial here on Oahu. The reasons? Don’t get me started!”Republican Shutdown?” I think not. There is a failure of leadership, primarily from the President and Senate, who refused to compromise or even consider House compromise proposals. It’s all about power and politics. But what about all the small businesses shut down by the Administration’s high taxes, burdensome regulations and yes, the implementation of Obamacare?
Children & Youth at Your Capitol – Let’s Celebrate! This Sunday, come to your State Capitol, 10 am – 3 pm for the annual Children & Youth Day. Many families will be there to enjoy the festivities. McDonalds of Hawaii will be one of the sponsors of the event and will feature the McDonald’s Family Pavilion.
Prayer at Capitol. Also Sunday, there will be a prayer vigil in opposition to same sex marriage from 3-5 pm.
Health Connectors Up… Or Not? Yesterday, after three years of planning, the federal government Health Connectors were to go fully online and sign up people for Obamacare. But it didn’t happen. There were delays, glitches and errors. And if you went to a health provider, you were bombarded with a tsunami of new paperwork and delay. Our “Brave New World,” is not so brave. And that is what the House position was all about; giving the American people a voice in this debacle.
Obamacare Forum Friday. Want more info on the Connector, health costs and options and your choices now? Pacific Business News is sponsoring a healthcare reform update this Friday, October 4, from 7 am to 9 am at the Plaza Club. In addition to panelists representing HMSA. Kaiser and the Hawaii Health Connector, Reg Baker, SBH Director and CEO of HMAA, will provide an alternative perspective. Call 955-8074 for reservations.
Debt Ceiling: Next Congressional Battle. The next Congressional battle will be over raising the Nation’s debt ceiling, which already is at $17 trillion. It is all about spending and wiping out your financial future. No matter what happens, the Feds still have the printing press and every intention of using it.
No Accounting for Taste or Tackiness. The many, many, tasteless statues owned by Japanese billionaire Genjiro Kawamoto and featured prominently on his Kahala properties are thankfully being removed in Kahala for sale and…? Want to buy one? Contact Alexander and Baldwin.
Home Buyers Fair. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser and Sunetric will sponsor the Hawaii Homebuyers Fair, an event that enables potential home buyers to meet and learn from real estate industry professionals including bankers and builders. This free event takes place Saturday, Oct. 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hawaii Convention Center (1801 Kalakaua Ave.). The first 500 people to preregister online athawaiihomebuyersfair.com will receive free parking validation. There also will be a drawing for a free trip for two to Las Vegas, sponsored by Vacations Hawaii. For information about workshops, seminars and the trade show, or to preregister for the Hawaii Homebuyers Fair, go to hawaiihomebuyersfair.comor call 538-6397.
Retail Merchants Tap Sakamoto, Storfer. Retail Merchants of Hawaii, a non-profit trade organization dedicated to the growth and development of the retail industry in Hawaii, appointed Sheri Sakamoto president and Mark Storferchairman of the board, following the retirements of Carol Pregill, former RMH president, and Gayle Yamada, former RMH board chair.
Storfer, a recent SBH Business Awards All Star, is an experienced business executive who is currently an officer and director for Hilo Hattie. He is also a licensed real estate broker with Choi International, and carries the CCIM designation. Sakamoto has owned and operated the communications consulting firm of E&S Partners, LLC. since 2004. She has worked with the County of Los Angeles building public policy through public-private partnerships and served on the Hawaii State Judicial Selection Commission (JSC).
Records Transparency. The City of Oakland officially launched “RecordTrac,” a new web application to help the City manage and track incoming public record requests, and improve transparency. The tool, which provides a searchable public archive found here https://records.oaklandnet.com of the requests and the responses received from City staff so users can locate information that has already been retrieved, would be a great addition for Hawaii.
Cheri Grant Appointed. Honolulu HomeLoans welcomesCheri Grant to the team as a loan officer. In her role, Grant will specialize in residential mortgage loan origination. With over 14 years of mortgage industry experience, Grant has overseen business development, marketing and sales of loan products. She graduated from Columbia Southern University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. Grant recently joined the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Club. Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Grant moved to Hawaii in 2002 and currently resides in Hawaii Kai.
Advertiser Building Condo Hearing. Today, at 9 am at the HCDA office, 461 Cooke Street, the HCDA Board will hold a public hearing on the permit application by Downtown Capitol LLC to develop a 46-story residential tower and accompanying 10-story parking garage on the property surrounding the former Honolulu Advertiser building. The meeting agenda is available on the HCDA website. >Click here
Molasses and Same Sex Marriage. As Hawaii Reporter notes: The Hawaii legislature is not in session until October 28 when Gov. Neil Abercrombie is convening a special session to legalize gay marriage. However, that is not stopping more than 2,000 Hawaii residents from contacting their legislators to voice an opinion on two key issues: Gay marriage and the September 9 molasses spill in Honolulu Harbor deemed by the Sierra Club as “one of the worst environmental disasters in Hawaii’s history.” While the debate over whether to legalize marriage between gay couples is highly controversial, lawmakers have actually received more letters from citizens outraged over the 233,000 gallon molasses spill, which killed 26,000 fish in recent weeks and destroyed the area reef at both Honolulu Harbor and the nearby Keehi Lagoon.
The Sierra Club’s Hawaii chapter launched a campaign last Wednesday demanding accountability from Matson Navigation. Since, state senators have received more than 1,539 emails from residents expressing outrage at the spill and calling for accountability from Matson. They have also received 272 emails from supporters of legalization of gay marriage and 602 in opposition.
Patriot 5k Run. The U.S. Vets 9th Annual Patriot Glow Star 5k Run will be held Saturday, November 9 at 7 pm at Barbers Point. Contact information >click here.
For 3 ¢ More. Because the U.S. Postal Service continues to bleed money, close offices and curtail service, what is the answer? Increase the rates even more. The USPS wants a 3¢ increase to 49¢ for mail beginning January 2014. Meanwhile, this will drive even more people to emails, texts and alternatives.
Christie Cops a Plea. After more than three years in federal prison, Hawaii Island marijuana Minister Roger Christie and wife Share pleaded guilty to reduced federal charges in hopes of securing their freedom sooner. Christie has been held in federal prison without a trial for more than three years.
Mike Wood at Sunrise! The next monthly SBH SUNRISE Networking Breakfast will be Thursday, October 24 at the Pineapple Room, Macy’s Ala Moana Center, 7 – 8:30 am. Want a positive, uplifting message? Then come here our speaker, Mike Wood of MW Group, Ltd. Mike’s topic is “Never Give Up On Your Dreams.” Networking, full breakfast buffet, and business updates. All participants will be introduced. For information and reservations, contact SBH at 396-1724.
Still Waiting…Court Rail Ruling. Still awaiting a ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on the August 15 rail hearing. Cliff Slater of Honolulu traffic.com remains optimistic that the Court will stop the rail. Meanwhile the city restarted construction on the $5.2 billion elevated heavy steel rail project.
SBH Young Entrepreneurs. The SBH YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS is now up and running. The very capable and energetic Noelani Bonifacio is heading up the group and she wants you to join other young professionals. Annual dues are only $75 for those under 35. The SBH YE group’s Kimberly Canepa made an excellent presentation at last Friday’s SBH Awards Banquet. Save Thursday, November 7; that’s the YE “Table Topics” 5:30-7 pm at the LS Success Center. Details soon. Contact SBH), go online (smartbusinesshawaii.com) or call 396-1724.
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 (September) 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).
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 www.smartbusinesshawaii.com.
Advertise Here. Some readers have inquired about placing an ad on the right margin of these weekly blasts, which reach more than 15,000 people. Interested? If you want your business ad posted, the cost is $50 for one placement or $150 per month (4-5 placements). Contact 396-1724.
Want more local business information? Please visit the several SBH websites at www.smartbusinesshawaii.com,www.educate808.com and www.sbhfoundation.org
Celebrating a business milestone? Your business press releases are welcome in the weekly SBH News & Views e-News, which reaches more than 15,000 business owners and government leaders in Hawaii.
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SBH can help you with YOUR business. Just starting a business? Call me personally for help at 396-1724 or email:SBH@lava.net. Smart Business Hawaii Means Business and we’re here to help you.
As always, SBH appreciates your support, so please consider joining or sending a donation to help SBH continue to assist the private, independent businesses in our community.
Mahalo!
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Obamacare & the organization, GLAAD, have common goals, culture change & shift.
Excerpt of the mission statement; "Through the undeniable power of the media – whether it's your favorite TV show, telenovela or local newspaper – or even on the sports field or through an online petition with hundreds of thousands of signatures, GLAAD is there advancing the stories that need to be told and that make real change."
It seems media's history is repeating inself, substitute Nazi for GLAAD?
Did the nazi's have a similar mission statement?
[…] Molasses and Same Sex Marriage | Retail Merchants Tap Sakamoto, Storfer … The Honolulu Star-Advertiser and Sunetric will sponsor the Hawaii Homebuyers Fair, an event that enables potential home buyers to meet and learn from real estate industry professionals including bankers and builders. This free event takes place … Read more on Hawaii Reporter […]
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