BY SAM SLOM – Gas Up. Local gasoline prices at the pump continue to rise above the $4 per gallon rate, as the traded price for oil increases above $105 per barrel. Uncertainties in the world economy and the Russian invasion of the Ukraine make investors uneasy.
Bill Crossover. Yesterday was the 25th day of the current 60-day legislative run and the first crossover day. Hundreds of bills were voted on in the House and Senate and crossed over to the other house for continuing action. Minimum wage increase is still alive while marijuana legalization, a designated state microbe and Initiative, Referendum and Recall, are dead for this session.
Bankoh Blocks Iranians. Bank of Hawaii informed their Iranian citizen clients that they will have to close their accounts or have the bank will close the accounts for them. The unusual move that happened in December but is now making international news, will impact not the government of Iran or large corporations. Instead, Iranian students attending the University of Hawaii and Hawaii Pacific University will feel the major blow to their personal financial accounts and their lifestyles.
Attack at the Shack. Radio Shack announced the closing of more than 1,100 of its retail outlets nationwide. No word as yet on any Hawaii store closings.
Rubbish Fee Trashed. Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s bad idea of adding a new $10 trash pickup fee was trashed by the Honolulu City Council last week. The Mayor is still looking for more taxes and fees to make up his growing City budget deficit brought on by massive outlays for the rail project and other wasteful spending.
Rail Congestion. If you think the lane closures and added daily congestion are bad now, prepare for more interruptions as the City speeds up its rail construction.
SUNRISE Networking. The next monthly SBH Sunrise Networking Breakfast will be held Thursday, March 27,
7 – 8:30 am in the Pineapple Room of Macy’s Ala Moana Center. Networking strategies will be discussed-and practiced. Public invited. Reservations required. Full breakfast and free parking. Call SBH for reservations at 396-1724.
20 for 20 Friday. Each year, Hawaii Business selects 20 emerging leaders who have already made big contributions to Hawaii and we expect to have an even greater impact over the next two decades. We welcome the class of 2014, which includes people from a broad range of organizations in business and academia.
Hawaii Business will also be recognizing this year’s honorees at the 2014 “20 for the Next 20” pau hana happening this Friday, March 7, 2014 at the Hawaii Prince Hotel – Tower Garden. If you would like to join them that evening, visit their website or call (808) 534-7136.
Souki On Board at DLNR. The Department of Land and Natural Resources welcomes Jesse Souki, director of the State Office of Planning, as its First Deputy, effective March 10.
Previously, Souki worked in Congress for former U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka before attending law school. He currently volunteers as the treasurer for the Natural Resources Section and the co-chair of the Continuing Legal Education Committee of the Hawaii State Bar Association. Souki will be replacing Esther Kia’aina, who will be a Senior Advisor to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell.
Quicksilver at Kahala. Kahala Mall welcomed Quiksilver Board Room. The new 1,145-square-foot store in the former Kahala Lifestyles space recently opened catering to adult water enthusiasts and is also the official showroom for Wade Tokoro surfboards.
Quiksilver Board Room offers mens’ and womens’ apparel, accessories and surfboards. Top brands include Quiksilver, Quiksilver Waterman Collection, Quiksilver Originals, Roxy, Roxy Outdoor Fitness, Tokoro Surfboards, Da Kine, Electric, Oakley, Fu-wax and more.
Technology Breakfast Friday. Pacific Business News is sponsoring a Technology for Business Breakfast Forum this Friday. Learn how to use emerging technologies to make your business run faster, better, smarter.
Panel of Experts:
*Â Â Â DANIEL LEUCK, CEO, Ikayzo
*Â Â Â CYRUS DRIVER, Vice President, Business Services, Oceanic Time Warner Cable Business Class
*Â Â Â BURT LUM, Executive Director, Hawaii Open Data
*Â Â Â JASON HO’OPAI, CEO/Founder, @ShopSuey
Moderated by Robbie Melton, Executive Director & CEO, HTDC
Topics:
*Â Â Â What is the biggest technology challenge facing owners of small business and medium-sized businesses, and how should they be tackling it?
*Â Â Â In what areas do you expect technology related spending to increase this year, and what areas may get less attention than in past years?
*Â Â Â How can owners and managers of small and medium-sized businesses make improvements to their technology without increasing their budgets?
*Â Â Â Is there a set percentage of total spending that most companies should be spending on technology every year so they don’t fall behind? Why or why not?
*Â Â Â How has the corporate use of social media changed in the past few years, and what changes do you expect to see in 2014?
Looking for a Job? WalletHub released its 2014 report on the Best & Worst Cities to Find a Job in order to help the more than 10 million Americans who are currently looking for work get hired. Best place? Ft Worth Texas. Honolulu didn’t place.
Positive TV. Malia Zimmerman, Irma Baptiste and Shaunna Touchi are launching a new television show in April. The half hour show – called You’ve Got the Power – features three people in each episode who have overcome great odds to be successful and then help other people.
Two people most of us know – 12-year-old Skylar Soares, who founded HISky and won the Small Business Hawaii Foundation’s young entrepreneur award in 2013, and Delorese Gregoire of Winners Camp and a member of the SBH Foundation board. Michael W. Perry of KSSK is involved in the project.
They are shooting the pilot over the next two weeks and then plan to continue the series after the first show airs in April. Their goal is to take the show national by the end of the year. If your company would like to be a sponsor, please contact Irma Baptiste at irmamaybaptiste@gmail.com
Shop For a Cause: Help Red Cross. The Hawaii Red Cross is holding an online auction from March 1-12, 2014. Bid on hotel stays in Bora Bora, Seoul, London, Dublin, Tahiti, Las Vegas, Tahoe, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oahu and the neighbor islands as well as airfare tickets on Alaska Air, golf and entertainment packages, gas cards and restaurant gift certificates!  They also have a beautiful Wyland painting and koa vase hand-carved by the State Attorney General, David Louie up for auction. All proceeds of the online auction will go to the Hawaii State Chapter of the American Red Cross. Show your support of the Hawaii Red Cross by going to redcross.org/hawaii to view items and make a bid!
Winners’ Camp Spring Break. Two Weeks Until Spring Break! Winners’ Camp for Tweens and Teens is March 17-21. It’s the best place for teenagers on the whole entire planet. Call Delorese, Founding Director, if you want your teen to attend camp and need assistance with finances. They have partial scholarships for military, siblings and friends. 808-306-8008
Visitor Arrivals Slowing. The Hawaii visitor industry, which has single-handedly propped up the Hawaiian economy for the past 2.5 years, is beginning to slow according to HTA president, Mike McCartney.
Market Place Gone. For those of us who remember that the International Market Place was the place to be in Waikiki for decades, its no more. It will be replaced by another upscale shopping area.
Lion Roars. The broadway production of The Lion King departs Hawaii next week after a solidly (and financially) successful months-long run.
38th SBH Business Conference May 13. The SBH 38th Annual Business Conference has been re-scheduled to 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).
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.
What? Not receiving your copy? Send PR, additional requests and email address to SBH@lava.net or call 396-1724.
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!