STAYCATIONS… ? | GOV. BAIL OUTS | BOERSMA NEW COMM DIRECTOR | LEMONADE ALLEY!

BY SEN. SAM SLOM – Occupy This

Genius. Driven. Jobs. Everything good that could be said of Apple founder Steve Jobs who died last Wednesday was said. And earned. Look what he accomplished in spite of government; think what the cell phone would be like today if it had been under partisan government control, taxation and regulation. Apple employees will hold a celebration of Steve’s life on October 19.

Senator Lingle? Former Governor Linda Lingle made it official yesterday morning on KSSK and KHVH radio, announcing her candidacy as a Republican for the U.S. Senate. The announcement was expected. Attorney John Caroll will challenge Lingle in the GOP primary. Congresswoman Mazie Hirono will battle former Congressman Ed Case for the Democrat Primary. Should Hirono and Lingle prevail, it will set up a rematch of 10 years ago when Lingle beat Hirono for Governor of Hawaii in 2002.

Dodge ‘Em. Chrysler Corporation announced they will end production of the popular Dodge minivan. Dodge, along with the now defunct Plymouth, started the minivan market decades ago. I had a Dodge.

Abercrombie Bail Outs. The mass exodus of Gov. Abercrombie’s key appointees late last week is sad; everyone realizing on the same day that ” they need to spend more time with their children.” Come on!

Anyone who knows Neil-I have known him for 50 years-knows he is hard core, consistent, and resistant to change, new ideas and new people. The appointees were young, creative, idealistic and naïve; not unlike the Obama corps in 2008. Neil IS Neil. He has always been hard knuckle. Never met a private payroll. He is occupying the State Capitol but is not an executive with executive leadership experience. You couldn’t work for him; unless you are old school, old boy. I just hope there will not be further resignations from some very talented and dedicated people in the State Administration.

Jim Boersema, who just left the State Senate Democrats two weeks ago, has signed on as Communications Director for the Governor. Maybe they can meet at the Zanzibar.

China Calls. The Guv left for Japan and China on Sunday. He’ll be back on the 21st. This trip follows his Paris trip. Abercrombie is battling Mayor Carlisle for most time out of the state. House Speaker Calvin Say off to Taiwan. So much for Hawaii Staycations.

Carlisle Off Track. Sales and Marketing Executives International (SMEI), Honolulu Chapter announced that Mayor Peter Carlisle, will be a guest speaker at a dinner meeting on Tuesday, October 18, at The Kahala Hotel & Resort. The program will focus on the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.  Carlisle will also provide an update on Honolulu’s rail transit project and the recent Sister City’s Summit. This event is sponsored by Pacific Business News, Hawaiian Airlines, and Maui Divers.

Dealing With Debt. Appeared on a Capitol panel yesterday, sponsored by the House Republicans, with Sheila Weinberg of the Chicago Institute for Truth in Accounting (she speaks today at the Pacific Club, 11 am for The Grassroot Institute), State Budget Director Kal Young and former Council of Revenues Chair, Paul Brewbaker. If you thought Hawaii’s spending and debt crisis is bad; it’s worse than you thought. Weinberg’s organization identified Hawaii as a “sinkhole” state and ranked Hawaii 47th worst in the Nation.

Luxury in Hawaii Kai. Attended the groundbreaking and blessing last Wednesday of the new luxury condo, Hale Ka Lae, in Hawaii Kai. The $350 million, 242 residential project almost died until new ownership and community involvement resurrected it. Credit Mike Greco, COO of Hale Ka Lae LLC who came to the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board, listened to resident complaints then acted, along with Elizabeth Reiley, president of Livable Hawaii Kai. The project will add 350-400 construction jobs.

Got Lemonade? Lemonade Alley is a business & financial literacy contest for Hawai’i kids K-12. It’s also a fund-raising event for Boys & Girls Club, Boy Scouts and YWCA of Hawaii.

It’s open to kids on all islands and is a free way for them to get biz-wise and street-smart. The event takes place November 12, (the last day of APEC) with 32 Finalist Teams building lemonade stands on Iolani School’s baseball field to make/sell lemonade and compete in 4 divisions each with $1,000 in cash prizes and a potential bottling contract with Wailua Bottlers.

During the finals, teams will be judged on the quality of a 1-page business plan, recipe, booth, standup oral pitch and amount of money donated to charity. Materials are being supplied by Whole Foods, Kualoa Ranch, OK Farms and Aloun Farms. Lemonade Alley is also a first-of-its-kind “green” (paperless) business plan competition featuring an online submission and judging process provided by presenting sponsor BizGym.com.

Lemonade Alley has also been identified by the APEC Host Committee on Communications as the go-to event for visiting APEC press to get local interest stories. Lemonade Alley is apparently the only major event happening outside of APEC. Wally Amos and Caroline Kim are active volunteers. You can help too. Contact me (808-349-5438).

Lemonade Alley is having a series of press events including a press kickoff party at ING Direct Cafe, fruit picking press junket to Kualoa Ranch, Fruit Drops for local residents to donate fruit and other soon to be announced photo opps.

Business Showcase and Craft Fair of 90 stalls has been added around the main competition area. For more, see lemonadealley.com 

Asia & the Pacific. Next Tuesday, October 18, (5:30 – 7:30 pm), the meeting of the SCORE Women’s Initiative hosts a panel on Asia and Pacific Trade, featuring John Holman (Director of Trade) from the US Dept. of Commerce and Dr. Kate Zhou , UH Political Science Professor, working with APEC speaking about trade with China.

Gas Up. Miss Hawaii, Lauren Cheape and the Miss Chinatown Queens and Princesses will be taking over the Kaneohe Bay 76 gasoline station this Friday, October 14th, from 4PM to 6PM to lower gas prices and to collect pumpkins for the Pumpkin Carving Festival!

The Pumpkin Carving Festival was founded in 2010 and held at the Neal Blaisdell Center. This year’s presenting sponsors are Matson Navigation Company and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, and the beneficiaries are Keiki O Ka Aina Mentorship Program for Children of Incarcerated Parents and the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center. This year’s festival will be held on Saturday, October 22nd at the Blaisdell Center. If you wish to donate a pumpkin, please present your pumpkin to the Pumpkin Carving Festival staff that will be at the event. Donated pumpkins will be distributed to needy families throughout Hawaii. 76 gasoline is made available in Hawaii by locally owned Mid Pac Petroleum.

Zoom, Zoom. Got Zune? Do you have a Zune? Hold onto it because it is now a collector’s item. The Microsoft media player entry to compete with the IPod introduced five years ago is now history (like several other would be competitors). Apple rules.

Buy a Kauai Cabin. The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of State Parks announced that seventeen (17) vacant recreational residence leases in Kōke’e and Waimea State Parks on the island of Kaua’i are now scheduled for public auction.

“The revenues from these leases will go to supporting improvements on public lands by restoring recreational areas in the Hawai’i State Park System,” DLNR Director William Aila said.

Newberry Inducted. The American Society of Safety Engineers’ (ASSE) Practice Specialty Leadership Group inducted Jim Newberry, Assistant Vice President and Risk Control Manager of Island Insurance, as its new Risk Management and Insurance Practice Specialty Administrator for 2011-2012.

Seeking Support. Chai Chaowasaree, (whose legal name is Vichai Sae Tung) of Chai’s Island Bistro, a popular Thai Restaurant and favorite of Democrat elected officials, is writing business people seeking support for himself and the special legislation introduced on his behalf by Hawaii U.S. Senator Dan Akaka. Chai, who allegedly entered this country illegally, and has faced deportation for more than a decade, is seeking political help to stay here and become a permanent resident. He even sends a sample letter.

Do You Know The Way?… UH Warriors meet San Jose State this Friday in San Jose. Go Warriors.

Want more local business information? Please visit the several SBH websites at:: www.smartbusinesshawaii.com,www.educate808.com and www.sbhfoundation.org.

Award winning Hawaii Reporter.com, Hawaii’s first electronic daily newspaper begun 9 years ago, still is free. Hawaii Reporter andMalia Zimmerman report daily (M-F) on the Rick Hamada Show, KHVH radio on 830 AM at, 7:40 am. Malia also reports on Kauai’s KKCR with Sandy Brodie on Tuesday mornings, on the station’s “Morning Paper.” She will report the news behind the news for you.