Win or lose November 5, campaigning for the State Senate was a tremendous experience. Try it sometime! Maybe I'll write a book! There were so many wonderful volunteers who gave of their time even though they were all busy. However, none was more giving to NFIB and PAYCHECKS HAWAII - endorsed candidates than Bill Sullivan. "Sully" is the greatest. Hundreds of other business owners got excited one more time. They have already been rewarded with the September 21 election of Norman Sakamoto. There was also Richard Botti of LISH, the paid business lobbyist who, in the past has supported higher legislative salaries and benefits. In June he wrote of the infamous '96 Session, "We rate the 1996 Legislature as a good one! Those that say otherwise were looking for something for themselves...." Then he campaigned for Donna Ikeda working hard to convince business people that this anti-business, pro tax and spend big government proponent, was in their best interest, and a "friend" of small business. Sometimes, we in business, are our own worst enemies. Auwe, Dick!

We will all be glad to get back to business after the election but business will be more involved in the legislative process during 1997. SBH's Bob Sigall and the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii's Jim Proctor are more closely joining forces and forging a newer, bigger all small business coalition.

So let me get this straight: you can call the President of the United States a crook, a liar, an adulterer, pot smoker, draft dodger, etc., but CAN'T refer to him as "Bozo," (as in clown) because the media goes wild. Try figgah.

And figure this: why did State Librarian Bart Kane hire a North Carolina company to select and purchase books for the Hawaii State Libraries? There is no librarian or anyone else in Hawaii that can order books? How did we ever survive before?

And...the opening of the new First Hawaiian Bank Building has some crowing and others moaning. Its distinctively New York or Chicago design is not surprising, since the bank hired a NY architect. Obviously-as mentioned in SB NEWS last year-we don't have architects in Hawaii that could design such a building. They probably would have erred and made it look distinctively Hawaiian.

Hooray for SBH founder, surfer, and Board of Education member, Lex Brodie! He was criticized by several BOE members for "going outside the board process" in running ads he paid for. The ads surveyed local employer views regarding Hawaii high school graduates and their skills and preparedness to work. No published results as yet, but there was enthusiastic employer response. If the BOE took more initiative, education would improve.

Crime emerged as a major issue during this year's political campaign but the candidates for various offices had to share the spot light with innovative Maui Circuit Court judge Boyd Mossman. Judge Mossman dispensed justice on the Valley Isle by requiring those convicted of non-violent offenses to hold signs (not to be confused with those seeking election!) at major highways, giving their name and publicly acknowledging their crime. You know what? It works and didn't cost the taxpayers more money (actually less). Tell it to the judge.

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin headlined the story about certain key Legislators (Senators Donna Ikeda, Milton Holt and Representative Mary Jane McMurdo) who passed legislation in 1995-at the last minute-requiring continuing education for license renewal of real estate and insurance agents. Of course the three added porovisions for "waivers" and exempted themselves and others from the law they passed. (McMurdo retired from politics; Holt was trounced in the Primary and Ikeda's fate is up to the voters November 5). It should be noted that many of us, and some Realtors, knew about this provision in May of 1995 and raised the issue of conflict. The media were not interested and some individuals and organizations chose not to push it further at that time because they feared the power of Holt, Ikeda and others. Better late than never.

What's with Speaker of the House Joe Souki? He is embroiled in a flap on Maui regarding his official support of a convicted child molestor (who also happens to be an influential union boss). The Maui News reported receiving more letters, calls and FAXes regarding this issue than any other in the paper's long history. What makes this so strange is that Souki, a guest speaker at SBH's 1993 Annual Conference, shocked the audience of 300 people then by giving an angry defense that January of a recently-convicted Maui child molestor. Souki was scheduled to speak on, "Changes You Can Expect in the '93 Legislature," but talked about how awful it was to imprison the "poor" old criminal instead.

Even with elections and other distractions around, don't neglect to celebrate Thanksgiving. No matter how serious our problems, we still should take a time to give God thanks for the many blessings and bounties given to us. Too many of which we take for granted.

Comments about anything you read in Small Business News can be addressed to:

Small Business Hawaii
Hawaii Kai Corporate Plaza
6600 Kalanianaole Hwy., Suite 212
Honolulu, Hawaii 96825
Telephone: 396-1724 / Fax: 396-1726

SBH also accepts articles relating to small business issues about its members and Hawaii. Submit your articles to SBH by the 10th of the month for publication into the next month's issue.

E-Mail: macpro@lava.net
E-mail forwarded to SBH via local fax.

Small Business News is part of The Hawai`i NewsList family of internet features. It can be delivered directly to your e-mail address. Send a subscription request to listproc@hawaii.edu, with the text "SUBSCRIBE HI-NEWS-L Firstname Lastname" in the body of the message. You will receive a number of Hawaii based publications along with your Small Business News e-mail subscription.

Editor: Sam Slom
Late Assembly by: Melvin Ah Ching
Hosted on Honolulu's Most Popular Web: H4, Hawai`i's Data SuperHighway