Special to Hawai`i's H4 € Volume 20, No. 12 € December 1995
The World Wide Web Edition
Small Business: Leading Hawaii's Economic Revolution
1996 Legislature Convenes January 17
Hawaii Congress On Small Business Adopts 20 Legislative Recommendations
Representative Ward Surveys Community
Gaines Forming "Everybody Wins!"
Investor Morphs to Island Business
Small Business Views by Sam Slom
Guest Commentaries
Rights and Responsibility by Orson Swindle
Once In Power: New Zealand's Lesson by Ken Schoolland
Marketing Helps Your Business Profit and Survive by Rich Budnick
Our Obvious GE Tax Solution by Susan Kinsler
SBH will observe its 20th anniversary during 1996 as Hawaii's most effective small business advocacy organization and on Wednesday, January 10, 1996, will host its Annual Business Conference, the first major business conference of the New Year.
The conference theme is: "Small Business: Leading Hawaii's Economic Revolution." It will be held in the Hibiscus Ballroom of the Ala Moana Hotel, from 8 am -1:30 pm.
Luncheon keynoter will be Grover G. Norquist, president of the Americans for Tax Reform, Washington, D.C. Norquist initiated the famous Congressional "tax pledge" which resulted in widespread Republican victories in the 1994 election. He has been the subject of recent articles in the Wall Street Journal and Investors Business Daily chronicling his grass roots organizing successes, involvement with the Contract With America and closeness to House Speaker Newt Gingrich. He'll speak on Hawaii's tax reform movement.
Other speakers include: George Mason, Lowell Kalapa, Orson Swindle, and a 1996 Legislative Panel that will assess business' chances in the upcoming Session.
Special events, networking and business exhibits (log on the Internet!) will be featured.
Annual SBH Awards -- including the SBH Small Business Person of the Year and media recognition will be presented with SBH's 1995 Small Business Success Profiles. A complete program agenda will be presented in the January issue of Small Business News.
After moving back into the State Capitol in late November, state legislators are preparing for the 1996 60-day Legislative Session which will convene on Wednesday, January 17. Major economic and social problems face the Legislators.
The lawmakers were out of the Capitol for 4 years while "refurbishing" took place. The original job called for about $400,000 in air conditioning repairs. Then asbestos was uncovered. Next, major cosmetic improvements were proposed by the fashion-conscious legislators. The current cost: $67 MILLION (and still counting). Only in Hawaii!
There will be one new member of the House; former Representative Emilio Alcon died in September and the Governor appointed Jun Abinsay to serve out his term.
The recently concluded Hawaii Congress on Small Business adopted 20 priority issues and Senate President Norman Mizuguchi promised to introduce legislation for every one. He and the Governor, through DBED's Dr. Seiji Naya, also promised support during the Session. Business is waiting for ACTION with the good words. Meanwhile, call SBH and join the SBH Legislative Action Committee for '96.
State Rep. Gene Ward (R), House Minority Leader, recently released results of a community poll of 1,978 businesses randomly surveyed. "Survey of the Problems and Prospects of Doing Business in Hawaii," was initiated by the House Republican Caucus.
With more than 10 percent of the responses tabulated in mid-November, the top listed problems--which should come as no surprise--included: (1) High General Excise and other taxes; (2) too much government involvement in business; (3) cost of workers' comp; (4) government red tape/regulations, and (5) prepaid health and other mandated benefits.
The results will be used as a guide by House Republicans in the upcoming Session next month. Ward added that another big problem of small business is their failure to testify and get actively involved in the legislative process directly--because they're too busy trying to survive day-by-day. Somehow, let's make the time in '96!
You knew it and liked it as Hawaii Investor magazine; you'll like it even better as Island Business magazine.
As Editor Lucy Jokiel reports, "The first issue of Island Business represents a reshaping of our publication to reflect an ever-changing business world.
We will continue to focus on Hawaii's overall economy, but will more aggressively cover the issues relating to small businesses.
There will be broader and more timely coverage of the Neighbor Island business community.
We are introducing a regular column by Sam Slom ("Sam Says").
Another new column will offer comment on the everyday happenings in our business community through the sharp eyes and clever wit of local attorney Tom Fagan.
We are introducing a new section. "Report from Washington," by contributing editor Ellen Paris. She is a former editor for Forbes magazine who now lives in Washington D.C. Hawaii's congressional members will be interviewed monthly about topics relating to Hawaii's economy/business environment."
As previously reported, current SBH members are receiving a complimentary one-year subscription to Island Business magazine, another way of thanking you for your continued support of SBH.
(If you have recently joined, moved, or are not receiving your copy, please contact the SBH office at 396-1724).
This Issue of Small Business News
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