Small Business

...a civil fine of $20,000 plus $10,000 per day for each day the unlawful operation persists....

... The proposed amendment removes the limitation on the amount of time the department has to take action on a complete application for an Underground Storage Tank (UST) system permit and removes the automatic approval of a permit when that time limit is exceeded ....

...spurred by the announced plans of Democratic presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders to enact a tax on wealth....

...the fee is collected only on shipments by water....

...Some states require an analysis of the potential economic impact of certain legislative proposals — an “economic impact statement,” if you will. Hawaii does not....

... which horse do you think finished pulling the wagon first? ....

...Office of Inspector General has selected the NOAA’s Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund grants awarded to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council for an audit....

...In the period between now and when Bill 37 becomes effective, the mayor will work with interested parties to rectify the issues concerning this bill....

...Steve Petranik, editor of Hawaii Business Magazine, and Kam Napier, editor-in-chief of the Pacific Business News, share their insights about Hawaii's business climate....

...In the news recently was a story about business and licensing fees actually going down....

... What happens when a government tries to fix a system that isn’t broken? ....

...Bill 37 amounts to a sweetheart deal for big union labor and will guarantee that the county will have to spend more on future infrastructure projects....

...Washington State’s 20 percent rate is the highest estate tax rate in the nation, although Hawaii is set to increase its top rate to 20 percent effective January 1, 2020....

...Currently, the minimum age to purchase nicotine vapor products in Hawaii is 21....

...a proposed policy in Honolulu may prevent nonunion employers from bidding on government projects....

...Hawaii had the lowest percentage of Millennial-owned businesses -- 3.65%....

...After a public hearing, the Council approved the bill, 7-2, It now goes to the mayor....

...OHA stands to potentially receive a 20% cut of revenues generated from development of so-called ‘ceded lands’-- such as the Ala Wai harbor....

...Oahu Weds Oct 23 -- Maui Fri Oct 25....

...We, among many others, have long warned that if government squeezes our population too hard with taxes, regulations, and other impediments, people will vote. Not necessarily at the ballot box, but with their feet.... 

...user-friendly tool to assist Hawai‘i’s business community, rule-drafting agencies, business chambers and trade organizations in providing current information on the status of state and county new and proposed HARs....

...“A recent enhancement that allowed new applications to be submitted online has cut Guard Employee (GDE) processing time from 15 days to two!”....

...Their only "survival" option is to downsize by a factor of at least 10....

...more NOVs are anticipated in the coming weeks....

...The Small Business Caucus is hosting the first-ever panel of speakers at the Hawaii State Capitol to discuss the future of A.I. in Hawaii's economy....

... Fee increases for users of Hawai‘i small boat harbors and boating facilities will be implemented soon, after they were signed into law by Governor David Ige on August 13, 2019 ....

...Some of the requirements contradict themselves....

...Throwback rules can yield exceedingly high and often uncompetitive levels of taxation for some businesses, to the point that the outmigration they generate can more than offset any revenue gains from taxing “nowhere income.”....

...The impact of the vacation rental ban on Oahu has not yet been seen in visitor arrivals....

...A supplemental agreement pilot project that provides a wage differential for City & County of Honolulu employees to make $15 an hour....

... minimum wage, the Hawaii brain drain, and Trump tariffs ....

...Hawaii Child Care Costs More than College Tuition....

...Minimum wage hikes are often promoted as a way to help the less fortunate out of poverty. But are they really the best tool for the job?....

... read the full complaint ....

...The Manufacturing Scorecard shows how each state ranks among its peers in several categories that are of particular interest to site selection experts for the manufacturing and logistics industries....

...BBB release Military Report on Marketplace Challenges....

...Stop shooting the messenger and concentrate on cleaning house!....

...To rank CNBC's 2019 America's Top States for Business, we put all 50 states through a rigorous test and graded them based on more than 60 measures of competitiveness in 10 broad categories....

...For almost three decades, the handyman exemption in Hawaii was capped at $1,000, a limit that includes the cost of labor and materials....

...Hawaii ranks 47th....

...“Let’s not kill the goose that lays the golden egg”....

...Hawaii’s property owners now have many more options for fighting back against oppressive government regulation of property than they did last week.... 

...The absence of long-range planning has left the Land Division staff without the expertise, resources, and options to actively and effectively manage its land portfolio....

...Ige notified legislative leaders and key lawmakers of his Intent to Veto the following 20 measures....

...Hawaii’s state and county governments aren’t known for delivering high-quality public services in a cost-efficient manner....

...banning short-term rentals could hurt Hawaii more than people realize....

...“Look. We’ve issued four audit reports on the program...."

...there is a bill before Gov. David Ige, SB 1292, which he has until June 24 to veto or sign....

...lawmakers' plans to crack down on the vacation rental industry may hurt Hawaii's struggling economy....

...taxi companies in several cities have brought lawsuits claiming that legalizing ride-share services such as Uber and Lyft violates the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment....