Postal Hike! | Fat Boys in HI Kai | Case vs. Hirono | Smokin’ Hot | Unemployment Increase

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BY SEN. SAM SLOMForbes Visit.  Publisher, business analyst and former Presidential candidate, Steve Forbes, was in Honolulu for a quick visit yesterday.  Forbes spoke at the motivational seminar at the Convention Center, and at a special fundraising luncheon for U.S. Senate candidate Linda Lingle. Had the opportunity to have a dinner meeting with Mr. Forbes Monday night, along with Hawaii Reporter’s Malia Zimmerman. Forbes is spot on when it comes to business and political evaluation.

Postal Hike. Did you remember to increase your postage meter to 45¢ since last Friday?  More cost, less service; that is the tried and true government process.

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Educational Choice. The Heritage Foundation of Washington, D.C., presents a special program on Educational Choice and a dinner tonight, 5 – 9 pm at the Rainbow Suite in the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Special guest speaker will be King’s College prexy Dinesh D’Sousa. Panel members include Jennifer Marshall of Heritage, Allen Cardines of Hawaii Family Forum and yours truly. Go to  Heritage.org for details.

Perry & Price on the Go.  The Jade Dynasty at Ala Moana Center is the new home of the popular Saturday morning live Perry & Price radio show on KSSK.  They are exiting Jimmy Buffet’s in Waikiki for free parking and easier access. The show which was at the old Sheraton Waikiki’s Hanohano Room, moved to John Dominis, to Buffet’s and now Ala Moana. Ratings remain high.

Smoking Hot. The undercover sting by Hawaii Reporter.com last week that revealed UH Professor Lawrence Boyd is tied to an X-rated escort service being run out of his Waikiki apartment has become more bizarre by the day as new details emerge. The “Volcano Girls” Kendra, who Hawaii Reporter’s Jim Dooley met during the Sting, is described as “smoking hot.” Boyd denied any knowledge of this or the prior police raid in his apartment in 2007 when a prostitute was arrested there. Boyd is a familiar fixture around the Hawaii State Legislature as the official economist of choice for gambling and marijuana legalization, minimum wage increases and all things union.

UI Increase. Small businesses bracing here for another large increase in unemployment compensation taxes in March unless the legislature fast tracks a bill to stall the increase.

Hawaii Kai Lane.  The long overdue extra highway lane connecting Keahole Street with Hawaii Kai Drive, which also is over budget, may be completed in March 2012. It ballooned to be a $4 million project with several delays.

Firing Blanks. The City wants to impose hefty fees at the only public firing range on O’ahu at Koko Head Crater in Hawaii Kai. The money would not go for range improvement; it would go into the City’s General Fund.

Fat Boys Coming. The Fat Boys eatery of Kailua makes its debut in Hawaii Kai at the Koko Marina Shopping Center. Good local eats.

Lumber Leaders. The Hawaii Lumber Products Association (HLPA) announced its 2012 Board of Directors and officers including Ken Laughlin, President (Pacific Wood Preserving), Jeff Browning, Vice President (Sause Bros.), Robert B. Kayser, Jr., Treasurer (Gentry Builders, LLC) and Connie Smales, Secretary (Plywood Hawaii, Inc.) See  www.hawaiilumber.com.

The Secret. Victoria Secret’s Regina Ossey wowed more than 50 business owners at last Wednesday’s SBH Sunrise Networking Breakfast. Her knowledge of retailing, trends and innovation were outstanding. This young woman will go far in the organization.

Monopoly Money. The monopoly paper, Star-Advertiser, is raking in big bucks on its hefty ad increases. Legal notices are a cash cow because law requires they be posted in a “newspaper of general circulation.” At a legislative hearing on mortgage foreclosure changes on Tuesday, it was testimony that said in 2008 (before the Star Bulletin shutdown) a judicial foreclosure ad cost $800; it is now $2,000. A non-judicial foreclosure ad costs $4,300. Bad news for the monopoly: electronic publication is coming.

Not Civil. Journalists around town note the electronic Civil Beat newspaper, backed by billionaire Pierre Omidyar (of EBay fame) is filing FOIAs (Freedom of Information Act) requests in order to find out what other news media have requested from various government agencies. Apparently, that is the oldest journalism trick in the book to get stories from the competition. They also say Omidyar is actively trying to lure reporters from other news media.

Carlisle to the Brink. Like the Italian ship captain who abandoned his passengers, it seems Mayor Peter Carlisle wants Honolulu taxpayers to go down with the ever-failing rail project. The money is not there yet and Carlisle insists he will plough ahead, now announcing a $450 million line of credit to pay for the $6 billion steel-on-steel heavy rail. He will lose either in court, or with the election of Ben Cayetano as Mayor later this year.

Brick n’ Mortar. Senate Majority Leader Brickwood Galuteria joins me on the Rick Hamada KHVH radio show 7-8 am on Tuesdays (except Thursday next week). Call in.

Case Edging Forward. Ed Case appears to be edging ahead of union and U.S. Senator Dan Inouye favorite Mazie Hirono for the Democratic Primary for U.S. Senator. Don’t underestimate the Democrat insiders. The winner will face former Gov. Linda Lingle in the fall.

Pro Bowl Aloha? Last Sunday’s NFL Pro Bowl in Hawaii may be the last for some time. The latest contract has expired and rumors persist the popular game will follow the Super Bowl cities. The NFL showcases its top stars in Hawaii and the players love to come here. The Pro Bowl generates thousands of visitors, millions of dollars in spending and we get worldwide good PR. The NFL certainly took into consideration Governor Abercrombie’s negative comments about the $4 million state expenditure.

One note about last Sunday’s game: did you hear the boos- first time I can remember- from fans thinking some of the players were really dogging it and putting in less than half energy? Even Aaron Rodgers of the Packers was critical after the game. It is, after all, an exhibition for many.

Reapportionment Blues. The Hawaii State Reapportionment Commission met Monday and said it will not be able to finish redrawing lines by today’s start for candidate nomination papers. Big losers will be the military, once again disenfranchised here.

Balanced Budget? Reserve now for the next SBH SUNRISE Networking Breakfast, Thursday, February 23, 7 – 8:30 am, featuring Kalbert Young, State Director of Budget & Finance. The networking and breakfast takes place in The Pineapple Room, Macy’s Ala Moana, and the public is welcome. Learn what is in store for you this legislative session. Call Darlyn @ SBH, 396-1724 for required advance reservations.

HawaiiReporter.com Reporting.  
Malia Zimmerman owns and edits the award winning Hawaii Reporter.com, Hawaii’s first electronic daily newspaper. Hawaii Reporter still is free to all readers. Malia reports daily (M-F) on the Rick Hamada Show, KHVH radio on 830 AM at, 7:40 am.

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

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