Hawaii Political Platter

What's Up For 2013?

Unfortunately several taxes went up with the arrival of the new year. Bad way to start 2013.

The Hawaii State Legislature started on January 16. The Senate has a new Senate President... Donna Mercado Kim. There are 24 Democrats and 1 Republican in the Senate... just like it was in 2011 and 2012. Senator Kim stated in her opening day speech "I hope, first and foremost, that there will be NO new tax burdens thrust upon our citizens..."

At this early juncture one can remain hopeful.

On the other side, the State House of Representatives finally settled their leadership battle. Rep. Joe Souki from Maui emerged as the new speaker. I did not hear his speech, but based on past history I am sure he will be the champion of gambling, traffic cameras and more taxes. Hold on to your wallets!

Across the street at City Hall, a new mayor was put in. That person is former acting Mayor Kirk Caldwell who won the seat in a blistery election battle last fall where the evil forces of rail prevailed. Sad, but it looks like the damn thing will be built after all. Enough said.

The other day, close to 200 gun owners and second amendment supporters showed up for the Guns Across America rally at the State Capitol. The nation's gun rights (2nd Amendment) are at stake this year with the federal and several state governments going after lawful firearms owners.

Top Photo: Senate President Donna Mercado Kim. Below: Opening day at the Hawaii State Senate.





The Hawaii State Senate Chamber, opening day on January 16. Below: Protestors against the PLDC and GMO's were also out in force on opening day.







Gun owners were out in force on January 19 for a rally to preserve people's second amendment rights. Photos by Mel. More on Flickr.

Rep. Hanabusa on the O'Reilly Factor

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa comes up short on Fox News' O'Reilly Factor show regarding the previous Fox News report shown at this link.

What's Up at Smart Business Hawaii?

For many years now, I have been the photographer, maintainer and creator of Smart Business Hawaii's monthly newsletter, Small Business News and their website at smartbusinesshawaii.com.

The Passing of Lex Brodie

Thank You Very Much

Lex Brodie, the founder of Lex Brodie's Tire Company died last week at the age of 98. Brodie was also the founder of Small Business Hawaii which today is known as Smart Business Hawaii (SBH). 

I never knew Mr. Brodie personally as he headed that organization from its 1976 origin to about the early 1980s. I got involved with SBH in 1985 after meeting Sam Slom and becoming the designer and production artist for the monthly newsletter. Over the years I did meet Mr. Brodie and got a few pictures of him as shown below.

Several articles about Mr. Brodie's passing have been published and linked to from the SBH website:

Lex Brodie - Thank You Very Much

Hawaii's Greatest Entrepreneur, Lex Brodie Dies at 98

This photo was taken at an SBH event in 2004. Lex is shown with current SBH President Sam Slom.



In this photo, taken in 2006, show Pacific Business News founder George Mason with Lex Brodie. This was taken at another SBH function in 2006.

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The 2013 Smart Business Hawaii Conference

Like years past I was the official photographer at the 2013 SBH Conference held last week at the Ala Moana Hotel on January 9. Former Governor Ben Cayetano was the speaker. His topics included "the post Daniel Inouye world in Hawaii", the recent election, rail, public worker unions and more. The following are some of the picture shot at the event.




Business Success Panelists: Geal Talbert, UBS Financial, Moderator, Roy Yamaguchi, Roy's Restaurants and Kitty Lagareta, Communications Pacific.



Keynote speaker former Governor Ben Cayetano.



SBH Director and author Bob Sigall offered conference goers a checklist of what they can use to help make their business successful.



FBI agent Tom Simon spoke on white collar crime from business employees.

More photos at my Flickr photostream and at Smart Business Hawaii.

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Small Business News:
Going from Print to Online Only

In December 2012 it was decided by the SBH Board of Directors that the January 2013 edition of Small Business News would be the last one printed on paper. Starting in February the Small Business News will be online only, available in PDF form. The cost of production, mailing and problems with the U.S. Post Office were the reasons cited for the change.

After being involved with the production of the Small Business News for more than 20 years now, I wrote the following article which also appeared in the final print edition:

Liberal Policies Are Still Sending Hawaii Deeper to Hell in a Financial and Social Handbasket

Check this video out. The allegations are true. Hawaii has one of the nation's highest tax rates, liberal policies running rampant at all levels of State and County governments continue to send Hawaii down the social and economic hell hole. Enormous debt, homelessness, the uneducated, mistaken political viewpoints, prostitution, crime, sentencing policy, and more. The financial hole gets deeper as we add the huge cost of "the train", mandated sewer re-construction costs, health care, rampant government spending into the mix. The impact to the taxpayers will be fatal. Paradise is lost.

2013: Happy New Year

Happy New Year. Enjoy some of these photos and video I shot on the first day of 2013. Top First Sunrise of 2013. Below, views of Waikiki and Diamond Head before sunrise, January 1, 2013.





Videos from January 1, 2013 - First sunrise and fireworks at the Don Quijote store Honolulu.



We'll be blogging more into the new year. Have a good one!