“People used to come in and say, ‘We thought you were a restaurant!’” says BoxJelly founder Rechung Fujihira. That rarely happens anymore. The concept of a co-working space has become a global phenomenon, and BoxJelly is now one of several such spaces in Honolulu that offers affordable workspace to freelancers and other work-from-home professionals. But back in 2011, BoxJelly was…
Fund-raiser for Shidler College of Business Alumni Association More than 100 wines are yours for the tasting at the 18th Annual Executive Vineyards event, a fund-raiser for the non-profit Shidler College of Business Alumni Association. The annual event — which usually sells out — is on Thursday, March 8 from 6-9 p.m. at the historic Royal Hawaiian hotel. In addition…
But how – and how much – is very much a work in progress and it’s important that you monitor what happens next Finally, after more than 30 years, true tax reform has become law. Most small and midsize businesses (SMBs) in Hawaii will save on federal taxes, but how that happens and how much you save will depend primarily…
KRISTAL MUHICH IS A SURVIVOR. “I was adopted by my uncle when I was 4,” recalls the owner of Kauai Juice Co. “I really didn’t like school. I couldn’t wait to leave – I graduated from high school early when I was 17 so I could work four different jobs. I was always a workaholic.” She was born in Texas,…
The BOSS survey examines what’s holding back your business Government Regulations The BOSS survey presented 402 local business leaders with five regulatory issues. They were asked if each one presented an individual challenge to their companies. Afterward, those who selected at least one of the five as being an issue for their companies were asked to identify which presented…
“The martial arts teach you a way of life, a way to live. It’s not necessarily just being able to defend yourself,” explains Lee Donohue, president of Kick Start Karate, an after-school program to combat gangs and juvenile delinquency. “We have tenets or mantras we try to live by. One of the big ones is, ‘Always seek perfection of character.’…
Cottrell views Iolani as a crucible in which the 154-year-old school’s values meld with a modern curriculum and cutting-edge facilities to nurture students who are well prepared for the economy of the future. Q: Your goal is to build a “forward-looking school.” What does that mean? Cottrell: Traditional curricula prepared students for jobs of the old economy, where big corporations…
Sergio Ilagan carefully engraves Na Hoku’s signature designs on a 14kt gold Hawaiian bangle bracelet using a “graver” driven by compressed air. Ilagan has 29 years of experience hand engraving jewelry, which is a rare craft in the modern world. Na Hoku’s factory employs 47 workers and produces over 1,000 bangles a year along with other fine jewelry, says director…
I feel trapped in a time machine that has taken me back three or four decades. Workplace problems like sexual harassment that should have died off long ago continue to flourish. In fact, the most persistent theme of history – men behaving badly and its persistent corollary, men who can’t keep their pants on – seems to be enjoying a…
Name: Donna Rodriguez Age: 46 Job: Errands runner and owner, 808-Errands Start: The El Paso, Texas, native once took a vacation to Maui and says, “The aloha drew me in.” She knew she eventually wanted to live here, so in 2003 she closed her eyes and literally put her finger on a map of the Islands, landed on Oahu and moved to Waikiki…
Single professionals who work hard sometimes have trouble finding the time to discover love. Rachel Ross Bradley, who’s been there but is now happily married, offers these five steps to romance. 1. Broaden Your Circles. Just like in sales, finding love is a numbers game. The more people you meet, the more likely you will find your other half. Try…
Governor David Ige providing his opening remarks at the start of Friday’s conference. | Photo: Johnny York Day two of the East Meets West Conference was held appropriately at the East-West Center in Manoa, Friday, Feb. 2. Governor David Ige began by addressing the audience, emphasizing Hawaii’s commitment to nurturing startups and entrepreneurs. Approximately 25% of the audience were…
Hawaiians believe that when it rains on an event day that is the aina (that which feeds us) acknowledging your presence, and the land made attendees of the East West Conference 2018 Summit feel recognized. Venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, techies and local business people were blessed by precipitation as well as insightful roundtable discussions and power networking at the first day…
Q: Our company is hiring new employees. What benefits should I consider to ensure they don’t leave? A: With continued low unemployment, Hawaii’s job market remains extremely competitive. Employers should review their benefits package as a key tool in retaining and recruiting highly qualified employees. Standard benefits include healthcare, life insurance and retirement benefits. Here are some factors to consider,…
Q: I’m coming up on my first annual review in my new job and I’m really nervous. I’ve got a good relationship with my boss and our clients, and delivered on the projects I worked on. But there’s one guy in the department who’s been here forever and doesn’t like me. Since the company does “360-degree feedback” reviews, I’m afraid…
But a simple form helped resolve the problem and got drinks flowing again. A chronic bottleneck at local IRS offices forced as many as two dozen small bars, restaurants and storefronts in Hawaii to temporarily halt liquor sales each summer, costing them many thousands of dollars in lost income. The solution seems to be surprisingly simple: a single-page form filed…
Brand loyalty is strong in the Islands, but give a customer a bad experience and they may never forget or forgive. “From right here, I can see one, two, three, four, five banks outside my window,” says Dennis Christianson, partner/CEO of Anthology Marketing Group, from his downtown Honolulu office. “Why does somebody decide they’re going to go to this one…
Many local organizations have created mobile phone apps to connect with customers, students, patients and others, but apps are not useful to every business At any time, students at Hawaii Pacific University can look at their assignments, view their grades, check the campus shuttle schedule and read about campus news all from a single app on their phones. Gone are…
HR compliance is a complex web of details and check-lists. ProService Hawaii offers these five “musts” of HR that every small business in Hawaii needs to know The Bare Minimum. Mandatory coverages in Hawaii are the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act, Workers Compensation, and State-Mandated Short-Term Disability Insurance. Hire Right, Fire Right. When hiring and firing employees, adopt an attitude…
2018 Energy Forecast Hawaii’s transition to a clean energy economy is making headway, thanks to the collaboration between the state, utilities, and private sector. Alternative fuel, energy efficiency, and a growing fleet of electric vehicles usher in more jobs, innovation, and hope for the future. A decade after the launch of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, the State leans in…
Experts reveal the top challenges of today’s construction industry—and potential solutions moving forward. Table of Contents Built to Last How do we overcome the unique challenges our construction industry faces today? The Challenges: Overcoming Obstacles The Solutions: Looking Ahead, Moving Forward Messages from BIA‒Hawaii Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, Inc. HPM Building Supply Pacific Resource Partnership Swinerton Builders Bella Pietra…