Our Best-Read Stories of the Year
Our December print issue is the time we look back at the previous 12 months and rank our most popular stories on our website, in our Today’s Hawai‘i News email newsletter and on our social media.
Steve Petranik
Steve Petranik has been an editor and reporter for almost four decades and now is the editor of Hawaii Business. Before joining the magazine in 2009, he spent 18 years as an editor at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and five years at the Honolulu Advertiser. He’s reported from six countries on three continents and his stories have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post and Los Angeles Times.
Articles
It’s Late But We Must Still Listen to History
We are in the middle of a man-made climate crisis that will get increasingly worse because nations and individuals have put off serious action for decades. The evidence is massive and undeniable, but too many leaders and their followers deny…
Where Do You Get Local News?
We asked that question in two statewide surveys: the BOSS Survey of 405 local business leaders and the 808 Poll of 547 members of the general public Respondents were able to pick multiple sources for their Hawai‘i news (click…
What Hawaiʻi Thinks About Marijuana Laws
We included this topic in two statewide surveys: The BOSS Survey of 405 local business leaders and the 808 Poll of 547 members of the general public. In both surveys, we led the discussion on marijuana with this question: "Would…
BOSS Survey of 100 Construction Industry Leaders
Strong Results Now and Robust Optimism for the Future Good times seem to have gotten even better recently for construction companies and related businesses, according to a BOSS survey of industry leaders. The July and August issue of Hawaii Business…
Here’s How We Decide What to Cover
We take our mission seriously: “To strengthen the local economy and help our communities thrive.” And to keep us on track with that mission, we created an editorial mantra: “Big Issues, Useful, Unique, Accessible.” Let me walk you through those…
Leaders Meeting Leaders was the Highlight of Merging Visions Event
Thursday evening at historic Washington Place was magic: Hawai‘i's current business and nonprofit leaders met with emerging leaders from many walks of life.
6 Facets of Resilience
Four local leaders discuss what resilience means, how to bounce back from failure and how to build resilience into your teams so they persevere and succeed. ere are edited and condensed excerpts from a workshop held at the 2018 Hawaii…
Calling Women Who Are Leaders in Their Family’s Business
Full time business partner, full time family member – the typical woman in a family business has to juggle being the mom/wife/daughter/sister AND company leader. You see your family members at work and your business partners at home too. Sound…
Here’s What Hawai‘i Thinks About Trump and Tax Reform
We included those topics in two statewide surveys: the BOSS Survey of 405 local business leaders and the 808 Poll of 547 members of the general public. Respondents in both polls were asked how they felt about President Donald…
Survey Methodologies
Here are the methodologies for the BOSS Survey and 808 Poll, which are the basis for multiple stories published in Hawaii Business Magazine during the second half of 2019. BOSS Methodology BOSS stands for Business Outlook and Sentiment Survey.…
Our Goal is Being Useful to You
One of the main goals of Hawaii Business Magazine is to be useful to our readers and one of our most useful services is Today’s Hawaii News. The email newsletter was launched in April 2017 to give you a quick…
Retired Business Leader Wesley Park Dies
Retired Hawai‘i business leader Wesley Park has died, says his son, Ku‘uhaku Park. Wesley Park was especially well respected as a business turnaround artist: an executive who rescued struggling companies and nonprofits. He gave new life to the St. Francis…
BOSS Survey Reflects Solid But Unspectacular Economic Growth
BOSS Performance Index Unchanged The Performance Index is based on changes in revenue, profit and staffing at the 405 companies surveyed. The latest results show steady growth, but less than the boom year of 2017. See the BOSS Optimism Index.…
Business Leaders Look Ahead
BOSS Optimism Index Also Unchanged The Optimism Index is based on whether the business leaders surveyed feel the local economy will grow, hold steady or decline in the coming year. See the BOSS Performance Index. Economic outlook: 30% of the…
Editor’s Note on News Media
A contradiction of our age is that we have more access to information about politics and government than ever before, yet a smaller and smaller percentage of Hawai‘i’s people find it worthwhile to vote. How to reverse that decline in…
Best Regional Business Magazine – Again
Hawaii Business Magazine wins 24 national and state awards — becoming the best regional business magazine in the country for the second year in a row. The accolade was one of six national awards and 18 state awards we received this summer for work published in 2018.
Editor’s Note: It Really Is Better Live
You work hard, so at the end of the day (or week), you’re too tired to go to that local play, concert or gallery show, and instead you plop in front of the TV again. Does this sound like you?
Is There Pay Disparity Where You Work?
We asked that question in the BOSS Survey of 350 local business leaders and the 808 Poll of 481 members of the general public. Both surveys asked: At the companies where you work, are women and men paid the same…
Hawaii Thinks Immigrants Help the Economy
That’s what we learned from two surveys: The BOSS Survey of 350 local business leaders and the 808 Poll of 481 members of the general public. One question in both surveys asked: Which of these statements best reflect your view?…
Do You See Artificial Intelligence as a Threat or Opportunity?
We asked that question in both the BOSS Survey of 350 local business leaders and the 808 Poll of 481 members of the general public. We asked business leaders how they perceive the effects of artificial intelligence and automation…
Editor’s Note: Immigration Has Upended Our Opinions
Conservative writer David Frum has stirred a hornet’s nest on the issue of immigration, and since that’s a topic that sharply divides Americans, I think it is worthwhile to dive in and provide local perspective. Frum’s article in the April…
Editor’s Note: Fight Back Against Genes and Zip Codes
Beverly Creamer’s Report on Health and Wellness covers a lot of important issues. In this column, I focus on one person and one issue: You and your personal health. Your health depends on a lot of factors, many of which you…
Best Places to Work 2019
Creating a Best Place to Work is not brain surgery, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.
Do You Use a Cybercurrency?
Business leaders and locals weighed in on their knowledge of cryptocurrency in this survey. Only 1% of local business leaders have actually used cryptocurrency compared to 52% who don't have a working knowledge of this payment form.
Editor’s Note: Bridging Schools and Businesses
The original question was: How can businesspeople and their companies support Hawaii’s schools? That question brought together about 20 people for a brainstorming session during the Hawaii Executive Conference in early October. The answer became the Education Bridge, a still-evolving…
Does Your Workplace Offer a Wellness Program?
We asked that question in both the BOSS Survey of 350 local business leaders and the 808 Poll of 481 members of the general public. Here's what respondents of the surveys said:The bigger the company, the more likely a wellness…
Hawaii Believes Climate Change Is Real
Two surveys of local residents indicate three-quarters believe it is already happening. The BOSS Survey of 350 local business leaders and the 808 Poll of 481 members of the general public show similar results on climate change. ━━ One question…
Editor’s Note: When Working Hard is Hardly Enough
If you, like me, are lucky enough to belong to the middle or upper classes, you may need to read our report to really understand the dire situation of these working people. But you don’t have to look far to find them.
Methodology for BOSS Survey and 808 Poll Published in First Half of 2019
The BOSS Survey and 808 Poll are conducted twice a year for Hawaii Business by the Research Division of the Anthology Marketing Group. Here is the methodology on both surveys. The latest BOSS Survey was conducted using a list of…
BOSS Survey: Tourism Report
The latest version of the BOSS Survey, conducted by the Research Division of the Anthology Marketing Group for Hawaii Business in Fall 2018, talked to 350 business leaders from all sectors of Hawaii’s economy. A separate survey-within-a-survey was conducted with…
BOSS Survey of
350 Local Business Leaders
Most say their companies still performed well in the seventh year of this economic expansion. But asked about the near future, their collective enthusiasm is down. The BOSS Performance Index The Performance Index measures changes in employment, gross revenues…
Editor’s Note: Is Legal Marijuana Inevitable?
A friend from California brought me a gift: two chocolate bars infused with THC, the substance in marijuana that gets you high and has medical benefits for some people. Except for the small red "THC!" flag in the bottom right…
Our Best-Read Stories in 2018
Hawaii Business' most popular articles of 2018 were about outstanding people and companies and about major issues facing Hawaii.
How To Make Your Restaurant Successful
Want to open a new restaurant or introduce your existing eatery to more customers? Maybe you want the inside scoop from some of the biggest names in local food. Whatever the case, you should attend “The Business of Restaurants,” a…
We Like to Recognize Generosity
Companies often send me news releases about donations they make to hospitals, distressed communities or any of a thousand worthy causes. I wish I could report on all these admirable efforts, because they deserve recognition.
Please Nominate Outstanding People and Businesses
Hawaii Business magazine is accepting nominations for two of its popular programs: 20 for the Next 20, Hawai‘i’s People to Watch: We are looking for 20 people whose talents, accomplishments and potential set them apart as emerging leaders of Hawai‘i…
Hawaii Agrees with #MeToo
The anti-sexual harassment movement is assessed in separate surveys of 426 Hawaii residents and 443 local business leaders The question: Thinking of the current environment and the movement against sexual harassment, which of the following three statements comes…
Should You Vote Yes or No on Property Tax Measure?
The state Legislature is asking voters to approve a major restructuring of our tax system The state Legislature is trying to muscle into the counties’ main area of taxation, property taxes, and voters will choose Nov. 6 whether to let…
Hawaii Village that Houses Formerly Homeless Families Needs Your Vote
Kahauiki Village is up for a national award worth $15,000. Your online vote each day can help it win. Kahauiki Village, the community for formerly homeless families near Sand Island on Oahu, is up for a national award and needs…
