Hawaii currently has a structural deficit of 3.1%, meaning tax revenues only cover 96.9% of the state’s expenses. It’s a gap that has persisted over time, according to research highlighted here. This issue will be addressed in the upcoming legislative session, as it has in the past:…
Established in 1953, the Tax Foundation of Hawaii is your eye on State taxes. We are an IRC 501(c)(3) organization that educates and encourages the efficient and effective use of public funds (our tax dollars) to operate government and deliver…
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…
A City & County of Honolulu leader wants to recycle less because she says it doesn’t make sense economically or environmentally. Environmentalists say “refusing” and “reusing” are much better than recycling. Here’s what you should know. Recycling is changing on…
Part I: The High Cost and Shortages Child care is too costly for many working families and there are too few openings for all the children who need proper care. We examine the problem and the responses, including efforts by…
Now that you are done with your 2017 federal taxes, you may be thinking: How will tax reform affect me? We test local opinion with surveys of 426 residents and 443 business leaders. QUESTION #1 Do you think the…
This talk story features Honolulu City Councilmember Trevor Ozawa, who received the inaugural Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association Award for Leadership In the Industry: Young Achiever It’s become a tradition for Honolulu City Councilmember Trevor Ozawa to volunteer his time to…
When this magazine published its “Power Issue” in October 2009, we asked “Who Runs Hawaii?” The answer, of course, was complicated, but we managed to sum it up in a two-page chart listing the main players and in our lead…
The first significant federal tax reform in 30 years will provide major savings for Hawaii businesses and corporations starting with this tax year but the changes are complex and still evolving, according to a panel of experts assembled by Hawaii Business.
Those who believe astronomy and Hawaiian culture can coexist on the volcano disagree about who should be in charge For the three years since the confrontational protests atop Mauna Kea, the volcano’s future has been discussed, debated, dissected and disputed…
These two companies help pregnant Chinese women obtain visas and fly to Hawaii so their children are born here and get U.S. citizenship Goen Gao runs a tourism company for Chinese visitors called Hawaii Lulutrip, and a side business called HI…
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…
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,…
It’s an honor for Adrian Kamalii to represent some of his childhood heroes professionally. The 35-year-old entrepreneur is the president of Pae Aina Communications. He is a graduate of the Kamehameha Schools Kapalama and Hawaii Pacific University. As a student,…
Nearly half of our state legislators hold second jobs, from pilot, doctor and lawyer to business owner, real estate agent and more. Most people would be surprised to see a state senator mowing the lawn or cleaning the restrooms at…
Grading Gov. David Ige & U.S. Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa The BOSS survey asked 402 local business leaders about their opinion of the job David Ige has done as governor. They were asked to choose among these letter grades. The same…
Here’s how Hawaii’s rural hospitals (barely) stay afloat. For some, things have gotten better, but others face an even more difficult future. State Sen. Josh Green works the weekend shift at Kohala Hospital's emergency room, and it's normally quiet. That…
"What makes Hawaii more than your plants and your environment?" Nellie Sugii asks rhetorically. We're standing in the downstairs room of the micropropagation laboratory at the Harold L. Lyon Arboretum in Manoa, where Sugii manages the Hawaiian Rare Plant Program.…
I just finished three days of providing testimony and participating in the national Small Business Administration’s Regulatory Fairness Board meeting. Twenty-two board members from across the U.S. attended and represented their states and regions. I represented Hawaii and served as…
The collective hearts of local organizations and business leaders has created a wave of care and hope throughout our community. An ongoing alliance between The Salvation Army, Helping Hands Hawaii and the State of Hawaii's Homeless Initiative–in partnership with the…
WASHINGTON - ONE TRILLION DOLLARS. As a candidate, that's how much Donald Trump said he planned to spend, if elected, to fix the country's crumbling infrastructure. This proposal was one of the key policies Trump used to distinguish himself from…
It makes sense for the leaders of local small businesses and county governments to fly 4,800 miles every year to visit a hill. That's because when you are on Capitol Hill, there are opportunities all around you. "As of today,"…
Inside the food and restaurant inspection process, where sanitarians look for things that could make you sick Michael Okamura isn’t a police officer and doesn’t wear a uniform, but he carries his badge and ID while on the job. His…
It’s not every day that you smell sizzling Spam as you roam the halls of Capitol Hill or see a crowd of Congress members adorned with lei. On June 13-14, however, the aloha spirit will be on proud display in…