HAWAII - Out of Gas

Learn Outlook for 2013 TODAY! Yes, TODAY is the 37th annual SBH Business & Investment Conference, at the Ala Moana Hotel. Still time to attend the full day event (9 am – 2 pm) There will be networking, business exhibit tables, full luncheon and a tremendous program with outstanding speakers including: the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s Mike McCartney; the FBI’s Tom Simon, best selling author Bob Sigall and successful business owners, Kitty Lagareta and Roy Yamaguchi. "Politics in the Post-Inouye Era"' is the topic of the keynote speech by former Governor Ben Cayetano that he will deliver at the noon luncheon. Come to the Ala Moana Hotel (Garden Lanai) to attend today!

Today’s SBH Business Conference Sponsors Include: GOLD: McDonald's Restaurants of Hawaii; SILVER: The Systemcenter, Inc. BRONZE: Clear Channel, Phoenix Pacific, Valenti Print Group, Winners' Camp Foundation EMERALD: Scotty Anderson, Aloha Petroleum, Charley's Taxi, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, HawaiiReporter.com, HECO, HMAA, HonoluluTraffic.com, JS Services, Kai Vodka, Outback Steakhouse - Hawaii Kai, Up & Running Hawaii. Refreshment Break Sponsor: Geal Talbert, UBS Financial Services

Out of Gas. Hawaii’s largest refinery, Tesoro, located in Campbell Industrial Park in Kapolei, has notified the State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBED&T) that it has been unable to find a buyer for its refinery and 32 retail outlets after a year of searching and will close down its operations in April, 2013. Tesoro Corporation currently refines approximately 94,000 barrels of fuel daily and employs 250. The remaining refinery belongs to Chevron who has also made noises in past years of shutting down. And why not? Hawaii’s business climate remains hostile and local politicians demonize petroleum. Chevron currently refines about 40,000 barrels per day. Hawaii consumes about 1.25 million gallons of gasoline per day.

Where Was The Irish? Monday’s BCS Football Championship was very sad for most Hawaii residents who became Irish and part Samoan for a day. Work and traffic ground to a halt at 3 pm as nearly every TV was tuned to the Alabama/Notre Dame game. Though underdogs, the Fightin’ Irish had spirit, fans and Punahou’s Manti Te’o. Unfortunately, ND didn’t have game as the Crimson Tide rolled again and again to a 42-14 victory. It was an inglorious end to a great ND season. But it was good for food outlets, #5 tee shirts and beer distributors.

HAL Sets Records. Hawaiian Airlines, Inc., a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA), announced its system wide traffic statistics for December, fourth quarter, and full year 2012. Hawaiian carried 9,484,204 passengers in 2012, the most in the company’s history. Passenger statistics for December and the fourth quarter were also company records.

Senator Agaran. Gov. Neil Abercrombie appointed Rep. Gilbert Samuel Coloma Keith-Agaran to the State Senate Monday to replace Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui. Tsutsui, from Maui, was previously the Senate President, a post now held by Donna Mercado Kim. This after the Gov’s recent appointment of Brian Schatz to the U.S. Senate. But wait! There’s more! The Gov now gets to appoint a Maui replacement for Agaran in the State House. Abercrombie has appointed more than his share of House and Senate members during his first two years. They are loyalists during the legislative session and will be valuable to him if he is challenged next year for a run for a second term as Governor.

Session Opens Wednesday. Next Wednesday, January 16, the 27th State Legislature will convene for its annual 60 working day run (until May 2). There still is no elected Speaker of the House or legislative calendar. The legislature opens at 10 am. Tickets are scarce. The Senate entertainment includes Brother Noland and Manoa DNA. Food will follow in legislative offices. Moronic legislation will follow the food. Watch for marijuana, gambling and assisted suicide to divert your attention from Hawaii’s serious economic problems.

Gun Appreciation Day. Mark your calendar for January 19 which will celebrate, “Gun Appreciation Day.” There have been a lot of attacks on lawful gun owners since the Sandy Hook killings but thoughtful people will continue to respect the Second Amendment.

Toyota Dream Car Contest. Toyota Hawaii is inviting all Hawaii student artists age 15 years and younger to create a drawing of “Your Dream Car” for TOYOTA’s 7th Dream Car Art Contest. Hand-drawn entries must be submitted by February 25, 2013 to any Toyota dealer in the state or mailed to Toyota Dream Car Art Contest, P.O. Box 2788, Honolulu, Hawaii 96803-2788. Entry forms can be found online at ToyotaHawaii.com, as well as at all Toyota Hawaii Dealerships starting today.

All eligible artwork will be automatically entered into the People’s Choice Competition. Family, friends, and fans of the Toyota Hawaii Facebook page will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite entries beginning January 15. The artwork with the most votes in each category at the end of the competition will be automatically entered for final judging in the local competition.

The judging panel includes Department of Education Art in Public Places Artist in Residence Resource Teacher Evan Tottori, Honolulu Academy of Arts Academy Art Center at Linekona Director Vince Hazen, KHON2’s Olena Heu, KITV’s Mahealani Richardson, Hawaii News Now’s Steve Uyehara, Pow Wow Hawaii Lead Director Kamea Hadar, and Toyota Hawaii’s Glenn Inouye.

Keiki Fun Run. On Saturday, February 16, thousands of cheering youngsters and their parents will take part in the Hawaii 5210 Keiki Run presented by Kaiser Permanente. The 1.5 mile untimed race, starts and ends at the Great Aloha Run Health Sports and Fitness Expo at the Neil Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall.

Nearly 1,600 elementary and preschool aged students and their parents from 89 schools paricipated in the run in 2012. Hundreds of teen from McKinley High School’s athletic program, Kalani High School Riflery Team, Kapolei Middle School dance troop and Kamehameha Schools volunteered their services as well.

The event rose over $29,000 with 100% of the race entry proceeds going back to the schools to support their PE, physical activity and nutrition education programs. The top five schools with the highest number of participants were Sacred Hearts Academy, followed by Hanalani Schools, Ma’e Ma’e Elementary School, Windward Nazarene Academy, and St. Philomena Early Learning Center. Community partners that the keiki run are Kaho’omiki, Hawaii 5210, Let’s Go!, HAPHERD—Hawaii Association for Health, PE, Recreation & Dance, Hawaii Action For Healthy Kids, Hawaii Education Matters, and PSE—Pacific Sport Events & Timing.

Following the race were a number of activities that keiki could take part in, including a Personal Fitness Challenge, pictures with Marathon Foto, Taekwon-Do demonstrations with Traditional Taekwon-Do Center Honolulu, Kids Zumba with Gayla Traylor of Kamehameha Schools, and a Jump Rope Demo Team sponsored by Kamehameha Schools. More information about the Hawaii 5210 “Let’s Go!” program can be found at http://www.hawaii5210.com or http://www.kahoomiki.org or email tonimuranaka@gmail.com with questions.

SMEI Program. The Honolulu Chapter of Sales & Marketing Executives International presents John Deschner, Group Account Director with Deutsch LA Advertising, at a dinner on Tuesday, January 22nd, in the Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort & Spa. Online and mobile commerce are doing more than competing with brick-and-mortar shopping – they’re cannibalizing it. From big-box retailers trying to combat “showrooming,” to auto dealers being pitted against each other by mobile-savvy consumers, offline businesses must rapidly embrace multi-channel commerce. John’s role focuses on Deutsch’s rapidly growing TARGET business, and contributes to many of the agency’s other digital, mobile, and social efforts.

The event begins at 5:30p.m., Tuesday, January 22nd. For reservations and more information, visit http://www.smeihonolulu.com by Wednesday, January 16th. Online ticket prices are available for early bird registration for SMEI members at $60, and $65 for non-members and guests. Call (808) 942-7000 or e-mail naomi@smeihonolulu.com with questions.

Al Gore Sells Out. Former Vice President Al Gore, champion of the global warming scam, carbon tax exchanges and enemy of (American) oil—as well as a record user of fuel, electricity and unfriendly planet materials in his own personal life—recently sold his TV network, Current TV, to Al Jazeera. Apparently a few American conservative groups wanted to bid for Current, but Gore refused, indicating he is closer to the philosophy of the Middle Eastern Al Jazeera, who gets its funding from Arab oil. It's owned by the emir of Qatar. The network, which paid a reported $500 million for the little watched Gore network, generated a $100 million profit for Gore.

Obamas Leave, Sunshine Returns. After more than a week of rain, high winds and grey skies, the Obamas left their ritzy compound in Kailua Saturday night and the skies cleared, birds sang and sunshine returned. Coincidence?

Flamingo on the Fly. The iconic Flamingo Restaurant on Kapiolani, long closed, is boarded up and set for demolition. Many happy meals there in the past.

Big Mike: New Man. Where is Big Mike Palcic you ask? The former owner of Mac Mouse Club, head of the Oahu Reapportionment Advisory Council, more than amateur cook and civic leader first class, has had a successful liver transplant in San Diego and the svelte Mike should be rejoining friends and family in Honolulu soon.

SBH Board Meets. The Smart Business Hawaii (SBH) Board meets Monday, January 14, noon, at the SBH office in Hawaii Kai. A review of the 37th annual SBH conference and election of new board members tops the agenda.

Want More Business? JOIN SBH! Is YOUR business a member of SBH? No? Lots of benefits. Strong neworking organization. Call Darlyn today (808-396-1724) or go online to http://www.smartbusinesshawaii.com.

Advertise Here. Some readers have inquired about placing an ad on the right margin of these weekly blasts which reach more than 15,000 people. Interested? If you want your business ad posted, the cost is $50 for one placement or $150 per month (4-5 placements). Contact Darlyn at SBH (396-1724) for specifics.

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

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SBH can help you with YOUR business. Just starting a business? Call me personally for help at 396-1724 or email: SBH@lava.net. Smart Business Hawaii Means Business and we're here to help you.

Aloha,