By Lowell L. Kalapa A major disappointment of the recently adjourned legislative session is that lawmakers again failed to address the overall business climate in Hawaii. Although lawmakers will proudly parade their successes in the area of same sex marriage … Read More
By Lowell L. Kalapa Accountability is that term we give to elected officials who stand up and admit that they were responsible for the decision they made. In other words, elected officials who are honest enough to not only accept … Read More
By Lowell L. Kalapa As the legislative session rolls toward adjournment at the end of this month, it appears that lawmaking has been reduced to comic theater. With money so tight, much of the play is focused on how to … Read More
By Lowell L. Kalapa Although lawmakers promised to deal with the BIG THREE major issues left uncompleted from last session, it seems all THREE continue to languish as they head into the homestretch. Among the big three issues which will … Read More
By Lowell L. Kalapa The legislative arena makes for good, cheap entertainment as lawmakers, lobbyists, and administration officials go through the motions of democracy at work. This week we wanted to share a phalanx of incidents which are indicative of … Read More
By Lowell L. Kalapa The other day the House Finance Committee placed an eclectic smattering of bills on the agenda for hearing including bills to exempt alcoholic beverages from the state liquor tax when the product is sold out of … Read More
By Lowell L. Kalapa Now that the Council on Revenues has dropped the other shoe with a THUD, elected officials are scrambling to find ways to further trim state costs. As for the administration, it is not a matter of … Read More
By Lowell L. Kalapa Last week we took a look a some of the legislative proposals that attempt to address the problems facing the state’s economy by tweaking the tax system. This week, let’s take a look at some of … Read More
By Lowell L. Kalapa The latest round of deadlines in the legislature calendar has brought some pleasant surprises and a renewal of hope that maybe legislators are finally getting the message that they need to do something about the economy. … Read More
By Lowell L. Kalapa If you ever have the free time to spend a few days down at the legislature, you will quickly come to understand why so many programs yearn for their own source of funding. It isn’t any … Read More