Small Business

... The Hawaii Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection voted 2-2, leaving the recommendation to ban commercial aquarium fishing on Oahu unadopted ....

... a bill Hawaii lawmakers are considering that would free natural hair braiders from burdensome cosmetology licensing requirements ....

... Six months ago, James Comey and Letitia James had likely never heard of PLF client Eliza Wille or her dolphin therapy practice in Kona ....

... Rideshare drivers — also referred to as transportation network company (TNC) drivers — are required to file tax returns and pay GET on their gross income or gross proceeds, including any discretionary tips they receive. ....

... is it really a loophole? ....

...There are several significant healthcare bills still making their way through the Legislature. Perhaps the most important are those that would reform the state’s medical “certificate of need” regulations....

"... DOBOR simply does not know whether it recovered from vessel owners or their insurers the costs it expended ..."

... We demand you crush the TVRs ....

...Grassroot’s priorities this session include defending the state’s income tax cuts passed in 2024, opposing all other tax hikes and fees, supporting occupational licensing reform and advocating housing policies that could boost homebuilding....

... California’s Paid Family Leave Act did not help narrow the pay gap, and was instead associated with reduced employment and earnings for first-time mothers ....  

... a "breeding ground for fraud" ....

... it could be another year for big, positive changes ....

"OER’s priority was to create staffing capacity over economic recovery and revitalization."

"they will repeal certificate-of-need laws"

...They would be charged $710 per day to have government monitors on board.... 

... Hawaii ranks 46th in Avg. Growth in Number of Small Businesses ....

...Mycko received $37,158.00 in PUA funds that he was not entitled to receive....

... plan to be out of the area no later than 6 p.m. ....

... Hawaii has one of the most restrictive CON environments in the country ....

... Bill 9 will cause job losses for Maui residents, impede entrepreneurship, reduce county tax revenues and result in expensive litigation against the county ....

... The original song is quite a bit longer ....

... The ink of Bissen’s signature is barely dry and, precisely as predicted, the litigation is already beginning ....

... This marks the third step in a series of scheduled increases, culminating in a final rate of $18.00 per hour on January 1, 2028 ....

...The final vote to approve Bill 9 was 5-3 with Gabe Johnson, Shane Sinenci, Keani-Rawlins-Fernandez, Nohelani Uʻu-Hodgins and Tamara Paltin voting yes. Yuki Lei Sugimura, Tom Cook and Chair Alice Lee voted no....

...The Children’s Entrepreneur Market is open in Aiea once a month....

... new Grassroot Institute of Hawaii white paper highlights the need for state lawmakers to reform or repeal the state’s CON regulations ....

"...Kids rise to the challenge of deciding what to sell, creating a booth, talking to customers, and handling money...."

... Honolulu Bill 42 allows taxicabs to set their own prices -- Hawai'i County Bill 52 allows backyard chickens ....

... outgoing Administrator Sal Petilos is retiring after two and a half years with the City ....

... DCCA Board approves settlement agreement, revocation efective 9-29-25 ....

"Repeal of taxi rate regulations will level the playing field, allowing the taxi industry to expand services and to survive unfair TNC competition."

... free “Condorama XV” event via webinar, on Saturday, November 15, 2025. The event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. ....

... Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation (OMCCR) is launching an outreach and education initiative to encourage voluntary compliance among hemp retailers and distributors, including online and out-of-state businesses ....

... HRS §134-9.1 explicitly allows people to transport an unloaded firearm in a locked, hard-sided case ....

... However, DTRIC will continue to administer all active policies, manage claims and meet its contractual and statutory obligations, over the next several years ....

"The Director of Health shall not enforce the independent audit requirement on Deposit Beverage Distributors for calendar year 2025."

... 24 percent of STVR users would not travel to Hawai‘i Island if this lodging option were unavailable ....

... This seems to me to be a departure from past practice ....

... this is critical information for employers too ....

... 'equality' imposed by a tourism-driven economy and high cost of living ....

... All Permit Types: Average duration of permit review and approval process has been reduced by 66%, from nearly five months to under two months ....

... to more easily produce and sell jams, relishes and sauces made with local ingredients ....

... the Planning Commission backs a bill that would make it easier for B&Bs destroyed in the 2023 fires to rebuild ....

... Hawai‘i Projects 41,000 New Jobs by 2032, Led by Health Care and Food Services ....

... Before the Planning Department’s rule change, Maui County residents could operate food trucks “by right” on their own properties in agricultural districts ....

... while the names may change, the pattern — unfortunately — hasn’t ....

... short-term rentals have been lawful, residential uses in these districts for decades ....

... When it comes to healthcare in Hawaii, it is clear there is room for more freedom .... 

... the fund has swollen to over $50 million ....

... easy, virtually cost-free way to improve healthcare access and quality in Hawaii would be to remove the state’s regulations on interstate telehealth ....