SBH Conference Wrap-Up
From the February 2012 Small Business News.Hawaii Needs Business and Government Climate Change
The 36th Annual SBH Business & Investment Conference was held January 11 in the Ala Moana Hotel, Garden Lanai and Hibiscus Ballroom. About 150 people attended.
The theme of the conference was: “Small Business 2012 — Climate Change for Hawaii Business?”
As is the SBH tradition, the conference featured top local and national speakers. Mark Dunkerley, CEO, Hawaiian Airlines, led off the morning and discussed, “Hawaii’s Visitor Industry & Our Economic Prosperity” He showed by chart the negative impact of taxes and fuel on Hawaii’s premiere airline.
Hawaii’s computer expert, Peter Kay of Cybercom, Inc. and radio’s “Your Computer Minute,” had all eyes and ears on his message of “Successful Business Use of Social Media.”
SBH Board member and UBS Financial Services associate, Geal Talbert, led a panelwho answered questions relating to success in Hawaii’s challenging times. The panelists included: Tyler Roukema, Outback Steak House, Hawaii Kai; Marissa Capelouto, Oahu Express, Ltd. and Matthew Longfellow, Valpak of Hawaii (also an SBH Director).
Wendell Cox, Ph.D., Principal of Demographia (Wendell Cox Consultancy), discussed “Major Honolulu Infrastructure Projects: Setting Priorities and Can We Afford Them?” with emphasis on the negative impact of the proposed $6 billion-plus Honolulu steelon- steel, heavy, elevated rail.
American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) VP, Jonathan Williams from Washington, D.C., discussed the state by state ratings in the book he co-authored with Dr. Arthur Laffer, “Rich States, Poor States: Where Does Hawaii Stand?”
SBH business owners next heard from Hawaii’s Chief justice of the Supreme Court, and former DCCA Director, Mark Recktenwald, who discussed changes in the Hawaii judiciary and its impact on business and taxpayers.
The luncheon program featured an update on the lawsuit against the rail, by Cliff Slater of Honolulu Traffic.com.
Keynote speaker was John Fund of The Wall Street Journal and FOX-TV. Fund is currently writing two new books. He spoke about the importance of the 2012 national and local elections and what it means to Hawaii. He later made himself available for a private meeting with SBH Sponsors, Directors and leaders.
McDonald’s of Hawaii was the Gold Sponsor of the Conference; Altria Client Services and RJ Reynolds were Silver Sponsors.
If your firm would like to co-sponsor the next 2013 conference or a conference event such as a continental breakfast or refreshment break, please contact Malia at 808-306-3161 or Darlyn at 808-396-1724.
Dunkerley Speaks on Taxes and Fuel Cost
Impact on the Airline Business in Hawaii
By Malia Zimmerman, HawaiiReporter.com
Hawaiian Airlines brings in $1.6 billion a year and would like to increase that to $2 billion in 2012. But there are tremendous challenges, the airline’s president and CEO, Mark Dunkerley said.
Speaking at the Smart Business Hawaii annual conference on Wednesday, January 11, Dunkerley said taxes are “out of control.” Hawaiian Airlines must pay 20 percent of its revenue in taxes and makes just 2 percent profit, after all other expenses are paid. But federal rules prohibit the airline from disclosing those taxes to customers.
An estimated 28 percent of the company’s revenue is spent on fuel, which continues to rise in cost, and another 17 percent goes to personnel.
And the carrier is the “single most disadvantaged carrier in the country” because of the Honolulu International Airport layout. Hawaiian Airlines operations take up about 50 percent of the airport, however the airline is spread over four different sections throughout the property instead of in just one area. Hawaiian Airlines is funding 50 percent of an airport modernization plan at the airport, which Dunkerley hopes will be completed in the next couple of years. Hawaiian Airlines also will continue its expansion plans, investing “a staggering amount of money” - $8 billion - into adding to its airlines fleet and flights.
Hawaiian already operates 200 flights a day, but will offer flights to additional mainland cities this year, including a direct flight to New York this June and will start new flights to Asia. Five hundred new positions will be added in the company, which is currently onetwentieth the size of the nation’s largest airlines. Dunkerley, who made a lively presentation, injecting his well-known sense of humor throughout, said parents “should not let their children grow up to be airline executives” because it is a “terrible business to be in.”
CONFERENCE PROGRAM*
7:00 am Registration and Coffee – Garden Lanai
Network and Visit Business Exhibit Tables - Foyer
7:45 am Aloha and Welcome –
Sam Slom, President, Smart Business Hawaii (SBH)
8:00 “Hawaii’s Visitor Industry & Our Economic Prosperity”
Mark Dunkerley, CEO, Hawaiian Airlines
8:30 “Social Media Secrets for Your Business”
Peter Kay, President, CyberCom, Inc. and Your Computer Minute
9:00 “Strategies for Hawaii’s Business Recovery”
Tyler Roukema, Outback Steak House Hawaii Kai
Marissa Capelouto, Oahu Express, Ltd.
Matthew Longfellow, Valpak of Hawaii
Moderator: Geal Talbert, UBS Financial Services
9:45 - 10:00 Brief Refreshment Break - Visit Business Exhibits (Foyer)
10:00 “Major Honolulu Infrastructure Projects: Setting Priorities and Can We Afford Them?"”
Dr. Wendall Cox, Principal of Demographia (Wendell Cox Consultancy)
10:30 “Rich States, Poor States: Where Does Hawaii Stand?”
Jonathan Williams, Vice-President, American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)
11:00 "Judicial Reform and Business Impact in Hawaii"
Mark Recktenwald, Chief Justice, Hawaii Supreme Court
11:30 "Hear From the 2012 Hawaii Candidates"
12 noon Luncheon and Program
Hibiscus Ballroom I & II
1:00 KEYNOTE SPEECH
John Fund, The Wall Street Journal
Business & Political Journalist, Author
Popular Fox Television Public Affairs Opinion Panelist
“The 2012 Election and the Impact on the Economy”
2:00 pm Adjournment • Mahalo for attending!
SBH Leadership Circle
Members/Sponsors Only
Private Meeting with John Fund
2:15 pm, The Garden Lanai
Promotional Materials
Reserve Online | 2012 PDF Reservation Form.pdf | Color Flyer
Smart Business Hawaii Conference Promo - January 11, 2012