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Local Industry News & Notes for Sunday, January 11, 2009
• Coconuts restaurant closes its doors
• Malama Kaua‘i presents ‘Green Map’
• Marriott Vacation Club continues growth in Hawai‘i
• Hawai‘i Tourism Authority awards $620,000 to 25 organizations
• Energy trend data for De
Coconuts restaurant closes its doors
Coconuts Island Style Grill & Bar in Kapa‘a posted signs this month that it has closed its doors. The restaurant joins others, such as Blossoming Lotus.
Malama Kaua‘i presents ‘Green Map’
This is the first Green Map in Hawai‘i, featuring locally-owned green businesses, island-wide farmer’s markets, recycling centers, bus routes, parks and important sustainability information.
Over 7,000 have been distributed across Kaua‘i and can be picked up at most major hotels and car rental companies, including approximately 50 of the local businesses presented on the map.
Malama Kaua‘i is also midway through developing a parallel Green Business program with the Office of Economic Development, which will offer businesses an easy, three-tiered approach to “going green.”
Marriott Vacation Club continues growth in Hawai‘i
Marriott Vacation Club International (MVCI), announced the opening of the Napili Villas, the final expansion phase of Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club, as well as the fourth phase opening for Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club on O‘ahu. Celebrating 25 years of making vacation dreams come true, Marriott Vacation Club continues to offer additional villas in Hawai‘i for owners and guests.
For more information on vacation ownership, please visit www.marriott-vacations.com.
Hawai‘i Tourism Authority awards $620,000 to 25 organizations
The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA), the state agency for tourism, has announced the selection of 25 organizations that will receive funding through its Kukulu Ola– Living Hawaiian Culture Program.
The programs were chosen by the HTA and its Hawaiian Cultural Program Advisory Council (HCPAC), on criteria designed to address the goal and objectives identified in the Hawaii Tourism Strategic Plan: 2005-2015 (TSP) for the Hawaiian Culture initiative. The objectives include: Strengthening the relationship between the visitor industry and the Hawaiian community; nurturing the Hawaiian culture by creating visitor experiences, activities and marketing programs that are respectful and accurate; and supporting Hawaiian programs and cultural practitioners, craftsmen, musicians, and other artists that preserve and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture.
Free statewide workshops were conducted last year by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) to provide potential applicants with technical assistance and training that explained the objectives of the Kukulu Ola – HTA Living Hawaiian Culture Program, including the application and award process.
The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA), the state’s tourism agency, was created in 1998 to ensure a successful visitor industry well into the future. Its mission is to strategically manage Hawaii tourism in a sustainable manner consistent with their economic goals, cultural values, preservation of natural resources, community desires, and visitor industry needs.
For more information on the HTA, please visit www.hawaiitourismauthority.org
Energy trend data for December
• Crude oil price at the New York Mercantile Exchanged average $42.04 in December 2008 which is 54% lower than the same period in 2007. In comparing with 2007, the future price of crude oil in 2008 is 37.7% lower.
• Hawai‘i’s imports of foreign crude oil in October 2008 showed a 25.2% decrease compared to the same time period a year ago. Through October 2008, Hawai‘i’s overall import of foreign crude oil decreased 12.7% from the same period in 2007. Hawai‘i’s overall import of foreign jet fuel also showed a decrease of 15.2% during the same period.
• The nation’s price for regular gasoline averaged $1.680 per gallon in December 2008, lower by 44% from December 2007’s price of $3.005. Hawai‘i’s December 2008 price for regular gasoline averaged $2.452, 46% higher than the national price.
• Hawai‘i’s consumption of gasoline in October 2008 decreased 25.3% from the same period in 2007. In comparison with 2007, Hawaii’s consumption of gasoline declined 8.3% during the first 10 months of 2008..
• Hawai‘i’s December 2008 price for diesel was $4.077 while the nation was $2.553. Although Hawai‘i’s diesel price decreased continuously since July 2008, for the year of 2008 as a whole it is 28.7% higher than 2007’s price.
• Through October 2008, Hawai‘i’s consumption of diesel oil for highway use 2.9% lower than for the same period in 2007.
• As of December 2008, registered gasoline passenger vehicles is 938,424, decreased by 0.9% from 2007.
Free tax preparation, credits to help many
Tax season is fast approaching and taxpayers across Hawai‘i now have greater access to free tax assistance services which can help them claim thousands of dollars in tax credits. This year, Aloha United Way (AUW) and its partner organizations are ramping up efforts to get even more of Hawaii’s workers to file their tax returns at free tax assistance sites and claim valuable tax credits, such as the EITC, to which they are entitled.
Although AUW’s free tax assistance program and EITC campaign has increased the use of free tax assistance sites by more than 395% over the past three tax seasons, there is still a significant amount of people who fail to claim these valuable tax credits. The IRS estimates that 15-20 percent of qualified taxpayers fail to claim these credits every year. Also, as a result of the loss of jobs and general economic downturn, people who previously did not qualify for such tax credits may now be eligible.
Tax returns at free tax assistance sites are prepared by volunteers who are trained and certified by the IRS. This free service helped Hawai‘i taxpayers save more than $1.1 million in tax preparation fees last year.
Aloha United Way’s Family and Individual Self-Sufficiency Program, which was established with funding received from the State of Hawai‘i in 2005, has been recruiting volunteers and coordinating and supporting the efforts of various organizations and agencies who desire to help low to moderate income workers claim valuable tax credits and save money by using free tax assistance services.
The Program also strives to increase awareness of the EITC and other valuable tax credits through coordinated community outreach. Outreach materials have been created in English, Chuukese, Samoan, Ilocano, Tongan, Japanese and Spanish and distributed through an extensive network of organizations, urging workers to “Earn it. Claim it. Save it.”
Taxpayers should call 2-1-1 for the location of a free tax assistance site. Or for a complete list of sites and more information go to the program’s website at www.hawaiitaxhelp.org
• Malama Kaua‘i presents ‘Green Map’
• Marriott Vacation Club continues growth in Hawai‘i
• Hawai‘i Tourism Authority awards $620,000 to 25 organizations
• Energy trend data for De
Coconuts restaurant closes its doors
Coconuts Island Style Grill & Bar in Kapa‘a posted signs this month that it has closed its doors. The restaurant joins others, such as Blossoming Lotus.
Malama Kaua‘i presents ‘Green Map’
This is the first Green Map in Hawai‘i, featuring locally-owned green businesses, island-wide farmer’s markets, recycling centers, bus routes, parks and important sustainability information.
Over 7,000 have been distributed across Kaua‘i and can be picked up at most major hotels and car rental companies, including approximately 50 of the local businesses presented on the map.
Malama Kaua‘i is also midway through developing a parallel Green Business program with the Office of Economic Development, which will offer businesses an easy, three-tiered approach to “going green.”
Marriott Vacation Club continues growth in Hawai‘i
Marriott Vacation Club International (MVCI), announced the opening of the Napili Villas, the final expansion phase of Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club, as well as the fourth phase opening for Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club on O‘ahu. Celebrating 25 years of making vacation dreams come true, Marriott Vacation Club continues to offer additional villas in Hawai‘i for owners and guests.
For more information on vacation ownership, please visit www.marriott-vacations.com.
Hawai‘i Tourism Authority awards $620,000 to 25 organizations
The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA), the state agency for tourism, has announced the selection of 25 organizations that will receive funding through its Kukulu Ola– Living Hawaiian Culture Program.
The programs were chosen by the HTA and its Hawaiian Cultural Program Advisory Council (HCPAC), on criteria designed to address the goal and objectives identified in the Hawaii Tourism Strategic Plan: 2005-2015 (TSP) for the Hawaiian Culture initiative. The objectives include: Strengthening the relationship between the visitor industry and the Hawaiian community; nurturing the Hawaiian culture by creating visitor experiences, activities and marketing programs that are respectful and accurate; and supporting Hawaiian programs and cultural practitioners, craftsmen, musicians, and other artists that preserve and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture.
Free statewide workshops were conducted last year by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) to provide potential applicants with technical assistance and training that explained the objectives of the Kukulu Ola – HTA Living Hawaiian Culture Program, including the application and award process.
The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA), the state’s tourism agency, was created in 1998 to ensure a successful visitor industry well into the future. Its mission is to strategically manage Hawaii tourism in a sustainable manner consistent with their economic goals, cultural values, preservation of natural resources, community desires, and visitor industry needs.
For more information on the HTA, please visit www.hawaiitourismauthority.org
Energy trend data for December
• Crude oil price at the New York Mercantile Exchanged average $42.04 in December 2008 which is 54% lower than the same period in 2007. In comparing with 2007, the future price of crude oil in 2008 is 37.7% lower.
• Hawai‘i’s imports of foreign crude oil in October 2008 showed a 25.2% decrease compared to the same time period a year ago. Through October 2008, Hawai‘i’s overall import of foreign crude oil decreased 12.7% from the same period in 2007. Hawai‘i’s overall import of foreign jet fuel also showed a decrease of 15.2% during the same period.
• The nation’s price for regular gasoline averaged $1.680 per gallon in December 2008, lower by 44% from December 2007’s price of $3.005. Hawai‘i’s December 2008 price for regular gasoline averaged $2.452, 46% higher than the national price.
• Hawai‘i’s consumption of gasoline in October 2008 decreased 25.3% from the same period in 2007. In comparison with 2007, Hawaii’s consumption of gasoline declined 8.3% during the first 10 months of 2008..
• Hawai‘i’s December 2008 price for diesel was $4.077 while the nation was $2.553. Although Hawai‘i’s diesel price decreased continuously since July 2008, for the year of 2008 as a whole it is 28.7% higher than 2007’s price.
• Through October 2008, Hawai‘i’s consumption of diesel oil for highway use 2.9% lower than for the same period in 2007.
• As of December 2008, registered gasoline passenger vehicles is 938,424, decreased by 0.9% from 2007.
Free tax preparation, credits to help many
Tax season is fast approaching and taxpayers across Hawai‘i now have greater access to free tax assistance services which can help them claim thousands of dollars in tax credits. This year, Aloha United Way (AUW) and its partner organizations are ramping up efforts to get even more of Hawaii’s workers to file their tax returns at free tax assistance sites and claim valuable tax credits, such as the EITC, to which they are entitled.
Although AUW’s free tax assistance program and EITC campaign has increased the use of free tax assistance sites by more than 395% over the past three tax seasons, there is still a significant amount of people who fail to claim these valuable tax credits. The IRS estimates that 15-20 percent of qualified taxpayers fail to claim these credits every year. Also, as a result of the loss of jobs and general economic downturn, people who previously did not qualify for such tax credits may now be eligible.
Tax returns at free tax assistance sites are prepared by volunteers who are trained and certified by the IRS. This free service helped Hawai‘i taxpayers save more than $1.1 million in tax preparation fees last year.
Aloha United Way’s Family and Individual Self-Sufficiency Program, which was established with funding received from the State of Hawai‘i in 2005, has been recruiting volunteers and coordinating and supporting the efforts of various organizations and agencies who desire to help low to moderate income workers claim valuable tax credits and save money by using free tax assistance services.
The Program also strives to increase awareness of the EITC and other valuable tax credits through coordinated community outreach. Outreach materials have been created in English, Chuukese, Samoan, Ilocano, Tongan, Japanese and Spanish and distributed through an extensive network of organizations, urging workers to “Earn it. Claim it. Save it.”
Taxpayers should call 2-1-1 for the location of a free tax assistance site. Or for a complete list of sites and more information go to the program’s website at www.hawaiitaxhelp.org
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| Tax tips for new homeowners | State and Local People on the Move for Sunday, January 11, 2009 |
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