business

Businesses across the state are continuing to re-open after months of COVID-19 closures. But with the mandatory two-week quarantine still in place for out-of-state tourists, businesses are re-examining their relationships with the sometimes overlooked kamaʻāina customer. 

Kauaʻi County today is reopening its beaches for casual use – like a family picnic or sunbathing – all with social distancing measures in place. The island continues to carefully reopen under the COVID-19 pandemic, a process that began a week ago with retailers getting back to business. 

This week has brought the harsh reality of social isolation into focus for Hawai‘i’s businesses.  State unemployment filings are now equal to over a third of Hawai‘i’s workforce. For businesses with fewer than 500 employees that make up 99% of all businesses here, the impact of COVID-19 is particularly acute. Here's an inside look at what businesses are going through.

Social distancing has made its way to Hawaii as a way to prevent the spread of coronavirus. And its impacts have been felt immediately — and in nearly every industry.

In an effort to lower trade deficits and protect American companies, the Trump Administration has levied tariffs on more than $250 billion worth of goods imported to the United States. Many of those products are inputs, goods used by domestic companies to produce their own products. This series explores how Hawaii-based businesses are being impacted by those tariffs.

Hawaiʻi’s second-largest shopping mall, Pearlridge Center is rebranding its buildings with Hawaiian names. As HPR’s Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi reports this may be part of a growing trend among Hawaiʻi businesses – but getting it right remains a challenge.

A new entrepreneurship center is opening up in downtown Honolulu. HPR’s Reporter Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi got a preview of the space and a look at its plans. 

Hawaii's oldest grocery cooperative has launched a fundraising campaign to save itself from closing. At the end of 2018, Kokua Market was on the brink of financial insolvency. The company’s governing board elected a new chairwoman who has launched a last-ditch effort to reorganize the business for survival in the highly competitive market for health food.

Protests are being planned in Chicago following Aloha Poke Company’s push to trademark the words “aloha poke.” While the controversy may have hit a sore spot for some in the native Hawaiian community, it has also sparked a conversation about protecting native Hawaiian rights to intellectual property. HPR Reporter Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi has more.

It's now been more than a month since the most recent intense volcanic activity started on Hawaiʻi Island. The strain is showing up on many fronts: from emotional distress to trouble for local businesses. Hawaiʻi County is collecting data on the financial strain — but with a very tight deadline. 

First it was Maui County then Hawaiʻi County, and now the State is considering a ban on polystyrene food containers. Similar bans have been passed in cities and counties across the country, but this could make Hawaiʻi the first state to do so. HPR Reporter Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi has this story.

When Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with Chinese officials this weekend, North Korea was at the top of the agenda. There are a series of other issues when it comes to U.S. China relations. And that includes a high-profile business relationship that is continuing to evolve. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Rex Tillerson is in the midst of his first trip to Asia as Secretary of State. His travels include Japan, South Korea and China—but one development he’ll face comes from Washington. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

The king of Saudi Arabia is in Asia this week. In fact he's traveling in the region for an entire month. He's already spent time in Malaysia and Indonesia and will later head to Japan and China. Why the extensive travels? HPR's Bill Dorman has more in today's Asia Minute.

One of the first actions Donald Trump took as President was to pull the United States out of the Trans Pacific Partnership. The move was widely expected, but for a number of countries in Asia, there is an alternate multi-lateral trade deal that is waiting; one put together by China. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Today, everyone who uses social media is, in effect, creating an image and a brand; activities that used to be the domain of advertising agencies.  The next HPR ThinkSpot with the Honolulu Museum of Art focuses on two successful entrepreneurs, jeweler Bliss Lau and branding and marketing strategist Jasmine Takanikos, who will share tips on centering your brand, as an entrepreneur or as an individual.

 A potentially game changing new tool for business has been launched at the World Conservation Congress in Hawai‘i.  It’s called the Natural Capital Protocol and was tested with over fifty companies including Coca-Cola, Dow, Nestlé, and Shell.  For the first time, businesses and consumers can know the true costs of production.  

No Deal for NextEra

Late Friday afternoon, Hawai‘i’s Public Utilities Commission rejected the proposed merger between NextEra and the Hawaiian Electric Companies.

(As you heard earlier on Morning Edition/ATC), President Obama continues his Asian travels today with another day in Vietnam. While the president’s meetings include a focus on political and security issues, trade is another key topic. And it’s one that U.S. companies have been paying attention to for decades. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

23 years ago, the United States still had a trade embargo against Vietnam.

Alternative Perspective on Kauai Pesticide Draft Report; Lemoande Alley's Chief Lemonhead; Tom Cridland CEO; Artist Snowden Hodges

Alternative Perspective JFF Group Draft Pesticide Use Report: Joan Conrow

  Today on Bytemarks Café, we'll dive a little deeper into the mind of an entrepreneur. We'll explore the mental health of an entrepreneur and what drives them to risk it all when the odds for success are stacked against them. 

While China’s stock market has been volatile lately, this has been a week of big business deals involving Chinese financing.  Buy-outs involving two California companies in very different lines of business underline the growing appetite for corporate acquisitions.  There’s a multi-billion dollar cash agreement for a Hollywood production company and a much smaller deal involving  a gay dating app. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Join Howard Dicus for a look ahead at 2016 with Hawaiian Airlines CEO Mark Dunkerly, Outrigger head David Carrey, and real estate developer Stanford Carr. Included in the discussion will be: tourism, development, the homeless problem, and events in Japan and Europe.  

Among the thousands of visitors on Maui this weekend will be a group of international trade negotiators. They’ll be talking about the Trans Pacific Partnership—and later next week they’ll be joined by trade ministers from around the region. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

  Today on Bytemarks Cafe, we’ll talk to the winners of the latest Startup Weekend Honolulu. This fast paced event is an intense 54 hours where teams form quickly, prototypes are created, new ideas get pitched, and businesses are built. Today at 5 on HPR-2.

China’s trade figures tumbled unexpectedly last month. The surprise means that conditions in the world’s second largest economy will come under even closer scrutiny later this week. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

This week, Honolulu was named one of the top cities in the country for electric vehicles. That determination came from the electric vehicle infrastructure company ChargePoint. But according to a laboratory director in California, China is on track to overtake the United States as the top county for electric vehicles, possibly as soon as this year. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

The most popular smartphone in China is a brand that may be new to you. A new report says the company beat out Samsung, Apple, and every other smart phone maker when it comes to sales in the world’s most populous country. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.