Once upon a time, there was a big bank called Bank of America. It wanted to try doing business in Hawaii, since it was already in many of the other
TAXWatch: If Housing Costs in Honolulu Are Bad Now…
The cost of having four walls and a roof over your head in Honolulu has been staggeringly expensive relative to the rest of the nation for a while now. The
TAXWatch: They’re Taking Their Business Elsewhere
A few months ago, we tried to remind folks about “It’s the Economy, Stupid.” There we reported that we had been getting lots of news about our economy, and none
TAXWatch: Effects of the Jones Act
Here in Hawaii, we are intensely dependent on goods that come into the State from faraway places, whether it be the U.S. mainland, Asia, or anywhere else in the world.
TAXWatch: Thirty Years of State Tax, Part 2
Q: We continue our series on the past 30 years of state tax with our researcher, the Hawaii State Tax Watch Doggie’s wife. Watch Doggie: And me! A: Oh! So
TAXWatch: The Fight Over Honolulu Vacation Rentals Begins
The fight over short-term rentals in Honolulu has entered another phase. On June 25, 2019, Honolulu Mayor Caldwell signed into law Ordinance 2019-18, formerly known as Bill 89. The law
TAXWatch: Thirty Years of State Tax, Part 1
Q: The number 30 has been in the news a lot these days because of the telescope that’s supposed to be getting built on the Big Island. This week, we’re
TAXWatch: Loophole? On the Way to the Top
On Wednesday, August 14, the Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs held an “informational briefing”so senators could question the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands over various topics, including on “Mauna Kea Access
TAXWatch: Leadership on the Mauna
Leadership entails not only planning for possible obstructions to your chosen plan of action, but also having the resolve to follow through with your plan. Sadly, this is not what
TAXWatch: Soft on Crime – Because of the Money
In the news recently was a stunning announcement by Justin Kollar, who is the Kauai County Prosecutor. State law says that for folks driving without a license or driving without