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05-26-2010 - Discussion on Small Business in Hawaii, 6/2, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

Join us at Abercrombie for Governor headquarters (Ward Warehouse, 2nd Floor, next door to Kincaid’s) on Wednesday, June 2, 2010, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for a discussion about small business in Hawaii. Attendance is free of charge. Refreshments will be served.

Hawaii has always had tremendous entrepreneurial energy, but we have never fully unlocked our full potential. Government is too often a barrier because regulations and permitting processes, even when warranted, aren’t handled with the speed and urgency that business requires. Locally-owned small businesses are too often on their own to find capital for start-up and expansion, to break into markets, and to compete with giant outside-owned businesses. Just starting a business is unnecessarily confusing and burdensome.

Small businesses are the most numerous employers of people in Hawaii. Whether they find long-term success or ultimately close shop, entrepreneurs gain valuable experience that adds value to the economy as a whole. Small business is critical to our economic recovery.

In an Abercrombie administration, government will listen to small businesses, remove cumbersome barriers, open up opportunities, help solve problems, forge partnerships between businesses with communities, and advocate for local businesses. Hawaii is counting on our entrepreneurs to confront our top challenges: creating good jobs, reducing our over-reliance on fossil fuel and imported food, and partnering with schools to create a 21st century education system.

Three experts from the field will join Neil Abercrombie in a panel discussion on this important issue. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions and join the discussion. Andrew Aoki, Deputy Campaign Manager, will moderate. In addition to Neil Abercrombie, the panelists will be:


• Neal Arakaki, President, Menehune Mac


• Brian Nishida, Small Business Advocacy Committee, Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce


• Melissa Pavlicek, Hawaii State Director, National Federation of Independent Business

Please RSVP to Josh Levinson at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 589-2237.  

The event will be live-streamed on the web at http://www.neilabercrombie.com/index.php/live/.  Those watching online will be able to submit questions for the panelists.

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