U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie is again pushing his suggestion to spur tourism by offering $500 tax credits for those who travel at least 100 miles from home during the year. Saying more needs to done to revive tourism across the country, Abercrombie also is urging Congress to restore tax write-offs for business lunches and entertainment. Abercrombie pushes
travel tax credits"Instead of focusing on the problems, we should focus on the solutions," Abercrombie said. "Overall travel needs to be stimulated."
Natatorium bill approved
A bill to allow the city to finish construction of the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium cleared one hurdle last week in the Legislature when it was approved by the House Water and Land Use Committee. The bill, introduced by Rep. Mindy Jaffe (R, Waikiki), would allow the Natatorium to be considered a "natural ocean circulation system" and not a swimming pool. The distinction would exempt the Natatorium from state regulations that swimming pools be chlorinated.The bill, which now goes to the House Finance Committee, notes that it would be "repealed if the Department of Health adopts administrative rules concerning pools using a natural ocean circulating system."
'Babble' in Waihee's plan
There was a peculiar agenda item under last Wednesday's public-meeting notice of the Committee of Program Management at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.Committee Chairman John D. Waihee IV had listed agenda item VIII as "Self-Indulgent Trustee Babble," which was to come just before the end of the meeting, the last one before the trustees replaced Chairman Clayton Hee with Haunani Apoliona later that day.
Was the son of the former Hawaii governor editorializing about the state of affairs at OHA? Was he disenchanted about losing his committee chairmanship due to the reorganization?
Not so, said Waihee, who said the "self-indulgent trustee babble" was listed to allow him to thank everyone for their work on the committee during the past four months.
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