Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Lunch wagons require
excise tax licenseIt turns out there's more to operating a lunch wagon than just having a sanitation permit from the state Department of Health and moving every 15 minutes if on a public street, even in a metered parking stall ("Kokua Line," Feb. 3).
There are three minimum requirements for operating a lunch wagon, according to Darin Haitsuka, of the state Business Action Center, which is part of the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism.
The center helps people establish businesses in the state.
Haitsuka says lunch wagon operators need a general excise tax license, which requires a one-time fee of $20 and is obtainable from BAC, as well as a permit from the Health Department's Sanitation Branch.
Additionally, operators need to obtain a peddler's license from the city, under Section 29-6.1 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu, he said.
But city administrators say the city is no longer in the business of licensing lunch wagons, although they concede some lunch wagon operators may need to obtain a peddler's license.
The peddler's ordinance only pertains to someone selling packaged food, such as chips, or canned/bottled drinks, said Dennis Kamimura, administrator for the city Division of Motor Vehicle, Licensing & Permits.
If a lunch wagon sells those items, then a peddler's license would be required, he said. However, no license is required if a lunch wagon sells plate lunches or soda from a dispenser, he said.
No peddler's permit is required for a lunch wagon operating on private property.
Kamimura explained that the city got out of the business of regulating such businesses as restaurants (including lunch wagons) and boarding houses in 1996 because it felt there was too much regulation of small businesses and that there were adequate checks on the state level.
Meanwhile, Haitsuka says his Business Action Center has a packet of information for people interested in starting their own business, including information about all applicable city ordinances and state laws.
BAC has application forms for a peddler's license, but the forms need to be mailed and processed by the city, he said.
"Additional requirements may apply if the operator of the lunch wagon hires employees," Haitsuka said. "We have the necessary information with regard to any business wishing to hire employees."
For information about the peddler's license, call the city at 572-7710; about the sanitation license, 586-8000; and about starting or operating a business in Hawaii, 586-2545 (or e-mail bac@lava.net).
Auwe
To supermarkets with deli sections. When you order a pound of a particular item, they repeatedly say, "It's slightly over, is that OK?" If they do this throughout the day for every customer, they have skyrocketed their profits. It's not fair. If I wanted slightly over a pound, I would say I wanted more than a pound. -- No Name
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