biz briefs 8-21

Na Leo O Hawaii board meets Friday

A meeting of the board of directors of Na Leo O Hawaii Inc. has been scheduled for Friday at 10 a.m. Interested members of the community are welcome to attend the meeting at the Office of Darl Gleed, Attorney at Law, 75-5995 Kuakini Hwy. in Kailua-Kona.

Na Leo O Hawaii Inc. is a nonprofit corporation established to manage the public, education and government cable access television channels on the Big Island.

People with physical disabilities, call the East Hawaii office at 935-8874 or the West Hawaii office 329-9617 for special arrangements. For more information, contact Jurgen Denecke, general manager, at 935-8874.

Tax commission to review laws

The 2005-2007 Tax Review Commission will consider whether to recommend that Hawaii conform its general excise and use tax laws to the provisions of the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement at its August meeting.

The meeting, which is open to the public, is 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 29 at the State Capitol in the Senate Ways and Means Hearing Room (Room 211). People who need special accommodations (i.e. sign language interpreter, large print, etc.), should call the Tax Research and Planning Office of the state Department of Taxation at (808) 587-1440, at least three business days before the meeting.

If necessary, the chairman may set a time limit for each member of the public who wishes to speak. People who are unable to attend the meeting may submit written statements to the 2005-2007 Tax Review Commission, c/o Tax Research and Planning Office of the state Department of Taxation, P.O. Box 259, Honolulu, HI 96809-0259.

Participation in the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement could help the state collect use taxes owed by Hawaii consumers on certain goods and services acquired from out-of-state businesses. Legislation allowing the state to participate in the national Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement was passed in 2003 (Act 173, Session Laws of Hawaii 2003), but the state will not become part of the actual agreement until conforming legislation is enacted. Conforming legislation was proposed during the 2003 legislative session but failed to pass.

Weigang presenting cooking demonstration

The Hawaii Community College-Office of Continuing Education and Training presents a cooking and tasting demonstration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 2 at the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort.

The guest chef is Ren Weigang, owner and partner of Blue Sky Cuisine. Blue Sky Cuisine is a new service catering/provisioning company in Kailua-Kona. Weigang’s cooking/tasting menu will include: Ono Poissan Cru on an Asian Tostada with Black Sesame Sauce, Shiso Wrapped Soy Glazed Tofu and Ahi with a Lemongrass/ Yuzu Ponzu, Feta Ahi Sashimi with Olive Oil, plus dessert.

Wine tasting will be paired by Fern Desilets of Kona Wine Market.

To register, call OCET at 974-7531. The cost is $35 per person. Pre-registration is required.

Contractors can renew licenses online

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ Professional and Vocational Licensing Division and the Contractors Licensing Board are encouraging more than 11,000 licensed contractors to renew their licenses online at www.ehawaii.gov/pvlrenew.

The department urges all eligible participants to take advantage of this new renewal system that is being offered, for the first time, to Hawaii’s licensed contractors. The department worked with the Hawaii Department of Taxation to electronically automate the verification of Hawaii state tax clearance compliance for contractors, thereby enabling this new service.

Instructions for completing the online renewal have been mailed to each current license holder. Renewal fees may be paid electronically via debit or credit card. Contractors may renew online until midnight Sept. 30. After that date, renewals will not be accepted online and contractors wishing to renew their license must submit their renewal by mail or in person to: DCCA/PVL Licensing Branch, 335 Merchant St., Room 301, Honolulu, HI 96813.