Biz Wrap: Kona Coffee/Trader Joe’s Connection

Hawaii State Government’s Tax Receipts are Up

According to the state Department of Taxation, Hawaii’s general fund deposits rose just over 12% in the first five months of the current fiscal year.

General excise and use taxes make up the largest portion of those collections, and increased by 11.8% over the previous fiscal year. The state’s hotel rooms tax totaled $27.5 million in November, an increase of 14.6% compared to fiscal 2012.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has cited an improved economic picture for the state of Hawaii as justification for hundreds of millions in additional spending over the next two fiscal years. The governor submitted his new budget earlier this month to the state legislature.

Kona Coffee Farmers Association Cultivates Relations with Trader Joe’s

The Kona Coffee Farmers Association is apparently attempting to forge good relations with specialty retailer Trader Joe’s.

In a proclamation issued by the association this week, Trader Joe’s was named an honorary member of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association.

The association explained the honor was in part due to Trader Joe’s current practice of stocking store shelves with only 100% pure Kona Coffee, as opposed to 10% blends.

Trader Joe’s has yet to open a Hawaii location, although rumors of a Maui debut for the company have been circulating since July.

‘Cariloha’ Opens in King’s Shops with an All-Bamboo Theme

A specialty retailer focusing almost entirely on bamboo-based products, including clothing apparel, bedding, and jewelry, has opened in the King’s Shops Waikoloa.

‘Cariloha’ owner Stephanie Davis explained the inspiration for the store, stating “we believe Cariloha’s dedication to the regeneration of bamboo resources illustrates our commitment to helping grow the Hawaiian economy.” Cariloha describes their Bamboo fabrics as being “twice as soft to the touch as cotton.”

Governor Abercrombie to Host Hawaii-Focused Booths at Asian Trade Shows

As a part of the ‘Buy Hawaii, Give Aloha’ campaign, the Abercrombie administration announced that the governor would be hosting booths at the following trade shows in Asia in 2013:

·The ‘Hawaii Pavilion’ at the JFW International Fashion Fair in Japan, in January.

·The ‘Hawaii Islands of Booths’ at the Hong Kong Natural Products show, in August.

·The ‘Made in Hawaii Pavilion’ at the Tokyo International Gift Show, in September 2013.