Small business suffers in isles, report says

Hawaii’s reputation as a state unfriendly to small business remains steadfast.

The Aloha State ranks 47th out of the 50 states in a new report by the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, based in Washington, D.C.

The SBE index, available online at is.gd/SBECindex2014, ranks the 50 states according to 42 policy measures including tax, regulatory and government spending parameters.

"Policies clearly affect the environment for investment, entrepreneurship and small business growth," council President and CEO Karen Kerrigan said in a statement.

The five most negative policy environments for entrepreneurs are Minnesota, No. 46; Hawaii, No. 47; New York, No. 48; New Jersey, No. 49; and California in last place at No. 50.

The five best states for entrepreneurs, according to the index, are South Dakota at No. 1 followed by Nevada, Texas, Wyoming and Florida.

Bailey tapped to lead hotel companies

More leadership changes were announced on Wednesday at Aqua Hospitality and Aston Hotels & Resorts, former competitors that joined forces late last year.

Both companies are subsidiaries of Honolulu-based AHR Hospitality Partners Inc., which acquired Aqua in late 2013, triggering a series of personnel changes. The latest is that Matt Bailey, who had been serving as chief operating officer for both companies, also will become their president on Thursday.

"We couldn’t be happier with Matt stepping into his new role," said Kelvin Bloom, president of AHR Hospitality Partners Inc. "He shares our focus and values, and has proven himself to be an exceptional leader throughout his career."

Bailey replaces Ben Rafter, who had been serving as president of Aston Hotels & Resorts since April 2014 and president and CEO of Aqua Hospitality since 2008. Although Rafter is stepping down to purse other professional development opportunities, he is expected to maintain ties to AHR Hospitality by serving as a long-term consultant.

Earlier, this year, Shari Chang, a 30-year veteran of hospitality marketing, also left her role as the company’s senior vice president of sales and marketing. In October, Chang was appointed chief executive officer of the Girl Scouts of Hawai‘i.

T&C Surf adds retail store in Haleiwa

A new T&C Surf shop in Haleiwa, the company’s seventh location, opened Thursday next to Matsumoto Shave Ice.

Founded by surfer and surfboard shaper Craig Sugihara in 1971, the 43-year-old company built a store reminiscent of the iconic surf town in the new Haleiwa Store Lots, developed by Kamehameha Schools.

The company now includes retail and international licensing as well as surfboard manufacturing divisions.

Its other retail stores are in Ala Moana Center, Pearlridge Center, Kahala Mall, Windward Mall, Ward Warehouse and Ward Centre.

Maui among top 50 destinations for 2015

The Valley Isle is one of 12 U.S. destinations included in Travel + Leisure magazine’s listing of the 50 best places to visit around the globe in 2015.

The destinations are not ranked.

Maui, according to T+L, offers a "new-age melting pot," which describes nontraditional, non-Hawaiian accommodations including Balinese huts, modernist cabins and yurts.

However, it also describes the more traditional, upscale accommodations at hotels such as the Montage Kapalua Bay.

Magazine editors chose the destinations based on industry news and trends, with input from contributing writers and others.

ON THE MOVE

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has promoted: 

>> Pharmacist Ross Takara to senior director of pharmacy. He previously served with the region’s ambulatory care clinical pharmacy services and was the residency program director for Kaiser Permanente’s accredited postgraduate year 1 pharmacy residency program. 

>> Pharmacist Sheryl Shimokawa to director of pharmacy. She was previously an inpatient pharmacy operations manager and has been interim director of pharmacy since March. 

Carlsmith Ball has announced that Michael M. Purpura has been named a litigation star by Benchmark Litigation. John “Pete” Manaut, a Carlsmith partner, also was singled out by the publication, and Benchmark also listed Carlsmith Ball as “Recommended for Litigation.”