Kailua-Kona-based Kona Brewing Co. will build a new, 100,000-barrel brewery on land just leased from the Queen Liliuokalani Trust.

The new 2.6-acre site in Kailua-Kona is near the original brewery and pub and will be the home of the new $20 million, high-efficiency brewery. Renewable energy and water conservation will be incorporated into its design, the company said in a statement.

The property was secured following a yearlong search.

“When we first decided on Kailua-Kona for our original Kona brewery 22 years ago, we did it as a result of our respect for the rich culture and spirit of the community,” said company co-founder Cameron Healy in a statement. Healy co-founded Kona Brewing Co. with his son, Spoon Khalsa, in 1994.

“Having the opportunity to build the new Kona brewery in the same neighborhood where we started is a privilege,” he said. “Kona and the Big Island of Hawaii are special, and we are grateful to the community for all of their support over these many years.”

Groundbreaking for the new brewery is expected in the spring, with brewery operations expected to begin in early 2018.

Hawaii’s tax burden among top 15 in U.S.

Some 10.2 percent of Hawaii residents’ income went toward state and local taxes, making Hawaii’s tax burden the 14th-highest in the U.S., a new study has found.

The nonpartisan Tax Foundation’s annual State-Local Tax Burden Rankings were released Wednesday, highlighting the state and local tax burden on taxpayers in each of the 50 states. The study analyzed state and local taxes collected during fiscal year 2012.

The average state and local tax bill for all 50 states was $1,096 versus $3,480 in Hawaii, according to the foundation.

The study notes that taxation also occurs across state lines, such as taxes paid while on vacation in another state.

“There’s an ongoing debate over how much is enough when it comes to taxes, but it isn’t always informed by accurate data,” Nicole Kaeding, Tax Foundation economist, said in a statement. “Our study gives taxpayers a comprehensive look at where tax burdens are felt across the states, so that they can have an informed discussion on the size and reach of state and local taxes.”

Vegas taxis overcharge customers, audit says

LAS VEGAS >> If the cash you doled out for a Las Vegas cab ride hurt your wallet, it’s not all in your head — auditors in Nevada also think taxi rates are outrageous.

Las Vegas-area cabs are overcharging customers to the tune of $47 million a year, according to an audit released Tuesday of the Nevada Taxicab Authority, which regulates the rides in Clark County.

Auditors for the governor’s finance office blamed a $3 credit card processing fee that they say is much higher than in other cities and probably shouldn’t exist. They also criticized a decision to increase a fuel surcharge even as gas prices are tanking, saying having the surcharge at all is unique among the 12 major Western cities that the taxi board tracks.

“The board’s decision is a windfall for the industry,” the audit says. “These are mostly tourist/visitor dollars that would otherwise likely be spent elsewhere in the local economy.”

The criticism comes a few months after ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft started operating in Nevada with promises of cheaper and more convenient rides. The taxi industry, which makes big bucks taking tourists on a 5-mile trip from the airport to the Strip, argued against allowing the companies to operate.

California could be legal pot game changer

DENVER >> States that have legalized pot are taking a fresh look at making it easier for out-of-state investors to get in the weed business, saying the industry’s ongoing difficulty in banking means they need new options to finance expansion.

The four states that allow recreational pot sales — Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington — have another big reason to take a new look at pot investment. That’s California, the nation’s most populous state and largest marijuana producer.

California voters could approve recreational pot this fall, which gives the nascent pot industries in the other states reason to want to attract investment before a giant enters the picture.

Ziploc creator boosts paid leave for parents

Dow Chemical is fattening the paid leave it gives employees after the birth of a child as it becomes the latest major U.S. employer to rethink how it treats parents.

The creator of Ziploc bags and Saran Wrap said Wednesday that mothers will receive a minimum of 12 weeks of paid leave, while nonbirthing parents can get two weeks. That’s up from six to eight weeks and one week, respectively.

This leave can be taken in the 12 months after a child’s birth, and the change applies to all of the company’s 53,000 employees worldwide.

Businesses weigh rewards, risks of Iran

FRANKFURT, Germany >> With many barriers to dealing with Iran suddenly lifted as part of a nuclear deal, some European companies are ready to seize business opportunities in a tempting market of 78.5 million people.

At first glance, the allure is obvious — Iran is the second-largest economy in the region, the second-most populous country and it has infrastructure and vehicles overdue for an upgrade after years of sanctions. But those companies that take the plunge face serious risks from the remaining sanctions, geopolitical uncertainty, red tape and corruption.

On The Move

>> Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel has announced Claire Goldberg as the new partner for the law firm. She joined the firm in 2007 and practices real estate transactions by assisting clients with real estate acquisitions, financing, leasing and sales. Prior to joining Goodsill, Goldberg was a student at New York University and University of Michigan Law School.

>> The Queen’s Health Systems has announced Jim Yates as a new member to its board of trustees. Yates is the president, marketing and logistics of Hawaii Independent Energy.

>> The Honolulu Community Action Program Inc., a private nonprofit community action agency assisting Oahu’s low-income residents to achieve self-reliance since 1965, has selected Shari Martin as its Ha Initiative: Creative STEM after-school program manager. She will be responsible for the overall development, promotion and implementation of the program. She previously was a grant curriculum developer for Kawaiaha’o School and Samuel Kamakau Charter School.

Ship Ahoy!