Chances are that many Hawaii taxpayers who are still working on their returns for Monday’s federal filing deadline are in for a surprise. The reform of the tax code means that those accustomed to certain deductions can expect less, in exchange for a higher standard deduction. For example, the state and local tax deduction you can take on federal taxes is capped at $10,000. Any old assumption about refunds: You can’t take it to the bank — some might even need to visit the bank for cash to pay the tax bill.

Cannabis from factories, not fields

While medical marijuana holds potential to reign as Hawaii’s most valuable crop, its cultivation will not be on display in sun-drenched fields. Instead, production occurs at sealed-up high-tech cannabis factories. Noa Botanicals’ facility in Kunia has roughly 1,000 plants and can produce several thousand pounds of marijuana a year. Under state law, pot retailers can grow up to 5,000 plants. But required bio-security measures can yield hefty costs. For example, Noa Botanicals’ reliance on indoor lighting serves as a big contributor to a monthly electric bill of $50,000.