Hawai‘i Life. Hawai‘i Law.
The head of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced in mid-April that the federal agency planned to crack down on tax compliance of wealthy individuals and corporations. When asked for his plans to do so, he noted that the top 1% of these two entities fail to pay...
If you’re purchasing your first commercial property, you’re likely wondering how similar the closing process is to closing on a home. In fact, there are a lot of differences. They both have their share of regulatory requirements, but not the same ones. Transactions...
Finding a location for your business is one of the most important things you can do, but you can’t focus on the location of the property and forget about some other factors. There are many things that you need to consider. Another one that many people think about is...
The more assets you have, the more complicated estate planning becomes. Those with significant personal property typically need to consider their legacy more carefully. Complex assets, such as a business or multiple investment accounts, may require instructions on how...
If you are a business person and you want to buy commercial real estate in Hawai’i -- a new, architecturally impressive site for your offices or a larger building for your retail operation-- it’s a great move to enhance your brand. However, it’s best to do some...
Like most entrepreneurs, you worked hard to create and grow your business to ensure it thrived. Successful business owners put in a lot of time, money and effort to establish the products or services that make them stand out from competitors. Such commitment and...
In November 2019, the news media reported that, based on a report by Hawai’i Commercial Real Estate, there had been a seismic shift in the commercial real estate market. Vacancy rates were down, so landlords -- not tenants -- were suddenly gaining more power to write...
Businesses have an obligation to their shareholders to turn as much of a profit as possible. Minimizing liabilities and obligations can be a big part of the company's strategy for maximizing revenue. Taxation can be a major liability for successful businesses, but...
If you want to build in Honolulu, it’s important that you understand the zoning laws and regulations in the region. There are specific districts and areas where certain kinds of properties may be built. For example, there are: Apartment districts Resort districts...
Trademarks define specific symbols, words, phrases or designs as yours alone, meaning that other companies cannot use them. Your company logo should be trademarked, for instance, along with other brand identifiers. If someone infringes on those marks, you can ask them...