• Tax statement correction • Presidential debate • Realtor’s response • Iraq’s past • Kalalau condition Tax statement correction I’d like to clarify some incorrect information that recently appeared in a viewpoint in the Garden Island. For the record, long-term
• Tax statement correction
• Presidential debate
• Realtor’s response
• Iraq’s past
• Kalalau condition
Tax statement correction
I’d like to clarify some incorrect information that recently appeared in a viewpoint in the Garden Island. For the record, long-term rental income IS subject to Hawaii’s general excise tax at the rate of 4%.
Mr. Chuan (September 22, 2004, Viewpoint) was mistaken in asserting that the state tax code is unclear as to whether the general excise tax applies to long-term rentals. There is no question that gross income from rental activity is subject to the general excise tax whether from short-term transient accommodations or from long-term rentals.
Tax Department brochures on the general excise tax, transient accommodations tax, and the rental of residential real property can be mailed to anyone calling our toll-free 24-hour request line at 1-800-222-7572, or picked up at the Kauai District Tax Office in Lihu‘e. They are also available on the Department’s web site at www.state.hi.us/tax.
Anyone who is renting out their property and who is not currently paying the general excise tax should apply for a general excise tax license (Form BB-1) and pay all back taxes as soon as possible to avoid incurring additional penalty and interest charges. Persons who cannot pay the full amount due should complete their back tax returns and bring them to the Department so that their particular situation can be discussed and brought to a satisfactory resolution.
For more information on this or any other state tax issue, call the Department’s Taxpayer Services Branch toll-free at 1-800-222-3229, or e-mail us at Taxpayer.Services@hawaii.gov. We’d be happy to assist.
Cathleen Tokishi
External Training & Outreach
State Department of Taxation
Presidential debate
The first presidential debate showed clearly the kind of men that have been running our country for the last four years, and the kind that will run it for the next four years if Americans are awake.
Bush repeated the same few themes again and again, never really answering any of the points that Kerry made. Instead he kept saying how we must win in Iraq and make the world safe, etc. etc. – as if Kerry does not. Kerry does and said so many times.
Kerry, on the other hand, showed a firm grasp on real issues and their supporting facts. Kerry does have a plan for Iraq, one that will get the USA back in the good graces of our disgruntled allies.
As the quick polls showed after the debate, Kerry won in a landslide. This gives me hope that many people are exercising their critical faculties, and not just swallowing the pabulum of the current administration.
Ned Dana
Kalaheo
Realtor’s response
In response to “Leland’s from Lihu‘e” article on federal government and Kaua‘i.
I am a real estate broker from Coronado, California. This area is known for being one of the most notoriously high priced real estate markets.
After my fourth visit to Kaua‘i, even I was appalled at the land disputes and over-commercialization going on.
At numerous spots, locals were posted out in protest, as their ancient Hawaiian lands are being confiscated unlawfully and sold to millionaire giants to develop. This principle is going against every tradition island culture stands for.
Seeing signs that say “no Hawaiian land means no Hawaiians” and “Realtor, you stole this from us” was truly depressing.
Locals are victim to their own councils and preposterous federal government, an entity never officially adopted by any island other than Hawai‘i .
Hearing millionaires like Steve Case from AOL and other private developers are buying up entire mountains and trying to build resorts and divert ancient Hawaiian streams and water and prevent access was unbelievable.
Add to this, rumors of payoffs, insane traffic, and blocked access to many Hawaiian-owned landmarks due to military and private developers, it is sad, truly sad.
It appears even the Garden Isle can’t escape the greed of the modern world.
Brennan Hovland
Coronado, CA
Iraq’s past
In response to a letter published on September 29, it is painfully obvious that author was not a valedictorian in history. He has conveniently forgotten to mention ClintonGoresnia when addressing peace in a “fractured country,” or doesn’t that also count as a pre-emptive strike by the U.S.?
Since it is unclear where this individual is gleaning his perception of fuzzy history, it will be necessary to re-introduce true facts that have been handed down in written form for nearly a thousand years and are taught in our schools every day.
Some may recall that Iraq was once part of a larger region known as the Ottoman Empire. True historians recall that most of the nations of Europe participated in the crusades by waging religious wars in this region for hundreds of years and were never successfully able to defeat the Moslem inhabitants.
In 1056 AD a Christian by the name of Raymond Lull adopted the philosophy of using (patience, understanding and guidance) in seeking to convert the indigenous Moslems through a sincere religious dialogue. During his third journey to that region and while attempting to speak in a town square, a group of fanatic Berbers stoned him to death for his beliefs.
Despite the turmoil of the insurgent’s desperate acts, the US lead coalition has unseated a brutal dictator in a region of the world where no other country has been able to dominate for the past millennium. Saddam Hussein is credited with killing 300,000 Iraqis and 1.5 million are missing and presumed dead. Based on this genocide, can any compassionate person say that the world would be better off with Saddam in power?
Robert Louis
Kapa‘a
Kalalau condition
From September 6 to the 10th I was permitted to hike the Na Pali coast trail and camp in the beautiful Kalalau Beach camping area.
I have been doing this since the permits were free. Now that there is a fee for these permits I have noticed a gradual decline in the maintenance of the trail from the Hanakapi‘ai Valley to the Kalalau Valley. This fee, I understand, was supposed to aid in the maintenance of the trail and its facilities. I have met people from many countries and States who come to Kaua‘i to hike this famous trail and enjoy its scenic beauty as well as the serenity of Kalalau beach and its campsites. This year it was embarrassing. 1) The trail was in the worst shape it has ever been. 2) The toilet facilities at the two mile mark, Hanakapi‘ai, to where most tourists hike, are horrendous. 3) Out of the four toilet facilities at the Kalalau campground, two were closed and the two available ones did not have toilet paper. This health hazard breeds disease and could destroy the land. The only decent toilet facilities are at Hanakoa, the six mile campground.
Hanakoa is closed to overnight camping. Where is the revenue from the permit fee of $10.00 per night going? What kind of message do the foreign visitors and those from other take home? This year it was embarrassing.
I pray next year will be better.
H.E. Hargrave
