HANO public policy agenda highlights annual meeting report

In 2011, HANO was actively engaged with the Legislature and Honolulu City Council working to oppose attempts to repeal the nonprofit general excise tax and the property tax exemptions.

While the net proceeds of nonprofit fundraising events are and have been subject to Hawaii GET, HB 799 would have imposed a tax on nonprofits' gross incomes. The bill died in committee. Meanwhile measures in City Council would have raised the property tax nonprofits pay to $400 from $300 and another would have repealed the tax exemption for nonprofit real estate of certain values. Neither bill was passed out, although the council appointed a committee to study the matter.

HANO was named to a prompt payment task force attached to the Department of Administration and General Services to examine and resolve delayed government payments to nonprofits for goods and services. HANO also closely followed a bill that would have exempted tickets to charity fundraisers from the restrictions on gifts to legislators whether or not the charity providing the tickets is the host of the event. That controversial bill was deferred in committee.

HANO testified in support of a bill, which passed, amending the Nonprofit Corporations Act to allow for electronic voting and notices and meetings by teleconference, and a bill that clarified the law of charitable solicitation and nonprofit registration.

Not passing was a measure HANO supported to repeal Act 155, which can revoke a nonprofit's tax exempt status and make board members and select staff personally liable if tax payments are willfully neglected.

New HANO Board members elected; Steven Ho's term expires

Michael Gleason, HANO's board chair and president and CEO of The Arc of Hilo, presented a parting gift of appreciation to Steven L.F. Ho, an attorney with the Torkildson Katz Moore Hetherington & Harris firm and founding board member of HANO, who is completing his second term on the board. In addition to providing counsel and advice, Ho played a critical role in drafting HANO's bylaws as Hawaii Community Services Council reincorporated as a state-wide nonprofit alliance.

Each year, HANO members elect new board members as directors complete their terms and either stand for re-election to a second three-year term or are required to step down.

This year, board members receiving second terms included: Selena Ching, executive director of the Hawaii Youth Symphony Association; Jane Hoffman, executive director of the Kilauea Point Natural History Museum; Leigh-Ann Miyasato, president and executive director of the Entreprenuers Foundation of Hawaii; and Sarah Richards, president of the Hawaii Theatre Center.

Two new board members were elected at the meeting:

Dave Kostecki, CPA, is vice president finance, controller and chief accounting officer for Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. Kostecki is originally from St. Louis and earned a Bachelor's degree in finance and accounting at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where he met his wife, Elizabeth Ignacio, a Hawaii native and Iolani School graduate. He joined PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1992, which brought him to Hawaii on assignments. At HEI, he is responsible for all aspects of corporate finance and accounting. Kosteki is board president for HUGS and is also on the Catholic Charities Hawaii and Kalihi Palama Health Center boards.

Desiree Puhi, RN, executive director of Molokai Community Health Center since 2008, is a longtime resident of the Friendly Isle. Recognized as one of the top 50 nurses in Hawaii, as ED she is responsible for implementing all policy, recruitment and hiring of staff.