How to redefine small business’

State Sen. Laura Thielen cast the lone vote against confirming the appointment of Brian Tamamoto to the Hawaii Community Development Authority board of directors.

Thielen was concerned that Tamamoto works for Resort Holdings LLC; its parent company, Koba-yashi Group, has interests in condo develop- ment in the HCDA-governed Kakaako district.

Also, this was one the HCDA seats reserved for small business representatives.

Thielen reported on her website that his defenders told her "the entire Kobayashi Group is 10 employees, so it counts as a small business.’"

But does it, really?

Chapter 206E, the statute establishing HCDA, says the small-business seat represents "a business which is independently owned and which is not dominant in its field of operation."

Doesn’t sound much like Kobayashi Group, which on its own website reports having developed over $3 billion worth of Hawaii property over the past 30 years.

Get those ants before they get us

The state must act quickly to eradicate a small infestation of little fire ants on state Department of Agriculture lots in Waimanalo, before the stinging pests gain much of a foothold on Oahu.

Some state lawmakers accuse the department of dropping the ball in this case, but the focus now must be on getting rid of the ants.

An immediate interagency response is necessary to keep the invasive species from wreaking havoc on Oahu, as it has on parts of the Big Island.