Hawaii Economic Development Directory

Hawaii State Incentives

HAWAII SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH PROGRAM (SBIR): A $2.2 billion three-phased Federal program that provides small businesses the opportunity to win federal R&D awards. Hawaii-based companies that receive Phase I feasibility study SBIR awards can apply for funds from HTDC’s Hawaii SBIR Matching Grant program. The matching grants provide up to $25,000 to assist companies with enhancing their Phase I project development, compete for the more lucrative Phase II awards to typically conduct prototype development, and ultimately reach successful commercialization.

MOTION PICTURE, DIGITAL MEDIA & FILM PRODUCTON INCOME TAX CREDIT: A refundable tax credit based on a production company’s Hawaii expenditures while producing a qualified film, television, commercial or digital media project. The credit equals 15 percent of qualified production costs incurred on Oahu, and 20 percent on the neighbor islands (Big Island, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai).

ROYALTIES TAX EXEMPTION: Royalties derived from performing arts products are excluded from a Hawaii taxpayer’s income and not subject to state income tax.

HAWAII ENTERPRISE ZONES PARTNERSHIP: A joint state-county effort intended to stimulate—via tax and other incentives—certain types of business activity, job preservation and job creation in areas where they are most appropriate or most needed. Up to six zones can be designated per county. If a business (or a branch of business) is eligible and is located in an Enterprise Zone (EZ), it can reduce its state taxes and receive other county benefits for up to seven years by satisfying the EZ hiring and gross receipts requirements.

HIGH TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP (HTDC-MEP): A federal program administered in Hawaii by the State’s High Technology Development Corporation and designed to bring best practices to small and medium-sized businesses at an affordable cost. Almost every business in Hawaii that develops products can take advantage of the services. It serves all industries and all companies who are willing to invest time, money and people to improve business. HTDC-MEP acts as a general practitioner in providing a wealth of knowledge and meeting various industry-specific needs. It can help increase profitability & competitiveness in the following business areas:

• Reduce costs & lead-times while improving your quality, productivity, capacity and profits.
• Process design and improvements
• Lean Manufacturing
• Plant Layout
• Value Stream Mapping
• Business Planning
• Strategic Planning
• Marketing Research and Planning
• Product development
• Supply chain management
• E-commerce and web development
• Quality control issues
• Business operations and management coaching
• Training (Lean, Value Stream Mapping, TQM, etc.)

HAWAII STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (HSDC): An agency of Hawaii established in 1990 to promote technology based economic development and economic diversification in the state through a return driven investment program in partnership with private capital. HSDC has adopted an indirect investment policy whereby it seeks to invest in venture capital partnerships that in turn will make direct investments into Hawaii-based companies. The general partners of the venture capital partnerships, or fund managers, are private sector investors who pool funds from a number of investors, identify and invest in promising businesses, and manage the investments until an exit from the investment is achieved. In this manner, HSDC is able to leverage public funds with private capital and utilize the investment acumen of the private sector in selecting suitable investments. HSDC seeks to invest in fund managers with experience in venture capital investing and that have a commitment to build a portfolio of Hawaii-based investments. Emphasis is given to investment opportunities that further technological innovation in Hawaii. HSDC is currently precluded by law from investing in retail businesses, housing construction and the tourism sector.

PRIORITY PERMIT PROCESSING FOR GREE BUILDINGS: Hawaii requires priority processing for all construction or development permits for projects that achieve LEED Silver or equivalent.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY LOANS: Act 209 was enacted in 2008 to establish a new loan program to help full-time farmers, ranchers and aquaculturalists to reduce dependence on fossil fuel by producing renewable energy through sources such as photovoltaic, hydroelectric, wind, methane, biodiesel and ethanol. The act also allows for loans for food safety projects to ensure a safe food supply for Hawaii’s people. The maximum loan amount is $1,500,000 or 85 percent of the project cost (whichever is less). Funds can be used for infrastructure, equipment, land improvement and operating costs associated with the project. The program offers favorable interest rates with a maximum loan term of 40 years.

SOLAR AND WIND ENERGY CREDIT: Originally enacted in 1976, it allows individuals or corporations to claim an income tax credit of 20 percent of the cost of equipment and installation of a wind system and 35 percent of the cost of equipment and installation of a solar thermal or photovoltaic (PV) system. For solar thermal energy systems, a commercial property is eligible for a maximum credit of 35 percent of the actual cost or $250,000, whichever is less; for photovoltaic systems, the maximum allowable credit is 35 percent of the actual cost or $500,000, whichever is less; and for wind powered energy systems the maximum allowable credits is 20 percent of the actual cost or $500,000, whichever is less.