Software and Act 221/215

Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Sunday, April 25, 2004

It seems like a computer glitch. As a growing number of American companies outsource work to cheaper countries, insurance firm AIG Hawaii has turned that trend on its head by bringing a team of Indian software experts to its Restaurant Row headquarters.

AIG Experiments in Reverse Outsourcing

Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Tuesday, March 23, 2004

Up to 20 percent of high-technology tax credit claims that have undergone state audit or review are fraudulent, state Tax Director Kurt Kawafuchi said yesterday.

Audits Find Tech-tax Abuse

Honolulu Advertiser, Wednesday, March 20, 2004

Gov. Linda Lingle signed a bill yesterday that extends and tightens Hawaii's controversial high-technology tax credits for five years and establishes a state private investment fund to provide venture capital for cash-hungry local tech companies.

Lingle OKs Act 221 Tax Credit Extension, Criticizes Lawmakers.

Pacific Business News, Friday, March 19, 2004

AIG Hawaii President Robin Campaniano has taken the first steps toward bringing a piece of the parent company's $600 million software-development business to Hawaii.

AIG Hawaii Leverages Act 221 for New Tech Division.

Honolulu Advertiser, Friday, March 5, 2004

A state technology tax credit generated nearly $112 million in investments for Hawai'i companies during its first two years, but a significant part of that -- as much as $62 million -- may have gone to businesses that either didn't create permanent jobs or weren't high-tech.

Act 221 Technology Credit Largely Missed Mark.

Honolulu Advertiser, Sunday, February 22, 2004

Eleven Hawai'i insurance companies, including one closely tied to the state's two largest public employee unions, avoided paying $19 million in state taxes in 2001 and 2002 by investing in high technology ventures, including the "Blue Crush" teen surf movie.

Insurers among investors that got Act 221 breaks

Pacific Business News, Friday, January 9, 2004

Hawaii's high-tech tax-credit law known as Act 221 has enticed Louisiana-based venture fund Advantage Capital to invest here.

Honolulu Advertiser, Sunday, April 6, 2003

As the election campaign came to a head last fall, Linda Lingle promised the Hawai'i technology community that as governor she would protect Act 221, the high-tech tax incentive, from modification.

Honolulu Advertiser, Wednesday, January 29, 2003

Six more Hawai'i technology companies received about $20 million in venture funding in the last quarter of 2002, increasing evidence that the year's end was one of the most successful investment periods for the small Hawai'i technology community.

Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Wednesday, October 23, 2002

In a lawsuit revolving around financial incentives for film and television productions to work in Hawaii, April Masini is suing a local tax attorney and his law firm for malpractice and fraud.