11-01-2013, 04:23 AM
The cost of doing business is always passed along to the consumer.
Everything costs more in Hawaii; this is a combination of simple logistics (it's far) and regressive regulation (the GET is applied several times along the way, and let's not forget the Jones Act -- this even before the extra "County Business Tax" imposed by the friendly folks at Planning and Building).
Ironically, this simply drives many to avoid participating in the local economy; with free shipping from Amazon, there's hardly any reason to pay "Island Price" for most retail items.
Everything costs more in Hawaii; this is a combination of simple logistics (it's far) and regressive regulation (the GET is applied several times along the way, and let's not forget the Jones Act -- this even before the extra "County Business Tax" imposed by the friendly folks at Planning and Building).
Ironically, this simply drives many to avoid participating in the local economy; with free shipping from Amazon, there's hardly any reason to pay "Island Price" for most retail items.