50th is First by Frank Seltzer
Endless Summer Cigar Festival
Hawaii may be our 50th state, but right now it is leading the way in the fight against cigars. The Hawaii Cigar Association is working for a decrease in cigar taxes. Right now, Hawaii charges 50 percent of wholesale cost in tax and the group is pushing for a 50 cent per cigar cap. The hearing on the bill is today.
To raise awareness of their efforts and to raise a little money for their efforts, this past weekend the group held the Endless Summer Cigar Festival. The festival itself was held on Sunday night, but before that industry leaders and Hawaiian consumers met with legislators to talk about the bill. It was a full court press by the group and it flooded the committee with testimonies from hundreds interested Hawaii consumers.
On Friday, the group had a meet and greet with legislators, Jeff Borysiewicz – the chairman of the Cigar Rights of America—explained to those who came by the differences between mass made and premium cigars. Alas, the event was upstaged by a near-by hearing on an anti-paparazzi bill featuring Steven Tyler of Aerosmith and Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwod Mac. On the bright side Steven Tyler took a cigar.
Saturday was a rest day for the group with a casual barbecue at Pearl Harbor. But Sunday was the main event open to the public. About 250 cigar smokers from the islands and a few from the mainland came to the Royal Hawaiian hotel on Waikiki beach Sunday evening to eat, smoke and spend time with Rocky Patel; Pepin , Jaime and Janny Garcia from My Father Cigars; Robbie Levin from Ashton and Pete Johnson from Tatuaje. There also were representatives from Oliva Cigars and General Cigars. The leader of the event was Les Drent—owner of Kauai Cigar Company, yes there is a cigar maker in Hawaii. Drent grows tobacco on Kauai and rolls his cigars in Nicaragua (the taxes are way too high to do it in Hawaii which is one reason he is fighting this fight.
The festival also raised money for Operation HomeFront Hawaii that directly helps Hawaiian veterans and wounded warriors. On Monday, more testimony was given to the legislature and then today was the hearing. The members of the group are optimistic. The group also is keeping an eye on bills that would expand the state’s current smoking ban to include state parks, beaches and privately owned condos as well as another that actually would allow bars to permit smoking. These bills are unlikely to pass but the tax cap has a very good chance.
This is what states need to do is organize at the local level to fight the efforts of the other side. Both the C-R-A and IPCPR can help.
More Flor
Pepin and Jaime Garcia
In talking with Jaime and Pepin Garcia, I found out that the factory has been working extremely hard on filling orders for their Flor de las Antilias. The toro was the cigar named cigar of the year by Cigar Aficionado and when that happens, factories cannot keep up with demand and backorders happen. Often it takes months to climb back out. Fortunately, we still have some just not the Toro yet. (Although the other sizes are exceptional as well.) Jaime and Janny say that by the end of the month, most of the back orders should be gone and the cigars would be available again. That certainly is good news.
Pete Joins Boy Band
Pete ready to tour
One other bit, Pete Johnson usually attends Pro Cigar in the Dominican Republic next week….but this year he is not going to make it. The reason? He is going on tour. The former bass player and current cigar rock star is going big time on Mark Cuban’s jet as he tours South America starting next week with real rock stars. He will be in Mexico, Chile, Brazil and other countries. No he is not paying for this one, instead he is joining a few of his customers as they tour. And you would probably never guess who.
Bye Shreve
It is tough when you lose someone you have known almost since birth. My buddy Shreve Davis passed away this weekend. (His name comes from a family name of Captain Shreve who founded Shreveport, LA. even though this Shreve was born and bred New Jersey.)We grew up together and stayed friends throughout school, jobs, moves, weddings and divorces and many many years. …too many to count here. Shreve enjoyed occasional cigars, he was still learning about them but had really taken to the camaraderie found in cigar stores. He passed too soon. RIP buddy.
