Registration with Hawaii Community College is required for both the LMT classes and the Irrigation School. Space is limited and early registration is suggested. Contact HawCC Office of Continuing Education and Training at 974-7531 to register. For more information on these courses, contact Ty McDonald at the UH Cooperative Extension office in Kona, 322-4892 or Mary Leleiwi at HCC West Hawaii OCET office, 322-4863.
Kona Brewing registers 30 percent growth
Kona Brewing Co. recently announced 30 percent growth in beer sales from 2005 to 2006, nearly tripling the trend of the craft beer industry in the United States, which also registered double-digit growth in 2006. The Brewers Association, a trade organization that promotes and protects the U.S. craft brewing community’s interests, just released its 2006 national sales figures that show an 11.7 percent increase. This industry growth comes on top of strong growth in each of the prior three years and illustrates the ongoing surge of consumer interest in craft beers, according to the Brewers Association.
The local brewery sold 44,777 barrels of beer in 2006 (one barrel equals 31 U.S. gallons), up from 34,296 barrels in 2005. Nationwide, the Brewers Association estimated 2006 sales by the country’s 1,444 craft brewers at more than 6.6 million barrels, up some 29.5 percent from three years ago.
In 2006, Kona Brewing Co. added new mainland markets to its distribution network and debuted its limited release beer program. The beer is distributed in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Washington, Japan and Taiwan. The limited release beer program provided consumers with a new specialty beer in bottles and on tap — Pipeline Porter, brewed with 100 percent Kona coffee. Pipeline Porter will be available through April; it will return to the shelves again next fall. In April, the company will package its second limited released beer, a wheat ale brewed with tropical passion fruit.
“Craft beer has become a great American success story and today U.S. craft brewers are being watched, emulated and celebrated globally,” said Julia Herz, director of craft beer marketing for the Brewers Association. “Demand has become contagious. Craft beer is satisfying the thirst and beer enthusiasm of a continuously growing number of beer drinkers who are seeking flavor, diversity and value.”
Kona Brewing Co. was founded in 1994 and packaged its first batch of beer in February 1995. It has grown into Hawaii’s largest brewery and the 32nd largest producer of beer in the country, with two restaurant sites in Hawaii and beer distribution reaching 15 states, Japan and Taiwan. For information call 334-BREW or visit www.KonaBrewingCo.com
Ito appointed general manager by Marriott
Marriott International, Inc. has selected Rodney Ito general manager of the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. The 555-room property at the Waikoloa Beach Resort recently completed a renovation in excess of $50 million.
Ito takes over the helm from Nihad Kattan who has been appointed area vice president of Marriott International, Middle East and Africa.
Prior to accepting his new post, Ito was director of operations at the 1,310-room Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa on Oahu, which he joined in 2004. Before that he was general manager of Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort when it was owned and managed by Waikoloa Outrigger Hotels and operated under a sales and marketing franchise agreement with Marriott International.
Prior to his employment with Outrigger Hotels, Ito held key senior management positions at Hilton Hotels in California, Alaska, Oregon and Hawaii.
Chu receives ATHENA Award
Roberta Chu was selected the 2006 recipient of the ATHENA Award, presented by the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce.
The ATHENA Award was give to Chu at a chamber luncheon Feb. 26 at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. The event was attended by business and community leaders in Hilo.
Four other women were nominated for the award — Juliette Tulang, foundation associate with the Hawaii Community Foundation; Janet Snyder, the mayor’s press secretary; Diana Kahler, director of the Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council; and Patricia Englehard, director of the Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation. They were presented with gifts by Lundkvist Aviation Research.
Ocean, Anderson signing books at Kona Stories
Joan Ocean has done “participatory research” with dolphins since 1989. She will discuss her dolphin “immersion” experiences on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at Kona Stories.
She will also sign her books, “Dolphin Connection” and “Dolphins into the Future,” at Kona Stories, 79-7460 Mamalahoa Hwy., Mango Court, Kealakekua.
Also, Karen Anderson, author of “The Hawaii Home book: Practical Tips for Tropical Living” will be signing her book from 1 to 3 p.m. at the book store.
Call 324-0350 for more information.
Two landscape training course offered
Hawaii Island Landscape Association and Hawaii Community College Office of Continuing Education and Training, with support this year from the University of Hawaii Cooperative Extension Service, are offering HILA’s two landscape maintenance courses in West Hawaii to landscape professionals and serious gardeners.
The Landscape Maintenance Training course is a 10-week series of individual classes that may be taken separately. The classes began on Wednesday and will run every Wednesday through May 9. The three-hour classes are held at the Hapuna Prince Beach Hotel from 2 to 5 p.m. Cost for each class is $40.
The second course offering is a two-day Irrigation School that is being offered May 25 and 26 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days in the Wahi Malama Room of the Hualalai Resort. Topics will include classroom work in irrigation hydraulics and design and hands-on field experience in electrical and valve troubleshooting, system installation, and copper pipe sweating.
The Irrigation School is designed to prepare applicants for the Exterior/Irrigation portion of the Certified Landscape Training Test. This test is offered in Kona this year on June 2 and 9 at Kealakehe High School. For more information on the CLT Test, call (808) 956-2150 or go to the Landscape Industry Council of Hawaii Web site at www@LICHawaii.com. Cost for the Irrigation School is $250.
Registration with Hawaii Community College is required for both the LMT classes and the Irrigation School. Space is limited and early registration is suggested. Contact HawCC Office of Continuing Education and Training at 974-7531 to register. For more information on these courses, contact Ty McDonald at the UH Cooperative Extension office in Kona, 322-4892 or Mary Leleiwi at HCC West Hawaii OCET office, 322-4863.