biz briefs 7-23

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For more information about the show, visit ABC.Go.com/Primetime/Bachelorette.

Tasty Thai in the Kona Commons under new management

Tasty Thai in the Kona Commons shopping center is under new management. Windy “Makani” Gerardi, born and raised in Kona, has taken over Tasty Thai and big changes are under way. Gerardi received her culinary arts degree from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco backing up her basic skills by taking specialty courses at Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, Calif. She has also worked as a private chef for several prominent clients on the mainland.

Gerardi has put her culinary degree to good use. Healthy dishes such as pad Thai with prawns, cashew chicken, exotic smoothies, green papaya salad, Thai iced tea and homemade spring rolls are just a few of the things now offered at Tasty Thai.

Tasty Thai is planning a grand reopening event that coincides with the opening of Target on July 26. Keep an eye out for the chili pepper mascot on Queen Kaahumanu Highway. Bring the keiki.


ABC’S ‘THE BACHELORETTE’ VISITS HAWAII’S BIG ISLAND FOR TWO-HOUR SEASON FINALE AIRING JULY 27

– Jillian Harris and Final Two Bachelors Explore Hawaii’s Island of Adventure –


Hawaii fans who watched ABC’s “The Bachelorette” Jillian Harris bid aloha to Reid Rosenthal after their romantic date on Maui will be seeing a lot more of the Hawaiian Islands as season five of the hit romance reality show from Warner Horizon Television wraps up on Hawaii’s Big Island in a two-hour season finale Monday.

“The feedback from viewers who watched the Maui episode has been incredible with many sharing their excitement about the beautiful scenery, the impressive diversity of activities, and how they now want to visit Hawaii,” said John Monahan, president and chief executive officer of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, the State of Hawaii’s marketing agency for North America who had a major role in bringing this show to the islands. “Hawaii’s Big Island will be a notable contrast with its rich lava landscape, and prominent beachfront resorts. Being home to all but two of the world’s main climate zones, viewers will see just how huge, diverse and exciting the Big Island really is.”

Jillian and the final two bachelors — Ed Swiderski and Kiptyn Locke — find themselves on incredible final dates that take them across the Big Island highlighted by an aerial tour of Kilauea volcano’s active lava flows with Sunshine Helicopters, landing beside a secluded Hilo waterfall for a private barbecue with KapohoKine Adventures and discovering a remote black sand beach with Captain Zodiac Rafting Adventures.

After exploring the diversity of the island, the couples continue their dates with dinner and alone time at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel and The Fairmont Orchid resorts on the Kohala Coast, the sun-soaked northwest side of the island that was once a popular retreat for Hawaiian royalty.

A private oceanfront estate within Mauna Kea Resort provides the setting for what could be a life changing moment for Jillian as she makes her final decision. As the largest of all of the main Hawaiian Islands combined and home to Mauna Kea, the world’s tallest mountain, Hawaii’s Big Island is a perfect symbol of the enormous decision to be made there.

For more information about the show, visit ABC.Go.com/Primetime/Bachelorette.