biz briefs 8-24

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The grant is part of a three-year initiative between Home Depot and the American Red Cross to educate 1 million people across the country on disaster preparedness. In addition to providing grants to 40 select Red Cross chapters for local preparedness projects, the partnership also calls for the dissemination of disaster preparedness information and tips through a series of national and market-specific educational clinics and in-store collateral materials.

Na Leo O Hawaii board cancels Friday meeting

A meeting of the board of directors of Na Leo O Hawaii Inc., scheduled for Friday in Kailua-Kona, has been canceled.


Paniolo Day slated at Parker Ranch Center

Paniolo Day will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Parker Ranch Center. The event will include a beef tasting by the Hawaiian Cattlemen’s Association, a Paniolo Hall of Fame Display and Paniolo Art Exhibit by local artist Marcia Ray.

Besides a sidewalk sale throughout the shopping center, there will also be a gift-with-purchase giveaway of cowboy hats and bandannas while supplies last.

For more information, call the Parker Ranch Center at 885-7178.


Erskine promoted to assistant vice president

Charles K. Erskine has been promoted to assistant vice president and area manager for the Waimea branch of First Hawaiian Bank. Erskine is responsible for the Honokaa, Waikoloa and Waimea branches. He joined First Hawaiian Bank in 1990 as a loan representative.

Born in Honokaa, he is a graduate of Kamehameha School, the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Pacific Coast Banking School.


Trypically Tropical Properties honored

Pacific Business News, in partnership with First Hawaiian Bank, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Pacific LightNet, presented “Hawaii’s Fastest 50 Celebrating The Speed Of Small Business” awards on Aug. 10. Typically Tropical Properties of Kailua-Kona was ranked as the eighth fastest growing company in the state.

The Hooulu Award was presented to John S. Rabi, CEO and principal broker of Typically Tropical Properties, by Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann at the award luncheon at The Royal Hawaiian in Honolulu.

Typically Tropical Properties is located at 75-5870 Walua Road, Suite 101. Rabi can be reached at 327-3185.


Brodie program brings ex-patient, doctor together

Lex Brodie’s Big Island and Lex Brodie’s Oahu joined forces recently to grant a 12-year-old Waimea student’s wish to personally thank the pediatric oncologist who treated her leukemia when she was 4.

After a lengthy search, the doctor, Dr. Pamela Kempert, was located at Cedar-Sinai Hospital in southern California. Lex Brodie’s Tire Company Foundation arranged to have the doctor and her husband flown to Oahu, along with the student, Rachel Kirk, her family and her Big Island teacher. Rachel had written the winning letter in a monthly contest held by the Lex Brodie’s Tire Company Foundation, describing “If I had only one wish, it would be to meet you again, Dr. Kempert, and thank you, because you really did save my life!”

The foundation’s “Thank You…Very Much!” program invites Hawaii students to write letters to thank someone who has influenced their lives in a positive way. The program is heading into its third year with winners from 100 schools and five islands.

“It’s so exciting to see her,” said Kempert, who treated Rachel for acute lymphatic leukemia for two years at Children’s Hospital in Orange, Calif. “She is a beautiful young woman, with so much courage to get through this.”

The surprise reunion on Oahu, including a weekend in Waikiki and a $250 gift certificate for shopping at Ala Moana Center, were presented to Rachel for her winning letter. Additionally, the foundation presented a $500 check in Rachel’s name to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.


State Red Cross gets funds from Home Depot

The Hawaii State Chapter of the American Red Cross has received a $10,000 grant from Home Depot to recruit and train disaster volunteers, increase disaster preparedness programs to local elementary and secondary schools and to help the overall community disaster education efforts. This grant will be used to raise awareness in the community about being prepared for disasters in Hawaii and to recruit evacuation shelter staff from the school community which will increase the hurricane preparedness posture of the state of Hawaii.

The grant is part of a three-year initiative between Home Depot and the American Red Cross to educate 1 million people across the country on disaster preparedness. In addition to providing grants to 40 select Red Cross chapters for local preparedness projects, the partnership also calls for the dissemination of disaster preparedness information and tips through a series of national and market-specific educational clinics and in-store collateral materials.