biz briefs 9-17

Zane and Tiffany & Co. team up for Moku O Keawe

Every wahine loves that famous blue box and what it represents. That famed Tiffany blue box will now include diamonds and a Sig Zane-designed pendant representing all things Hawaii.

Zane and Tiffany & Co. have partnered to create a sterling silver, limited edition pendant embodying the Moku O Keawe Foundation’s logo. That foundation, of which Zane is an advisory committee member, will be hosting its second annual hula festival in Waikoloa this November.

The pendant, along with a Sig Zane-and-Tiffany & Co.-designed perpetual trophy, will be unveiled Sept. 22 at “Celebrate Moku O Keawe!,” a kick-off to the November festival. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. and continue to 9 p.m. in the Naupaka Room of the Waikoloa Beach Marriot Resort and Spa. It will include a fashion show revealing Zane’s 2008 “Wailani Collection,” with styles named after the famous rains of Hawaii.

The Moku O Keawe International Festival, to be held Nov. 7 to 11 at the Hilton WaikoloaVvillage, will feature international and local hula halau competing in kupuna, kahiko and hula auana styles.

For more information, call 886-1655 or visit www.mokuokeawe.org.

Keauhou Beach Resort planning facelift

All 310 guestrooms at the Keauhou Beach Resort will be getting a fresh new facelift.

The improvement project, anticipated to take six months, will include brand-new carpeting, paint, bath tub and shower liners, upholstery, lighting and redesigned vanities in all guest rooms. The corridors will also be re-painted and re-carpeted and feature new artwork.

An added new benefit for guests will be free high-speed Internet access.

“The new interior décor was selected for the pleasing environment it creates,” said Gregg Enright, general manager. “The look is light, tropical and relaxing, with colors drawn from our natural surroundings: cooling shades of green, warm woods and deep blue accents on the bed covers.”

Hotel guests are not anticipated to be impacted by the project, as the work flow will be isolated from occupied rooms.

Livestock risk workshop is Sept. 28 in Waimea

A free “Managing Risk on Hawaii Ranches” workshop is scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, Kohala III ballroom.

This “RightRisk Workshop,” in partnership with the University of Hawaii Cooperative Extension Service will help participants gain a better understanding of the risks faced by a livestock operation and an owner’s personal risk preferences. Presentations and risk simulation will be given by UH, Colorado State University and University of Wyoming specialists.

There is limited seating. Register by contacting Mark Thorne, Waimea Cooperative Extension Service office, 887-6183 or thornem@hawaii.edu.

Mediation training slated for Oct. 25 and 26

West Hawaii Mediation Center is accepting trainees for its October basic mediation trainings.

The two-day training will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 25 and 26 at the Waikoloa Community Church. The training consists of 16 hours of comprehensive classroom training. The fee is $100. Scholarships are available for those interested in becoming a volunteer mediator with the center. Upon completion of the classroom training, potential volunteers must complete an additional apprenticeship component. Deadline for registration is Oct. 12.

The participants will acquire skills in communication, negotiation and problem solving. Mediation, an alternative dispute resolution process, recognizes that many times an impartial third party can help by facilitating cooperation and sincere, open communication between people involved in a dispute. Mediation provides a voluntary process that empowers people to take responsibility for the resolution of their dispute instead of simply turning to litigation, which can often be time-consuming and expensive.

There are a limited number of openings. For more information or to sign up for the training, call the center at 885-5525 or 326-2666.