By local sources
Koehnen’s closing Kailua-Kona store
The board of directors of Koehnen’s Interiors has made the decision not to renew the lease of its Kona showroom located at 74-5555 Kaiwi St. in Kailua-Kona. The furniture and home interior store will be liquidated and the business consolidated into its original flagship location in Hilo.
The decision to relinquish the Kona showroom was difficult for the family run operation.
Randy Rohner, the manager of the Kona showroom, said, “We’ve got the best staff working for us we’ve ever had. We’re like a small family but our lease is expiring and with economic factors what they are, we’ve made the decision not to renew. Business has been difficult and as an employer we really care about our staff and have been able to keep everyone on full time until now.”
The Hilo showroom will remain open for the foreseeable future and will continue to serve the entire island from its location. Rohner and his wife, Vicki, will remain in Kona and open their own custom window treatment and design business at a location still to be determined. He will continue to represent Koehnen’s in West Hawaii for furniture sales and design work but displays will be centralized in Hilo as will be furniture deliveries. Karyl Franks will continue as manager of the Hilo location.
The liquidation of the Koehnen’s Interiors Kailua-Kona location will begin Thursday with doors opening at noon that day. The store will be open seven days a week, including special hours on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. The sale will continue until inventory is depleted, the board said.
Kona Tropicals selling aquaponics units
Kona Tropicals is now developing and manufacturing aquaponics units. Aquaponics is the symbiotic hybrid of aquaculture (growing fish) and hydroponics (growing vegetables without soil). The units can also produce high-quality, organic vegetables and fish providing the use of organic fish food.
The nursery in North Kona has been around for 10 years. It has sold approximately 50 units in the short time it has been advertising and reports positive feedback from customers. Regular truck delivery goes to Hilo every Wednesday and the nursery can also ship to other islands, as well as the mainland.
For more information, call (831) 277-8606 or visit konaaquaponics.webs.com.
Jacobson appointed brew fest director
The Kona Brewers Festival recently announced the appointment of Kate Jacobson as the event’s executive director. Jacobson will oversee all aspects of planning and executing the Kona Brewers Festival, celebrating its 15th year on March 13.
Jacobson brings to the position years of experience serving on various nonprofit and government boards and committees. Most recently she served as capital campaign director/community liaison for Innovations Public Charter School in Kailua-Kona, where she designed a successful strategy to build the elementary school campus. She has spent the past 30 years as a professional artist and community organizer and is involved with numerous community organizations, including Aloha Performing Arts Company, Holualoa Foundation for Arts and Culture, Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce Education Committee and American Craft Council.
The Kona Brewers Festival is a community fundraising event made possible by the Bill Healy Foundation that celebrates the craft beer industry in Hawaii and encourages professional brewers and chefs to work together. The event raises funds for environmental, educational and cultural organizations. Since its inception in 1996, the event has raised approximately $360,000 for Big Island nonprofit organizations. For more information visit konabrewersfestival.com or call 331-3033.
By local sources