Business Expo, chamber meeting scheduled Friday
Business Expo, chamber meeting scheduled Friday
The Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce’s Business Expo will take place before and after its annual membership and installation luncheon from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. The expo, free and open to the public, features chamber members who will showcase their products and services.
The luncheon’s keynote speaker Tadia Rice, a management consultant and organizational dynamics expert, will present “Got Guanxi? Gaining the competitive edge through intercultural relationships.” The chamber’s new officers and directors for 2014-15 will be sworn in and winners of the Pualu and SBA Awards will be honored. Cost is $55 for members, $65 for nonmembers to attend the luncheon.
For more information, visit kona-kohala.com, call the chamber office at 329-1758 or email info@kona-kohala.com.
Food manufacturers present awards
The Hawaii Food Manufacturers Association has recognized the best of the best in Hawaii’s food manufacturing industry at its first-ever Taste Awards, held at the Pomaikai Ballrooms at Dole Cannery on Oahu.
Co-sponsored by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, the awards honor individuals, companies and products throughout Hawaii that have demonstrated exceptional performance, innovation and contribution to the manufacturing industry and to the community.
Awards were presented in nine categories. From a total of 121 nominations, 10 people and organizations received awards.
n The Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Neal Arakaki of Menehune Mac.
n The INNOVATE Hawaii Manufacturer of the Year “Large-Company” (more than 100 employees) was given to So Ono Food Products.
n The INNOVATE Hawaii Manufacturer of the Year “Small-Company” (less than 100 employees) was awarded to Big Island Bees of Kealakekua.
n Recognized as the Start-up Manufacturer of the Year was Chic Naturals of Lahaina, Maui.
n Honored with the Product of the Year Award was Big Island Abalone of Kailua-Kona.
n The Advocate of the Year Award was shared by two individuals: Wayne Inouye of INNOVATE Hawaii and Nina Tanabe of Pacific Food Technology.
n Dana Labels was honored as the industry’s Supplier of the Year.
n Central Pacific Bank was presented the Innovative Marketing Award for its television commercial promoting Kona coffee.
n Pacific Gateway Center was awarded the Community Service Award.
American Savings wins Visa award
American Savings Bank was recognized by Visa as one of 108 national banks acknowledged as Quality Performance Award winners. ASB was the only Hawaii bank recognized with the Highest Chargeback Effective Rate for Fraud reason codes.
This award recognizes ASB’s compliance procedures, operational efficiency and accuracy in identifying fraudulent charges on consumer and small business debit card accounts.
Visa’s Quality Performance Awards recognizes select banks across the globe that meet Visa’s commitment to best-in-class operations, and acknowledges ASB for consistent and superior performance in key areas that directly affect cardholders and merchants.
Four Seasons plans Chef Fest in October
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Kaupulehu will host Chef Fest, part of the Four Seasons Food and Wine Series. A celebration of high-profile dinners, interactive cooking classes and culinary experiences, the series of events will be held at the resort Oct. 22 to 25 and features top chefs coming together to cook, teach and entertain in an intimate and relaxed beach setting.
Seamus Mullen of Tertulia, El Colmado, New York City, “The Next Iron Chef” participant and author of “Hero Food”; Amanda Freitag of The Empire Diner, New York City and “Chopped” and “Iron Chef America” participant; Marco Canora of Hearth, Terroir, participant in “The Next Iron Chef” and author of “Salt to Taste”; Ben Ford of Ford’s Filling Station, Los Angeles; Aaron Brooks, executive chef, Four Seasons Hotel Miami; and Ned Bell, executive chef, Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver, join Massimo Falsini, executive chef, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, for the celebrations.
Master Sommelier Chuck Furuya and director of mixology Chandra Lucariello from Southern Wine and Spirits will be on hand for wine and cocktail events.
More information on Chef Fest can be found at foodandwinehualalai.com.
Foundation honors KVBID for phone app
Historic Hawaii Foundation recently honored the Kailua Village Business Improvement District for its exemplary achievement in the field of historic preservation with a Preservation Media Award for its Kona Royal Footsteps Interpretive Experience Smartphone App. The Preservation Media Award honors printed publications or visual presentations that interpret history, preservation or physical characteristics of a historic property.
The Preservation Honor Awards are Hawaii’s highest recognition of preservation projects that perpetuate, rehabilitate, restore or interpret the state’s architectural, archaeological and/or cultural heritage. The development of the Alii Drive interpretive experience delivered via smartphone app showcases the historic, archaeology and cultural sites found along Alii Drive, a 7-mile Hawaii Scenic Byway, that features seven centuries of Hawaii’s royal history.
“We are so pleased to receive this prestigious award. The free downloadable app shares centuries-old stories embedded in the lore of Alii Drive,” said Riley Smith, KVBID board president. “Technology provides an incredible platform to draw in and educate residents and students, further engaging the community in Hawaii’s history and the byway experience.”
Content for the Kona Royal Footsteps Interpretive Experience Smartphone App was developed by the Local Scenic Byway Committee, Hookuleana LLC and the KVBID. The Kona Royal Footsteps App was made possible in part with Hawaii County Product Enrichment Program grant funding from the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
—Movers &Shakers —
Credit union announces board changes
Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union announces the nomination and appointment of four members to the nine-member board of directors by the Board Nominations and Election Committee. Dwight Manago, president and manager of Manago Hotel, was appointed for another full term. Daryl Kurozawa, associate medical director for the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, was also appointed for another full term. Marilyn Koschella, a former board chairwoman with the Greater Nevada Credit Union, was appointed to a full term after previously being appointed in 2013 to fill a remaining one-year term. Thomas Griffiths, who recently served as the interim president and chief executive officer, was appointed to fill the remaining term because of the departure of Thomas Whittemore.
The board officers are Manago as chairman, Kurozawa as vice chairman, Mary Katayama as secretary and Ross Oue as treasurer.
Also serving on the board in 2014 will be Peggy Ciriako, Carol Ikeda and Donald Sasaki.
Board members serve three-year terms on a voluntary basis. They are responsible for providing direction to staff to meet members’ financial needs, as well as maintain the sound fiscal condition of the credit union.