Solimene’s opening next month in Kings’ Shops
Solimene’s opening next month in Kings’ Shops
Solimene’s Italian Restaurant will open from Nov. 15 through March 2015 as a surprise addition to the Kings’ Shops in the Waikoloa Beach Resort area. It will be located across from The Three Fat Pigs Restaurant.
This is the same Solimene’s owned and operated by the Aiona family of Waimea.
Robin Aiona, mother of Food Network Star Season 8 finalist Chef Ippy Aiona is bringing her original recipes to the Kings’ Shops. “I call it comfort food; New York style Italian cuisine,” she said. “We will have personal size pizzas, calzoni and pastas all made with homemade ingredients.”
The location has a Tuscan feel with a lanai for outdoor, cafe-style dining. Solimene’s is known for its use of fresh local ingredients paired with wines, after-dinner drinks and an espresso bar. Solimene’s operation hours will be from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily.
Kohala Zipline headquarters in new location
Hawaii Forest &Trail and Kohala Zipline ohana recently announced the Kohala Zipline headquarters has moved. It is now open in the historic Kohala Sugar Co. building on Hawi Road in Hawi.
Accessible Hawaii featured at TEDx
Fifteen speakers found themselves in front of cameras and a live audience Oct. 4 for one of the first TEDx events on the Big Island. Lynn and Bob Herkes organized the program held in Waimea’s Kahilu Theatre. The topics ranged from serious science to local programs focused on sustainability. The presentations can be viewed on the TED YouTube channel and online at ted.com/tedx.
Jean Hartley, director of Accessible Hawaii, spoke on “My Journey to Acceptance.” The story tracks how she embraced her physical disability beginning with zip-lining in Oregon to crewing on a tall ship across the North Sea. She was influenced by the courage and grit of her 10 shipmates with disabilities.
Accessible Hawaii provides information to visitors and residents on accessible beaches and adaptive island activities. The organization also has created guidebooks for ADA hotel rooms designated for visitors with disabilities.
Hartley recently published “Go Beyond: Coping With Disability,” a practical guidebook for family, caregivers, and those in the health care professions. The book can be ordered from lulu.com and accessiblehawaii.com.
To volunteer for the hotel book project starting in December, contact jeanmhartley@gmail.com or 896-8967.
Island Air helping breast cancer patients
Island Air recently announced its partnership with Susan G. Komen Hawaii to further the organization’s mission and provide additional resources for women battling breast cancer.
With this partnership, Island Air will support breast cancer patients in need with interisland flights so they can receive the appropriate treatment as quickly and efficiently as possible. Susan G. Komen Hawaii will administer the available flights through requests from the clinics and support providers.
“Having the opportunity to provide much needed transportation to breast cancer patients statewide is pertinent to a successful treatment plan and helps ensure that breast cancer patients have access to the care they need,” said Megan Jones, executive director of Susan G. Komen Hawaii. “We are honored that Island Air is partnering with us to provide this much-needed service to those in our community who are currently battling breast cancer.”
Grill competition set for Friday
“Food Network Star” finalist Nikki Martin will join Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel executive chef Peter Abarcar Jr. and chef de cuisine Vincent Logan in a grilling and mixology competition from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at Coast Grille Restaurant at Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel.
Incorporating ingredients from the Coast Grille garden, the chefs will prepare two plates at their respective grill stations and shake up a cocktail to accompany both dishes.
Cost is $80 per person, which includes three grill stations and cocktails along with salads, side dishes and desserts.
For reservations and information, call 880-1111.
Surf magazine launches Kickstarter campaign
An award-winning Hawaii surf culture publication, trim, recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to sell subscriptions.
This coffee table magazine is currently found at hotels in Hawaii, Southern California, Las Vegas, Toyko, as well as at the Honolulu Museum of Art. Hawaii’s greatest cultural gift to the world, hee nalu, or wave sliding, has spread to every corner of the globe and trim is a unique publication that details stories from the past century. The magazine portrays the beauty, history and elegance of surfing.
The campaign can be found online at kck.st/1u6vEb8 and trim is offering its backers with different awards, which include stickers, magazines, T-shirts, and a hand-shaped surfboard with koa fins.
Top retailers to be honored Thursday
Retail Merchants of Hawaii is hosting its annual Hookela Awards luncheon from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the Sheraton Waikiki Ballroom. The ceremony celebrates 2014’s exemplary retailers.
The award finalists are: “Retailer of the Year” – Keith Sung, owner of Honolulu Cookie Co.; “Governor’s Award” – Linda Fernandez, president of Fun Factory Inc.; “Retail Employee of the Year” – George Kam, ambassador of aloha and Quiksilver retail division senior director; “Retail Business of the Year – State of Hawaii” – Longs Drugs and Surf Line Hawaii, Ltd./Jam’s World; “Retail Business of the Year – Hawaii” – Big Island Abalone Corp., Extreme Exposure Fine Art Gallery, and S. Tokunaga Store, Inc.; “Retail Business of the Year – Kauai” – Banana Patch Studio and Salty Wahine Gourmet Hawaiian Sea Salts; “Retail Business of the Year – Maui” – Hamai Appliances, Inc., Kaanapali Golf Courses, and Second Wind; “Retail Business of the Year – Oahu”- Iolani Sportswear, McCully Bicycle &Sporting Goods, Ltd., and Tanioka’s Seafoods and Catering; “Resort Retail Business of the Year – Kona Mountain Coffee LLC., Quiksilver, and Makana Esthetics Wellness Academy; “Best New Retail Business of the Year” – Flip Flop Workshop LLC. and Hawaiian Shochu Co.; and “Fastest Growing Retailer of the Year”- Big Island Bees, Bundle Monster, and Salty Wahine Gourmet Hawaiian Sea Salts.
Admission is $100 for RMH members and $125 for others. Tradeshow tables are available for $450 for members and $600 for nonmembers. Register online at rmhawaii.org. Checks may be made to Retail Merchants of Hawaii and mailed to RMH, 210 Ward Ave., Suite #121, Honolulu, HI 96814. For more information, call 592-4200.
— MOVERS &SHAKERS —
Fernando is training consultant for McDonald’s statewide
McDonald’s Restaurants of Hawaii has promoted Maria Fernando to regional training consultant for the Hawaii region.
Fernando has been with McDonald’s for 28 years. She began as a crew member working in McDonald’s restaurants across the state and most recently was general manager of McDonald’s of Wahiawa.
As the regional training consultant for the Hawaii region, Fernando works with McDonald’s restaurants and operators in Hawaii and Guam to help them improve business results and meet planning targets by consulting in training and operational procedures.
OHA adds land director
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has named Miles Nishijima as its director of land and property.
Nishijima will oversee a staff of about 12 people and direct OHA’s efforts to be a responsible steward of more than 27,000 acres of land that it owns as the state’s 13th largest landowner.
Nishijima most recently was vice president of property management at Alexander &Baldwin, Inc. He previously served as assistant vice president of asset management for Kaneohe Ranch Management Limited, where he was responsible for handling leases for 151 commercial tenants occupying more than 300,000 square feet of space.
His appointment is part of a larger effort to improve OHA’s effectiveness as a major property owner, whose landholdings include Wao Kele o Puna, a 25,856-acre property on Hawaii Island.