ComTel uses telecommuting technology to help businesses save money and improve their employees’ quality of life. For example, four years ago, after a pilot program allowed an employee and first-time mother to work from home, ComTel President Lou Darnell transformed his office staff into a “distributed” work force that communicates mainly through technology. The innovation slashed rent by 60 percent,…
In good times or bad, motivating employees is an important, but often overlooked, aspect of running a business. Nicholas Mitsakos, chairman of Arcadia Holdings Inc., explains how to keep workers excited for the workweek, or “how to help your team stay on track.” BE A ROLE MODEL Mitsakos says actions always speak louder than words. So, while a powerful speech…
Five government resources that can jumpstart your small business Island Princess, a local candy company, had been growing since it began in 1983 but struggled to stay alive when the economy nosedived after 9/11. “Sales were way down and we were looking for ways to cut costs and save jobs,” says vice president Gwendolyn Purdy. The Hawaii Enterprise Zones Partnership…
These images are for use by Bishop Museum only for editorial/PR and web site purposes. Third party and additional rights are restricted without permission. All images are (C)2006, David Franzen [#Beginning of Shooting Data Section] Nikon D2X Focal Length: 12mm Optimize Image: Color Mode: Mode II (Adobe RGB) Noise Reduction: OFF 2006/02/08 10:22:59.5 Exposure Mode: Manual White Balance: Auto Tone…
Helping people balance their work, home lives and down time. Dr. Laurie Steelsmith won’t shower in the morning until she has worked out. That rule helps keep her exercising daily – even when she has a full day ahead. Fitting exercise into your busy life is a challenge, so it makes sense to personalize your exercise rules and find what works…
Should Hawaii’s tourism czars focus on attracting more visitors or take a holistic view of tourism’s impact? During good times, there is virtually nothing easier to sell than Hawaii. If people have money and an itch to travel, all you need to do is remind them that Hawaii, with its sunny beaches, happy people and varied cultures, is more than…
OK, you’ve lost your job, been laid off or quit. You can spend a day crying, but then dry the tears and kick yourself into gear, say Hawaii’s top employment agencies. Don’t look at this moment as a loss, they say, but as an opportunity to find a better fit for your skills and a job about which you’re passionate….
Will Hawaii profit from the boom? When the U.S. and Japanese governments announced plans in 2006 to move nearly 8,000 U.S. Marines and 9,000 dependents from Okinawa to Guam, they set in motion what may become one of the largest building booms of this era. Big Hawaii construction companies are already planning for this enormous buildup, which is expected to…
10:30 a.m., Friday First Hawaiian Bank Operations Center Photography by David Croxford >> The Cummins JetScan MPS 4100 currency sorter, which counts, sorts and bands up to 1,000 bills per minute, is the centerpiece of the highly secure operations center. Ultimately, the center handles all the cash that flows through every ATM and branch office of the bank. Categories: Parting…
Pulling into the driveway of the Manoa Heritage Center, a visitor could be forgiven for thinking that Kualii, the stately home of Sam and Mary Cooke, was the centerpiece of the museum. This Tudor mansion, built of locally quarried lava stone by Charles Montague Cooke Jr. in 1911, is a fascinating fragment of Hawaii’s history. But the center’s real treasure…
$1,050,000 WHAT IS IT The Rotonde de Cartier tourbillon sapphire skeleton watch is part of Cartier’s latest fine watch collection, which launched in September. The skeleton-style watch boasts 18k gold barrels, crystal Roman numerals, 20 jewels and an alligator strap, but most noteworthy are the complex mechanics that keep this watch running perfectly on time. Why so special Unlike most…
An acquaintance asked me many years ago, “Which do you prefer, Sundays or Mondays?” At the time, the answer was obvious: Sunday’s activities were much better than Monday’s toil. And my interrogator’s preference for the workweek simply confirmed my impression of him as an overly materialistic boor who neglected his family. Fifteen years and two jobs later, my perspective has…
Lunch should be a break from the workday, but when you must schedule a working lunch with a client, it helps to follow these basic rules: 1. Be on time: Important if you’re the guest, critical if you’re the host. Get there ahead of time. Better to waste a few minutes outside the restaurant than to stumble in after the…
For Bill Corba, the best part of being the chief marketing officer for Kaiser Permanente is working directly with the Hawaii community. Since moving to Oahu three years ago, Corba has taken right to the aloha spirit. Abroad Experiencing new cultures is important to Corba, who is planning a trip to southern France. He says his most memorable vacation was…
Chock has a heavy heart thinking about the 3,000 members of the union who are unemployed. “Flat is the new growth,” he laments. While several big projects will create more jobs, it won’t be enough to sustain the third largest sector of the state economy, he says. Q: What major projects are coming down the pipe for the construction industry?…
With Hawaii’s construction industry facing hard times, the state Senate hopes a new task force will come up with creative ways to save jobs and generate new ones. “We wanted to make sure that we did whatever could be done to provide direct support to Hawaii’s families given the economic situation we face, and we thought that this was one…
Marriott Resorts Hawaii is launching its Spirit of Aloha Tour in Japan this month to attract more Japanese to the islands and its six resort hotels. A weak global economy and fear of the H1N1 flu have cut the number of Japanese visitors to the state by double digits. Marriott Hawaii — with Japan Airlines, Hawaii Tourism Authority/Hawaii Tourism Japan,…
Free Internet monitoring tools can help businesses manage their online reputations by searching the most popular news sources, blogs and social networks. Type in a company name and a few key words, and you can read what people are saying about your company or the competition, or you can communicate with customers. AIG Hawaii, Punahou School and Tiki’s Grill &…
The Ke Alahele Education Fund has awarded more than $286,000 over three years to projects geared at building a Maui workforce focused on science, technology, engineering and math. The Maui Economic Development Board launched the fund in 2006 with $27,000 in donations from more than a dozen Maui technology companies that wanted to create a solid “education-to-workforce pipeline” and nurture…
Greg Lee, CEO of 1st Look Exteriors, combined his two greatest passions — plants and art — to create a niche business that’s so unique he’s the only licensed contractor of his kind in the state. 1st Look Exteriors designs and installs living walls, stunning vertical murals of tropical plants for indoors or outdoors. Response has been so positive that…
> Send letters to feedback@hawaiibusiness.com Dress up I enjoyed the article “Island-Style Dress for Success” (July 2009). I thought it gave some good basic tips on how to achieve an effective professional image. Although probably one of the “lighter” articles I’ve read in your magazine, it was nonetheless important, as appearance is often the first impression someone gets of us…