Hawaii presentation coach Pam Chambers offers five steps to successfully speaking to the media without feeling you’ll have to leave town the next day. 1. Take charge of the interview Don’t give all the control to the reporter, or you may not get to say what you need to say. To make sure you get your message across, know your…
Down to Earth stores have served Hawaii with vegetarian food for 30 years. Chief Vegetarian Officer Mark Fergusson explains how a small, homegrown chain competes with a giant like Whole Foods Market. HB: What have you learned about retailing healthy food? We don’t really see this as a marketing play or an opportunity to make money. We believe in what…
A group of Native Hawaiians helping to keep our nation safe. A solar-energy innovator and a sunscreen company, both of them aiming locally and globally. Two Neighbor Island family stores, each almost a century old. And a company whose employees give and give and give some more. They are the 2010 winners of the Hawaii Business SmallBiz Success Awards.
8:00 A.M., Monday Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Waikiki >> Lou Ellen Kaneshiro, director of housekeeping at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, and her assistant, Si Jung Wong, hold a pre-shift meeting with her staff. The iconic pink hotel has 495 rooms and 34 suites in its historic building and newer tower. Photo:Rae Huo Categories: Community & Economy, Media, Parting Shot, Tourism
The Web site Play@SavvyCircle helps local restaurants and other businesses attract new customers in a fresh way. What customers get: The site offers people exclusive deals and discounts from businesses, which have included Hy’s Steak House, Tango Contemporary Café, Heaven on Earth and Manoa Valley Theatre. Offers are only on Oahu so far, says co-founder Andrew Roth, but the plan is to…
People who grew up on a Hawaii plantation often have fond memories of that time. Their families were poor and there was hardship, but the sense of community was so strong that people acted generously, cared for each other and acted collaboratively. Some might say that people were better back then, but I suspect that it was their peculiar situation…
The East-West Center this year celebrates its 50th anniversary as a national institution that promotes better relations and communities in the Asia-Pacific region through research and education. “Our students have the ability to really make a difference in our globalized society and that’s what we’re striving for in the next 50 years,” Morrison says. How has the East-West Center influenced…
YES John Carroll, Attorney, Republican candidate for governor and former state legislator From territorial times until 1982, almost all Hawaii state senators were elected from multimember districts. This practice ended when a lawsuit for which I was a lead counsel led to the United States District Court invalidating the 1981 reapportionment plan. The ruling required that all state districts, both…
For most people, government is simply the sum of the services it provides: security and safety, for example, in the form of police and fire departments; education, in the form of schools and libraries; and transportation, in the form of roads, harbors and airports. Citizens can measure their government by how effectively it provides those services. Businesses, though, often see…
More than 50 percent of marriages in the United States end in divorce and Hawaii accounts for about 5,000 of those breakups every year. Of those who remain married, true love is not always the reason. That’s why relationship experts say it’s crucial to take time upfront to choose the right mate. Selecting a supportive partner who allows you to…
With Valentine’s Day a heartbeat away, candy and flowers are no match for good communication with your mate. When done right, it improves and restores family life and intimate relationships, says licensed clinical social worker Renee Rokero. Rokero teaches “assertive communication” — a way to be open and honest, and also respectful. “This sounds like a no-brainer, but we either…
Experience the taste of the Islands instantly from wherever you are with Hawaii Plantation coffee and tea sticks. Place the stick in a cup with boiling water; allow the tea to steep for two to three minutes; the coffee crystals will dissolve in 30 seconds. Each stick is individually wrapped for freshness and is perfect for travelers, busy people and…
Randy Moore, assistant superintendent of the Office of School Facilities “It’s OK as long as it’s for the children,” says Marion Higa. The state auditor smiles wanly to show she’s being sarcastic while commenting on her office’s two-part 2009 audit of procurement at the Department of Education. That’s because she’s a stickler for law and order, and the report describes…
WHAT IS IT? A Takamine EN-10C acoustic-electric cutaway guitar played by renowned slack key artist Makana. “As a professional musician, many people ask why I don’t play a more expensive guitar. It’s about the connection to the guitar, not the price or brand.” Why so special? As a child, Makana received a guitar he named “Morning Star,” from slack key…
There’s a place in Honolulu so out of place and time that it is hard to believe it is just a few miles from busy downtown. If you need a break at lunchtime and you or your colleague have wheels, consider cool, breezy and quiet Waahila Ridge State Recreation Area, up St. Louis Drive from Kaimuki. It is best known…
Bettina Mehnert, COO of Architects Hawaii Ltd., is a well-traveled adrenaline junkie. She surfs, snowboards and runs trails, but also reads and spends time with her adopted daughter, Anna, a pet duck and a pit bull. Photography A third-generation architect, Mehnert says her parents collected modern art and always had “really good cameras.” She’s most comfortable with her 35mm Leica but frustrated with her Nikon D300 digital SLR…
Many organizations rank the tax climate in the 50 states, but one of the most respected rankings is by the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan educational organization based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1937, its mission “is to educate taxpayers about sound tax policy and the size of the tax burden borne by Americans at all levels of government.” Here are…
Come Valentine’s Day, there will be a line of customers outside the Kauai Chocolate Co. for the giant strawberries from Kula, Maui, that are hand-dipped in an exclusive line of Belgian chocolate. Manager Patrick Greer this year ordered 4,000 of the sweet, fist-sized strawberries for the shop in the Port Allen Marina Center in Eleele. Truffles with tropical centers are…
The Corner Office Curmudgeon offers advice about life on the job I suspect one of my co-workers has a drug problem. It has not impacted his work performance as far as I can tell, but I’m concerned that things might get worse. Would I be overstepping to bring my concerns up with him? Would it be better to speak with…
Even during the worst economy in decades, guests at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel can still enjoy a free hula show seven nights a week. There are also free lei-making and hula classes. And five times a day, staff gather in the lobby to enact a lei ceremony for departing guests. Perhaps more remarkable, the hotel says it continues with its…
A learning center being built next to Kapolei High School has won an international architectural award for local firm Eight Inc. The Malama Learning Center is designed to bring together art, science, culture and conservation to promote sustainable living throughout Hawaii. The concept originated in 2001, when the school needed a performance venue and The Nature Conservancy needed a conservation…
Every year, millions of dollars in contracts are awarded to Mainland vendors for products and services that could be going to local businesses. The Buying Local First campaign is connecting Big Island businesses with federal, state and county contract vendors to help keep residents employed and grow the local economy. The program’s purpose is to educate, mentor and support local…
Allen Doane stepped down Dec. 31 after 11 years as CEO of Alexander & Baldwin. What was your first leadership job? It was at HT&T in Hilo, which had 200 employees, mostly union stevedores and truck drivers. I arrived there at age 30 after three years of desk jobs. What was the most important lesson you learned there? Problems usually…
Over the past five years, a program developed by the Hogan Entrepreneurs at Chaminade University of Honolulu has helped about 75 homeless individuals write resumes and prepare for job interviews so they can find employment. Hogan students worked one-on-one with more than 15 people in workshops during this past year alone. “There have been a good number who got jobs,”…