Praseuth “JJ” Luangkhot of JJ’s Bistro & French Pastry is confident, even in a down economy. He recently added a party room that seats about 45 people — the second expansion since he opened in 1995. The first expansion in 2008 added about 13 tables to the original eight. “Many people still want to have a party,” JJ says. The…
Jeffrey Peroutka, from Our Saviour Lutheran School, displays his project at the 2009 Hawaii State Science and Engineering Fair at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. The Hawaii Academy of Science has raised the money needed to hold the 2010 Hawaii State Science & Engineering Fair on April 5-7 at the Hawaii Convention Center, but the future remains uncertain. As part of…
Three Kauai couples have launched Oceanside Productions, a small theater company trying to fill an entertainment void for tourists and residents alike. Their experience includes operating small businesses and nonprofits, and they love to perform. So the six did their research, pooled their savings and created a business plan. “We started talking to people about what resources are lacking when…
If you think your assistant looks forward to flowers and chocolate on Administrative Professionals Day, April 21, you’re wrong. What he or she really wants is to attend a workshop — paid for by the company. It’s a smart investment because your employee will learn and hone new skills, and that benefits you and your company. Below are some ideas…
Developing a vaccine is a “pretty rigorous, complex process,” says Elliot Parks, CEO of Hawaii Biotech, which is deep into development of West Nile and dengue vaccines, and beginning to develop a vaccine for tick-borne encephalitis. “Further back” in the lab are malaria and influenza vaccines. Hawaii Biotech fi led for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in December, but Parks says…
When you think of a great place to work, a hospice probably doesn’t come to mind. Emotional and physical pain are a daily part of the job, as employees try to comfort people in the last days of their lives. But Hospice of Kona placed fifth among small companies on the Hawaii Business 2010 Best Places to Work list. Last…
President Tim Schools has been in the driver’s seat at American Savings Bank for just over two years. In that time, he says, the bank has bumped up its profile, increased profitability, and improved job performance and job enjoyment. And it made the Hawaii Business Best Places to Work list for the first time this year. Schools explains how it all happened: HB: Where did…
Beware of the Awful Office, the opposite of Hawaii’s Best Places to Work. Last year, we illustrated The Perfect Office (you can find it here). This year, we wanted to peek inside a terrible workplace, where morale and productivity are even lower than the pay and benefits. Avoid at all costs. Categories: Best Places To Work, Business & Industry, Lists & Awards
Welcome to the Hawaii Business 2010 Best Places to Work issue, in which we celebrate companies that keep their employees happy and explain how they do it. Our partner, Best Companies Group, surveyed local organizations and named 60 to the list. This year for the first time, we also list the most family-friendly companies and the healthiest workplaces. We’ve compiled…