Laser Focus 2:25 P.M., Friday, Ala Moana >> Dr. Tyrie Jenkins performed Hawaii’s first Laser in situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery in 1997 and has since completed 10,000 such operations. Here she adds drops to relax the patient’s eyes during the procedure. The 15-minute surgery uses a cold laser to clear away ruined tissue from under the corneal flap. Photography by…
There are plenty of great restaurants in Waikiki where you can eat lunch, enjoy the view and remind yourself you are lucky you live Hawaii. But for a cheaper and shorter Waikiki lunch break, pack up the car with your co-workers and head over to Ala Moana Beach Park for lunch and scenery at its best. There are two “Surf…
For Kitty Lagareta, president and CEO of Communications Pacific, many of her passions revolve around Kailua, where she’s lived for 18 years. Acai “I have an absolute passion/addiction for the Lanikai Juice acai extravaganza bowl,” she says. Kindle Lagareta can often be found at Kalapawai Café with her nose buried in her Kindle. “I remember the days when I went…
No time to “date” your spouse? Can’t remember the color of your true love’s eyes? Try an un-date or not-quite-a-date night. That’s the magic of this concept: It doesn’t even have to be at night. All you need is a few precious moments when you aren’t: 1. Running the kids to soccer practice. 2. Going back to the office to…
The philosophy of Annie Favia and Andy Erickson, husband and wife owners of Favia Erickson Winegrowers, is to “create soulful wines that express the true nature of the vineyards from which they come.” They succeeded with their 2005 Cerro Sur red wine, says Mike Kakazu, owner of HASR (Highly Allocated Spoiled Rotten) Wine Co. in Honolulu’s Chinatown. The wine is…
Before li hing mui powder became a staple of local snacking, it was the tart, bright red li hing mui juice that reigned supreme. Many kamaaina have fond small-kid-time memories of eating kaki mochi with li hing mui juice after school, often taking turns with friends sucking the softened arare from the clear plastic bag before it got too soggy. The…
National company Yoli will launch its new Fun Active Blast sports drink in the Islands this month with support from the World’s Greatest Athlete — Hawaii’s own decathlete Bryan Clay, who says the drink has enhanced his training and overall performance. Clay says Yoli’s Blast Cap makes it better than other energy drinks. The cap stores the nutrients and vitamins…
Ever go to the beach and wish you had somewhere to stash your keys, ID and a few dollars? Cameron Olson has created the solution: Sandaloha surf slippers with a heel compartment secured invisibly with Velcro. “The Sandaloha is one of those ‘Hey, wouldn’t it be great (ideas)’ translated into reality,” Olson explains. He has a patent pending on the…
If you’re one of those people who consider the act of lifting your beer from the table to your lips repetitive exercise, your workouts just got a little easier. Kona Brewing Co. recently replaced its original 8-ounce beer bottle with a lighter, 7.3-ounce bottle, which saves on material, shipping — labor, on your part — and reduces the company’s carbon…
Spouses of active-duty military men and women are eligible for up to $6,000 in workforce training — but don’t hesitate to apply, as the money may not last long. In 2009, the Defense Department started the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program to pay for tuition so often-moving military spouses could train in one of nine portable careers, including financial…
For two decades, the Hawaii Community Reinvestment Corp. has partnered with local banks to help build more than 3,100 affordable housing units. The nonprofit, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this month, provides financing and technical assistance to developers, investors and owners of multifamily projects that offer low- and moderate-income housing in the state. Over the years, HCRC has made more…
When should a young executive take a risk? Take a chance after conferring with a small group of advisers; venture with people you trust and respect. And take bigger chances when you are young and have limited responsibilities for others. What was your biggest gamble as a young businessman and what did you learn? I built a large warehouse for…
Online competitors were killing off bricks-and-mortar music stores when Peter Dods bought Honolulu’s Easy Music Center from Servco Pacific in 2005. Since then, Dods has opened a second store and, with the two locations, has tripled sales and quintupled profits, he says. Dods says customer demand is so strong that he recently added four positions to his staff of 19….
John Bates’ job as a mediator is to help find common ground. He has overseen thousands of mediations since opening his firm in 1991 and says mediation gives disputing parties power over a settlement’s outcome while providing confidentiality and certainty on the terms of agreement. “If they go into a trial, they give up control to someone else – an…
Q. We plan to remodel our store. What should we consider to be more sustainable? A. Green build-outs for small businesses are the hot trend these days. But how do you tell between “greenwashing” and truly sustainable design and building? Here are some things to focus on. Flexibility: We recommend that our residential clients view their homes as active, living spaces that…
Deep Ocean Hawaii is taking Hawaii’s most abundant resource — ocean water — desalinating it and selling the purified product in bulk to companies in countries like China, where water is polluted or in short supply. “Hawaii can become an international leader in a safe and green exportation of water in a more socially responsible way,” says Rob Robinson, senior…
People love to blame politicians for the problems our country faces. “They’re all crooks” and “Throw them out” are the most common solutions in casual political conversations between friends and neighbors. The problem is that, Republican or Democrat, all of us voters are really the ones to blame. That’s because generally we: • Hate to pay taxes; • Love government’s…
Ask Ernest Nishizaki what the single most important thing is that Hawaii could do to revitalize its visitor industry and economy, and he does not hesitate with his answer: Fix Honolulu International Airport and fast. “We’re talking about the first and last impression our visitors have of Oahu, and I think that project should have taken first priority,” says Nishizaki,…
3d illustration of shopping cartThere are many factors that determine where you buy your groceries: location, service, selection, and product quality. But price may be the most important, because everyone likes a deal. During three weeks in May, I visited 22 grocery stores all over Oahu and my colleagues went to a total of nine stores on Kauai, Maui and…
Except for college and graduate school, Jodee Crane has spent her whole life on Kauai and she can’t remember when the job situation has been so bleak. She says there’s desperation in their words as unemployed workers wonder what will happen when their benefits run out. “If people have jobs, they’re really appreciative,” says Crane. “Even if they’re unhappy, they’re…
Derek Kurisu, executive VP of KTA, visits Maikai Farms, one of KTA’s hundreds of local vendors.Photo courtesy of KTA We saw what happened to Aloha Airlines when go! flew in and started a price war that eventually put 1,900 Aloha employees out of work. We shook our heads in dismay when neighborhood department stores such as Cornet, GEM and Woolworth…
The tab has finally come due. For decades, Hawaii neglected its critical public infrastructure. Inadequate roads and highways have left us with mind-numbing traffic jams, not just in Honolulu, but in Kona, Kihei and Lihue. Our harbors – the entry point for food, fuel and other necessities – lack enough piers and yard space. Thirty-eight percent of the state’s bridges…