Name: Johnny Fortuno Job: Performer and Elvis impersonator Experience: 13 years as Elvis; winner of the Las Vegas Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in 2011. Current Gig: Legends in Concert show at the Royal Hawaiian Theatre, Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, Tuesdays to Sundays at 8:15 p.m. Background: “I always liked Elvis Presley, and when I was in elementary school…
WordPress, Joomla! and Drupal are the most popular among hundreds of website platforms, but they vary in their levels of do-it-yourself ease. Joomla! and Drupal both require more coding experience to get the full benefits, since they were originally created as customizable content-management systems (CMS) for experienced website developers. Of the two, Joomla!’s interface is slightly more user friendly. Drupal…
Ever wondered why your IRA only invests in publicly traded securities, such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds? What about other investments: precious metals, derivatives, mortgages, business loans and real estate? Dan Falardeau, president of New Directions IRA, says the main reason these aren’t in your portfolio is because the company that administers your traditional or Roth IRA can’t make…
With all the different Hawaii beers coming onto the market, it helps if people think your new brew is a long-time favorite. “When I talk about Aloha Beer, for some reason, many believe it already existed from a long time ago,” says co-founder Steve Sombrero, referring to the feedback he gets on overseas trips. “They recall drinking Aloha Beer and…
If Eric Rose appears serious, it’s probably because he’s thinking. Born in Chicago, Rose worked in the food industry in Oregon for more than 20 years before moving to Hawaii, where he loved the surf. He opened Morning Glass in Manoa in July 2011, naming the cafe for the surf’s morning, glassy condition. Here is what he told Hawaii Business about launching…
Sustainability is all the buzz in the business community these days. It’s good for the planet, people appreciate it, and it’s a great way to cut costs and potentially reach new customer groups. Scott Cooney, adjunct professor of sustainability at UH’s Shidler College of Business, developer of the sustainability board game called GBO Hawaii and author of “Build a Green Small Business,”offers five…
Q: How should I prepare my small business for hurricane season? A: First, consult with your insurance agent to make sure you have the appropriate coverages and limits before the need arises. Ask the agent: Do I have hurricane coverage for my property? Do I have enough? Is my property insured to its full value? If you lease space, your biggest exposure…
When many people think of a military veteran or a small-business owner, they assume it’s a man. Instead, consider Chelsea Fernandez, co-founder and managing director of Hawaii Assistive Technology Co. on Maui, one of nearly 100,000 women veterans in America who own a small business. After serving a year in Iraq with the Army Reserve, Fernandez discovered that finding a…
A survey of Maui businesses found that 94 percent said they had saved money by adopting sustainable practices. The survey of 124 Valley Isle businesses was conducted between December 2011 and February 2012 byCreative Conflict Solutions for two departments at the University of Hawaii’s Maui College, the Office of Continuing Education and Training, and the Sustainable Living Institute of Maui. The survey’s goal…
9:37 am, Thursday Pearl City Photographer: David Croxford >> Ermelita Mendoza (left), Dado Ramos and Evelyn Pacpaco inspect and wipe down bottles of Aloha Shoyu that come off the conveyor before packing them in boxes for shipment. Five Japanese families founded the company in 1946, and today the product line includes vinegar, local-style barbecue sauce and low sodium shoyu. Categories: Media, Parting…
Problem: About 6 million Americans live with some form of paralysis. At Honolulu’sRehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific, the staff works each year with 5,500 patients recovering from strokes or injuries, including brain, spinal cord, orthopedic and sports injuries. New Device: A robotic, battery-powered exoskeleton enables wheelchair-bound individuals to rise and walk upright. The Ekso Pro, built by Ekso Bionics, is part of a…
The world can be divided into two kinds of people: those who like to shop and those who have to be forced into it by a personal crisis, like hungry children, a broken stove or shoes with soles worn through. I fall into the latter group, partly because I like doing so many other things instead of shopping, but also…
Ten years after retiring as governor, Cayetano has been drawn back to the campaign trail by his opposition to Honolulu’s rail project. He talks about rail, why it’s a bad idea and what he would do instead to help commuters. What do you think of the selection of Dan Grabauskas as the new head of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid…
The former secretary of transportation of Massachusetts and general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority talks about the prospects for Honolulu’s rail project. Coming from a well-established rail system like the one in Boston, did you have any surprises when you got here? I’m still in the reading, researching and learning phase of my time here. I’m still meeting…
Drop by Hanalei’s Tahiti Nui on what should be a slow weeknight and you will quickly understand what movie-making means to the local economy. The family-owned restaurant and bar, affectionately called “Da Nui” by locals, was packed and buzzing with talk of George Clooney and the hit film he shot on Kauai and Oahu. “Have you seen the movie ‘The…
When the University of Central Florida’s football team lost its last scheduled game in 2005 to Tulsa, its consolation prize was a berth in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. “Let me get this right,” coach George O’Leary quipped. “We lost and we’re going to Hawaii?” O’Leary’s delight in getting a free ticket to Hawaii is shared by a lot of athletes,…
Tanna and Bryson Dang operate a popular women’s clothing boutique called Eden in Love at Ward Warehouse, and have been planning for a year to sell products online. Their site, edeninlove.com, was set to go live on Sunday, April 22, the same day as their bricks-and-mortar store held a big birthday sale. If that wasn’t enough to keep the 30-something entrepreneurs…
How We Create the List Welcome to Hawaii Business magazine’s Top 100 Realtors for 2012. This is the only objective ranking of Realtors in the state. The information was compiled using the Multiple Listing Service databases from the Honolulu Board of Realtors, the Realtors Association of Maui and Hawaii Information Service, which manages the MLS data for Hawaii Island and Kauai. Each January, PKF Pacific Hawaii LLP,…
Highlights: Revenues and profits at Hawaii businesses up strongly. Optimism remains high for the overall Hawaii economy in the coming year. Retail sector’s performance stronger than overall Hawaii businesses on all measures: revenue, profit, jobs and future spending plans. The Optimism Index is a valuable leading economic indicator. If business leaders are optimistic about the future, they are more likely…