My Favorite Things
John Henry Felix, dapper CEO of the Hawaii Medical Assurance Association, is a collector of South Pacific and Oriental art — a fascination he attributes to a childhood spent in the shadow of the Honolulu Academy of Arts and years…
Lifestyle
A Quiet Stroll Through History
Want to escape from your downtown office into the fresh air? Consider a stroll to the Mission Houses Museum, across the street from City Hall and next to Kawaiahao Church. One of the museum’s three buildings, Ka Hale Laau, was…
Whats it Worth?
$500 What Is It? The No Ka Oi black rooster was first bred by Paul Romias from stock developed by William McRae. These blacks, members of the Mel Sims family of roosters, are highly valued as breeding stock, say members…
Ask SmallBiz: Getting Loan Approval
Q: I’m a small business owner and I’ve heard about the new ARC loans. How do I get approved for these loans? A: For small-business owners, the American Recovery Capital loan seems like a silver bullet, the solution to many…
5 Steps to Boost Web Traffic
You finally caught on and created a company Web site. The problem is, nobody knows about it. Mary Fastenau, president of StarrTech Interactive, explains how to drive more eyeballs to your Web site for little or no cost. OvercommunIcate your…
My Favorite Things
Sam Choy is a world-class chef, restaurateur and TV personality who helped put Pacific Rim cuisine on the global culinary map, but he’s most proud of being a dad and grandpa. Grinds Choy goes to Best Drive In on Sand…
Whats it Worth?
$158,000 What Is It? A pastel Tahitian cultured pearl necklace made of 29 round pearls, each 14 to 17 millimeters. The clasp alone is worth $7,500 and is made of 2.47 carats of diamonds and 18k white gold. Where Is…
Parting Shot: Back To Work
12:30 p.m., Friday Off the Big Island's Kona Coast Photography by David Croxford >> Photographers reel in their lines on the media boat after learning one of the competitors had caught a fish in the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament off…
Talk Story with Henk Rogers
Henk Rogers is a video game developer and tech mogul who is best known for introducing Tetris to the Western hemisphere. Today, he’s committed to promoting a new concept to the world: renewable energy. In recent years, Rogers has been…
5 Steps to Motivating Employees
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…
Telecommuting Lessons
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…
My Favorite Things
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…
What's it Worth?
$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,…
5 Steps to Prevent Credit-Card Fraud
Credit-card processing is a ubiquitous and major expense for businesses. Most of the cost is upfront, according to Matt Sakauye, senior consultant at credit-card processing firm Gravity Payments. Once things are running, he says, “credit-card processors are pretty automated. But…
Tech-Startup Lessons
When Ben Leong graduated from the University of Hawaii with a degree in digital animation, he was determined to live and work in Hawaii – even if that meant creating his own company. He and UH classmate Michael Varley founded…
My Favorite Things
Allen Uyeda, president and CEO of First Insurance Company of Hawaii, is not your typical aloha-shirt-wearing, Honolulu businessman. Some of his adventures — like scuba-diving the shark-infested Great Barrier Reef would make Indiana Jones cringe. Gadget He says his Treo…
Whats it Worth?
Less than $160 Million What They Are Hawaii Superferry’s two 350-foot high-speed interisland ferries, the Alakai and Huakai. Why They Are Special The $80-million, aluminum-hull Alakai carried up to 866 passengers and 282 vehicles between Honolulu and Kahului, Maui, until…
Date Night is a Marital Necessity
Helping people balance their work, home lives and down time. President Obama calls it “Michelle Time” – the special time he sets aside every day to catch up and talk story with his wife, first lady Michelle Obama. Not long ago,…
My Favorite Things
Barbara Tanabe, president and CEO of Hoakea Communications, is a pioneer. She crushed both color and gender barriers in the 1970s when she became one of the first Asian-American women TV reporters and anchors. Destinations Tanabe is a big fan…
Whats it Worth?
Estimated $30,000 to $50,000 What is It A 1949 “Foam Sandwich,” designed by Bob Simmons,considered the father of the modern surfboard. The 11-foot board used the then-new technology of Styrofoam, sandwiched between plywood planks and trimmed with balsa-wood sides, then…
Island-Style Dress for Success
In this job market, competition is fierce. That's why it's important for candidates to make a favorable impression in the first interview. Your skills are crucial, but don't expect to be offered a job unless you also look the part,…
Negotiate Your Way to a Better Job (and a better life)
It’s a workday morning late in the week and attorney Ellen Carson is at her home computer, in her pajamas, working on affidavits. She’s been at it for three hours — since 6 a.m. — but by 9 she’s able…
Building a New Girls' Network
Something major is happening. Women everywhere are mobilizing — themselves and each other — to get into the community, grow their contact lists and build meaningful relationships to advance their careers. This new age of wahine networking is a far…
5 Steps to Stopping Fraud
By Brian Ishikawa, Senior Vice President of Corporate Security, Bank of Hawaii During this challenging economic time, it’s more important than ever for businesses to protect their money. No one is immune from fraud, but there are ways to reduce…