By local and wire sources Back to school event slated Saturday ADVERTISING Families are invited to the Back to School Boogie from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Kealakekua Ranch Center. The free event will have inflatable bouncers, a
Back to school event slated Saturday
Families are invited to the Back to School Boogie from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Kealakekua Ranch Center. The free event will have inflatable bouncers, a climbing wall, airbrush tattoos, balloons and pony rides.
The public can donate a can of food and receive a keiki wristband to play games and win prizes. All canned foods will be donated to St. Benedict’s Pantry in South Kona. Live entertainment will be presented by the Aloha Performing Arts Company.
This event is sponsored by the Kealakekua Ranch Center Association.
Johnson promoted to general manager
Kona Brewing Co. recently announced the promotion of Shane Johnson to the position of general manager at its Kailua-Kona pub.
Johnson has worked at Kona Brewing Co. for nearly 10 years and has held various positions, beginning as dishwasher and working up to line cook, kitchen supervisor, assistant kitchen manager, kitchen manager, pub manager, assistant general manager and cost analyst. He also served as the acting general manager for the Koko Marina restaurant on Oahu during a transitional period.
Restaurant week planned this month
September is traditionally a slow month for businesses in Hawaii that rely on tourism. To combat the slowdown, Kailua Village Business Improvement District is working with area eateries to launch Kona’s first Kau Kau Kailua Restaurant Week Sept. 19 through 25.
“Participating restaurants throughout Historic Kailua Village are putting the finishing touches on innovative three-course dinner menus for the weeklong event,” said Kailua Village Business Improvement District President Eric von Platen Luder. “Kau Kau Kailua presents locals and visitors an ideal time to return to the water’s edge, support a longtime favorite restaurant or check out a new one.”
Each participating restaurant will offer specially crafted dinners throughout the week at $20, $30 or $40 per person depending on menu selection. The public also can look for additional special values offered at smaller dining establishments.
Anheuser-Busch Sales of Hawaii is joining Kailua Village Business Improvement District as a supporting sponsor of Kau Kau Kailua. The event officially begins Sept. 19 in conjunction with the monthly Kokua Kailua Village Stroll. To celebrate the inaugural Kau Kau Kailua, Na Hoku Hanohano award winning singer songwriter Anuhea will perform at a free concert at 5 p.m.
Log on to kaukaukailua.com for complete details and a sneak peak at some of the menu offerings posted to date.
Sustainable Aloha meeting Tuesday
Sustainable Aloha is hosted by Divine Goods Hawaii and Kona Stories. A meeting, open to the public, at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Kona Stories will discuss issues like alternative fuel, sustainability, community gardens or view a documentary film. A donation of $5 per person is collected to help cover rent.
Kona Stories is at 79-7460 Mamalahoa Highway No. 103 in Kealakekua.
For more information, call Divine Goods at 324-4663 or the book shop at 324-0350.
Bank launches fund for Little Leaguers
First Hawaiian Bank has started a “Yes We Care” Fund for the benefit of the families of the Waipio Little League World Series team and is contributing the first $5,000 to the fund, according to an announcement by Don Horner, First Hawaiian Bank chairman and chief executive officer.
Those wishing to make a monetary donation to the fund may do so at any of First Hawaiian’s 58 branches throughout the state. Checks should be made payable to “Waipio Little League Champions.” Donations will be accepted at all branches through Sept. 17.
Car makers expected to post sales declines
SAN FRANCISCO — Automakers today will reveal just how difficult it has been to close a late-summer sale without the lure of the “cash for clunkers” promotion that sparked a groundswell of demand a year ago.
As a group, the industry is expected to post a steep 17.7 percent unit decline from August 2009, according to car-buying research firm Edmunds.com.
“Comparing to last August is not meaningful since Cash for Clunkers distorted the market so badly last year,” said analyst Jessica Caldwell. “It is likely that the current slow sales pace can be partly attributed to the thousands of ‘pull-ahead’ sales that last year’s CARS program stole from subsequent months.”
Toyota Motor Corp., on the heels of yet another massive recall, is seen as the biggest decliner, with sales down more than 28 percent.
The Japanese car giant on Thursday added 1.1 million Corolla and Matrix sedans to its recall woes, due to engine problems that could lead to unexpected stalls.
Elsewhere, Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motors likely didn’t fare much better, down a projected 27.6 percent and 26.5 percent, respectively.
General Motors Co., ahead of its much-anticipated IPO, is expected to report a 23.1 percent drop while Ford Motor Co. is seen handing in a 10.5 percent retreat.
Chrysler could be the only winner in the group, up an estimated 7.3 percent.
By local and wire sources
