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Businesses, organizations honored at green awards

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A hotel that uses seawater for its cooling system, a theme restaurant that uses recycled construction materials in its flooring and a Big Island brewery that gets nearly half of its electricity from solar panels are among 15 companies and government agencies recognized March 30 by Governor Neil Abercrombie at the annual “Hawaii Green Business Awards” ceremony.

Hawaii Island’s award winner, Kona Brewing Co.’s Kona Pub & Brewery, was recognized for using a solar photovoltaic system for 48 percent of the brewery’s energy needs. The company also recycles the water that collects as condensation in its air conditioning system to irrigate plants, and saves over 53,000 gallons a year.

The awards program encourages businesses and organizations to implement efficiency measures and share information and support each other in operating in an environmentally sustainable manner. For more information, visit hawaii.gov/greenbusiness or contact DBEDT program coordinators Gail Suzuki-Jones at 587-3802 or Jonathan Chin at 587-2676.

Jack’s Diving Locker awarded for being green

Jack’s Diving Locker in Kailua-Kona, received the Green Star Award from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. Dive centers receiving this award must demonstrate dedication to conservation leadership, reduced energy use, use of sustainable materials, and more. Being “green” is nothing new to Jack’s Diving Locker managing partners, Jeff and Teri Leicher. In the 1980’s, the couple spearheaded a mooring buoy project to preserve the coral reef. This is now a statewide project with Jack’s Diving Locker’s continued support and involvement. The company sponsors an annual underwater cleanup at Kailua Pier and conducts regularly scheduled shoreline cleanups with kids enrolled in their Sea Camp Hawaii program. In the shop, all lights have been changed to energy saving bulbs and the company actively recycles aluminum, plastic, cardboard and paper.

BAYADA acquires Nursefinders

BAYADA Home Health Care, a provider of home health care services, announced it has acquired Nursefinders Home Care, an AMN Healthcare Company. As part of the acquisition, 16 Nursefinders Home Care offices will transition to BAYADA Home Health Care. This transition includes the Kailua-Kona office at 75-1000 Henry Street, Suite 205 and the Hilo office at 308 Kamehameha Avenue, Suite 200. Both offices provide home health care services to children and adults.

For more information, call 888-4-BAYADA.

Kaiser leads way in online health care

With nearly 70,000 members going online to view lab results, refill prescriptions, communicate with their physicians, and schedule appointments, Kaiser Permanente leads the state in the delivery of online health care services. Kaiser Permanente announced the results of its 2011 electronic connectivity survey, which show a significant increase over the past year in connectivity between patients and doctors, pharmacists and other health care providers via the Web.

Visit kp.org for more information.