Lanihau Center launches Thursday night music series
Live island music will be played from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday in the center court at Lanihau Center as part of the new “Nite Out at Lanihau” music series beginning in February.
Kona’s own Good to Go is set for the month of February, and Gene Akamu and Satoi Wong Yuen will perform through March. Bring beach chairs and enjoy the free music; coolers are prohibited. Free giveaways will also be held.
Five Club Wyndham properties recognized
Outrigger Enterprises Group, which manages the on-property and hospitality operations of five Club Wyndham properties in Hawaii, has announced that each resort has received top property designations by RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange.
Receiving the highest honor, an RCI Gold Crown Resort property designation, were Wyndham at Waikiki Beach Walk on Oahu, Royal Garden at Waikiki on Oahu, and Kona Hawaii on Hawaii Island. The Mauna Loa Village and Royal Sea Cliff resorts on Hawaii Island each received an RCI Silver Gold Crown Resort property designation.
To be recognized, each resort must have consistently attained high levels of excellence in accommodations, hospitality and member experience ratings as measured by RCI member comment cards.
Workshop on referral marketing offered
Lynn Howard, certified Referral Institute franchisee, will give a presentation on referral marketing and how to get others to refer your business from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday at Kuakini Tower, Suite 213, 75-5722 Kuakini Highway, Kailua-Kona. In addition, Hazel Beck, Hawaii Small Business Development Center director, will present tips to freshen a business. Cost is $20 and registration is held at 3:30 p.m.
To register, visit hisbdc.org. Call Jackie at 327‐3680 for more information. Space is limited.
Aloha Petroleum raises funds for American Cancer Society
With the assistance of its customers, Aloha Petroleum Ltd. recently donated $4,182 to American Cancer Society. The funds will support the organization’s efforts in the Hawaii Pacific Region to transform the disease from deadly to preventable. Aloha Petroleum Ltd. matched the funds raised through canister collection donations at participating Aloha Island Mart and Shell locations throughout the state during November.
Subaru Hawaii supports charity through ‘Share the Love’ event
Subaru Hawaii raised $7,500 for Hawaii Island Humane Society through its “Share the Love” sales event. The organization earned an additional $5,000 for being the winner of Subaru Hawaii’s Facebook fan page voting contest, bringing the total donation to $12,500.
Subaru Hawaii donated $250 for every new vehicle sold Nov. 1 to Dec. 31. In total, the “Share the Love” event raised $30,000 for four causes: $7,500 for Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii, $7,500 for American Red Cross-Hawaii State Chapter, $7,500 for Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-Maui and $7,500 for Hawaii Island Humane Society.
Chamber honored with week
Recognizing the important roles Chambers of Commerce play in advocating for business and the community, both Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi declared Jan. 12 to 18 “Chamber Week.”
Abercrombie noted the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce for its mission of advocating for a successful business environment in West Hawaii, plus serving as the leading business advocacy organization on the west side.
Chamber Week is the brainchild of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, which created a series of events designed to encourage area businesses to become more involved in the legislative process by meeting with elected representatives. These events included the annual Walk Around the Capitol and a Legislative Meet and Greet reception.
— Movers & Shakers —
Hawaii Farm Bureau announces new leadership
The Hawaii Farm Bureau has elected its new president and vice president.
Chris Manfredi, who is best-known for his work kick starting the Ka‘u coffee industry, has been elected president. He served as vice president of the bureau under two previous administrations and was chairman of the Government Affairs committee for three terms. He follows Dean Okimoto, who served as president for nine terms.
Myrone Murakami, a former Hawaii Farm Bureau president, was named vice president. He has been a Farm Bureau member for 33 years. He operates an Oahu farm where he and his family have grown papaya and ti leaves for more than 30 years.
Kona Coffee Farmers Association elects new board members
Kona Coffee Farmers Association elected a new board of directors during its annual meeting Jan. 12 at Kahaluu Beach Park.
Suzanne Shriner and Kally Goschke were elected to the board. Continuing on the board for 2014-15 are: Cecelia Smith, president; Anita Kelleher, vice president; Thomas Butler, secretary; Kurt Schweickhard, treasurer; and Colehour Bondera, Bruce Corker, Christine Coleman and MaryLou Moss, directors.
By local sources