In Brief | Island Inc. | 4-7-14

LegalShield representative speaking to BNI

Warren Chong, a LegalShield independent representative, is the guest speaker Wednesday at the Kona Krew Chapter for Business Networking International.

Chong will discuss how 34,000 businesses are benefiting by offering voluntary LegalShield and Identity Theft benefits to their employees. This is helping the employer’s bottom line, because it has been shown to reduce employee stress, reduce absenteeism and increase productivity by keeping employees on the job physically and mentally.

The event starts at 7:45 and finishes at 9:15 a.m., and will be held in the Paddlers Room at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. All visitors are welcome to attend the free event. For information or a reservation to attend, call Lynn at 960-9630 or Lee at 333-4699.

Kohala Zipline offers shuttle service

Kohala Zipline has launched a round-trip shuttle service between its North Kohala course and all major Kona and Kohala resorts and hotels. Guests can choose either an early departure at 8:30 a.m., or late departure at 1 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Included in the shuttle service is a deli-style lunch with choice of sandwich, cookie, chips and a soft drink.

For more information. visit KohalaZipline.com.

McDonald’s supports robotics teams

McDonald’s Restaurants of Hawaii is donating more than $45,000 to Hawaii robotics teams at this year’s For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology in Hawaii Robotics Regional Competition.

During the competition’s opening ceremony, McDonald’s owner-operators presented a check for $40,666, which will be divided among the 29 competing Hawaii robotics teams. An additional $1,000 will be given to each of the five Hawaii schools moving on to the world championship in St. Louis, Mo.: Waialua High School, McKinley High School, Kamehameha Schools, Maui High School and Kealakehe High School.

McDonald’s hosted a statewide fundraiser, donating $1 of every sale of selected breakfast items March 17 to 23. This year’s sales raised nearly $9,000 more than the $32,000 raised in 2013.

Big Island Television now broadcasting digitally

Big Island Television stepped into the digital age on Tuesday, according to president A.D. Ackerman who founded the company in 1985.

Known for in-depth visitor information, as well as historical and cultural programming, Big Island Television in its new digital format, will move from channel 9 to Oceanic Time Warner Cable channel 97.6 and channel 130.

For more information call 322-3672 or visit bigislandtv.com.

Aloha Natural Health adds massage therapist

Aloha Natural Health, a provider of primary and complementary naturopathic health care, has added licensed massage therapist Ronja Giesser to its staff.

Giesser has five years of experience, receiving her training at the Hawaiian Islands School of Massage in 2009. She specializes in injury care and chronic pain syndromes through myofascial, trigger point and neuromuscular techniques.

Giesser previously studied meditation and yoga while working as a retreat center chef in Italy, and also taught at a private elementary school for four years in Seattle.

For more information, visit shanonsidellnd.com.

Aloha Petroleum donates to Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii

As part of its ongoing canister collection program at statewide participating Aloha Island Mart stores, Aloha Petroleum Ltd., on behalf of its customers, recently donated $4,417.76 to Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii. The nonprofit organization serves 700 keiki across the state annually with a mission to shape Hawaii’s youth into responsible adults with a more positive outlook on life.

Aloha Petroleum has used its collection canister program to support dozens of nonprofit organizations including March of Dimes, Aloha Harvest and the American Red Cross.

Wedding expo planned in November

Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort &Spa and Pele’s Wedding &Events will present a wedding expo Nov. 15 at Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort &Spa.

The wedding bridal expo will showcase a mock ceremony and reception, bridal fashion shows, wedding planning ideas and cake tastings.

Hawaii wedding vendors and planners will promote memorable and creative special events and catered affairs at the beachfront resort.

Jack’s Diving Locker offers contest, event

A GoPro camera is the grand prize in the GoPro Video/Photo Contest sponsored by Jack’s Diving Locker. Other prizes include snorkel and dive trips and camera accessories. Submissions are due at noon April 21.

The business will also host the 10th annual Ocean Fair Event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 26. Free introductory scuba dives and snorkel lessons will be offered in the pool.Free GoPro presentations on how to use the cameras, accessories, lighting, editing and uploading to social media will be offered. Bring in a GoPro camera and meet with one of the store’s experts at the “Hero Bar.”

More details about the event and contest are at jacksdivinglocker.com. Jack’s Diving Locker is located in the Coconut Grove Marketplace next to Outback Steakhouse in Kailua-Kona. Call 329-7585 for more information.

Workshop focuses on conversations

Learn powerful and practical skills to stay calm and confidently navigate challenging conversations during a six-week class held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. April 14 through June 2 in North Kona.

The cost of the class is a sliding scale that starts at $180.

For information, call Andrea Pro at 345-0907 or email andrea@konacoast.com.

Program replaces inefficient lighting for small businesses

Hawaii Energy, a ratepayer-funded energy conservation and efficiency program, is offering small businesses and restaurants an opportunity to replace their old lighting with newer energy-efficient lighting for free now until June 9.

Hawaii is the most oil dependent state in America and has the highest energy prices. Lighting can account for nearly half of a retail business’ overall electricity costs.

Since Hawaii Energy’s Small Business Direct Install Lighting program launched in July 2011, 1,790 Hawaii small businesses and restaurants have participated in the program that provides free consultation, lighting and installation.

During an installation, old incandescent bulbs and halogen lighting are removed and replaced with new, lower wattage compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs, and light-emitting diodes, or LEDs.

In order to qualify, businesses must have an individual meter and be on an electric rate schedule G, or occupy a work space of less than 5,000 square feet. Restaurants on any electric rate schedule or of any size can qualify.

For more information or to apply, visit hawaiienergy.com/retrofit or call 877-231-8222.

Incentive offered for installing LED signs

Hawaii Energy, a ratepayer-funded energy conservation and efficiency program, is helping businesses show their old exit signs the door with a limited-time $40 incentive.

Until May 31, businesses can qualify for the incentive when replacing an older incandescent exit sign with a new, light-emitting diode, or LED, exit sign.

An Energy Star LED exit sign uses about 44 kilowatt hours of electricity annually compared to kilowatt hours for an incandescent sign, a savings of approximately $80 to $100 per year.

To qualify for the incentive, businesses are required to complete an application and submit a paid invoice to show proof of purchase. For more information, visit hawaiienergy.com/lighting or call 877-231-8222.

Workshop examines government contracts

A Government Contracting 101 and HUBZone Certification workshop will explain how the government buys goods and services, how to become certified and registered on the federal, state, and local levels, and how to find government contracting prime and sub-contracting opportunities.

The class will be held from 10 a.m. to noon June 4 at Kuakini Tower, suite 213, at 75-5722 Kuakini Highway.

Also covered will be the benefits and requirements for small business participation as a small disadvantaged business, disadvantaged business enterprise, historically utilized business zone, or HUBZone, woman-owned, and veteran-owned businesses.

To register, visit hiptac.org or call 596-8990, ext. 1008.

By local sources