Hale Ohia Cottages awarded
Gayot.com recently named Hale Ohia Cottages, located in Volcano Village, as a Top Ten Value Hotel in the United States. Hale Ohia Cottages was the only Hawaii property on the Top Ten Value Hotel list.
Built in 1931 by the Dillingham family as a summer estate, Hale Ohia Cottages features a main residence, eight guest cottages, a gardener’s cottage and numerous support structures on a 2-acre site. The estate, also listed on the State Historical Register, is 1 mile from the entrance to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Hale Ohia Cottages is also a 2013 Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence winner. For more information visit haleohia.com.
—Movers &Shakers —
Falsini named executive chef at Four Seasons
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai has named Massimo Falsini as executive chef.
Overseeing all culinary operations, Falsini joins the resort with more than 24 years of experience around the world. He most recently served as executive chef of Waldorf Astoria Orlando. Prior to this, Falsini was executive chef of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, where he oversaw seven culinary concepts.
Falsini holds master certificates in hospitality management and food service management from Cornell University. He is also a certified executive chef through the American Culinary Federation, and was named a certified master chef, Italian cuisine by Academia Barilla.
For more information and reservations, call 888-340-5662, or visit fourseasons.com/hualalai.
Kaneshiro named president of Group 70 International
Charles Kaneshiro has been named president and chief operating officer of design firm Group 70 International.
In this role, Kaneshiro will oversee day-to-day operations of the company in addition to leading his architectural design projects. Kaneshiro was among the first in Hawaii to receive the LEED AP designation and is an alumnus of the Pacific Century Fellows Program. He earned his bachelor of architecture degree at the University of Hawaii.
Group 70 International has grown over the past three years, adding a civil engineer to the firm in 2009 who now oversees a division of seven engineers. With an additional focus on sustainability as well as indigenous design, the company has projects on every island except Niihau and Kahoolawe. For more information, visit group70int.com.
Pacific Boats &Yachts contributes to worldwide voyage
Pacific Boats &Yachts has made two sponsorship contributions in support of the mission and crew of the vessels Hokulea and Hikianalia as they set out on the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s voyage around the world.
The first sponsorship was helping to secure the 50-foot sailing catamaran Noa Noa as a gift to Polynesian Voyaging Society, providing a platform to train navigators and crew while Hokulea underwent refurbishment in dry dock. Once Hokulea was back in the water, Pacific Boats &Yachts found a buyer for the vessel, securing a commitment of more than $200,000 to help fund the voyage.
The brokerage then donated its entire $20,000 commission to the society in recognition of a shared vision for improving sustainability and resource protection.
HMAA launches maternity wellness program
The Hawaii Medical Assurance Association is launching a maternity wellness incentive program, Maternity and Baby Care.
“With our Maternity and Baby Care incentive program, HMAA will be the first private insurer in Hawaii to directly provide maternity wellness incentives to its members,” said John E. Aoki, the association’s chief medical officer.
The program will provide educational wellness incentives for participants, including a healthy baby kit that provides information on what to expect during pregnancy and on eating healthily. Incentives for completion of various program levels include a free six-month rental of Fetal Doppler equipment, which is used to listen to the baby’s heartbeat, and a free, three-month supply of diapers. The new incentive program began Thursday.
Hawaii Medical Assurance Association’s pregnant members, or members planning to become pregnant, who are interested in taking part in the program may call 591-0088, email HMAAwellness@hmaa.com or visit hmaa.com.
— Milestones —
Jams World celebrates 50 years
Jams World, Hawaii’s iconic and colorful clothing brand, is celebrating 50 years of making clothes in Honolulu.
The public is encouraged to post photos of Jams World clothing being worn over the years on the company’s Facebook page through Sept. 30. Photos may capture a day at the beach, a birthday celebration or a celebrity wearing Jams World. Gift certificates will be awarded to photos with the most likes.
Other celebrations include Jams World Day, when everyone is invited to don their favorite Jams World garment, and a competition for fashion students to design a new look for the next collection.
Jams World founder, Dave Rochlen, moved to Hawaii in 1962. Searching for something comfortable to wear while surfing, he was inspired by a photo of Russian tourists wearing bathrobes and pajamas to the beach. Rochlen bought some brightly printed fabric and asked his wife to make him a short pajama with a few modifications and Jams were born.
Jams evolved into Jams World, a casual lifestyle brand with six stores on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island featuring clothing, jewelry and accessories. The apparel is available in 33 U.S. mainland states and internationally. The company employs 85 people with some having worked for Jams for more than 40 years.
Aqua Hospitality earns workplace award
Aqua Hospitality was recently named one of Hawaii’s Best Places to Work for 2014 in the large company category of 250 or more Hawaii employees.
Best Places to Work in Hawaii is a statewide program in its 10th year. This top companies were chosen based questionnaire responses from employer and employee perspectives.
Muscular Dystrophy Association supported
Kazi Foods restaurants Burger King Hawaii and KFC Hawaii are raising funds for Muscular Dystrophy Association Hawaii with the “Leis of Hope” campaign to send children ages 6 through 17 to Camp Erdman on Oahu this summer.
All Kazi Foods-operated Burger King and KFC Hawaii stores will offer lei for $1 and $5. Donations of any amount are welcome. It costs $800 to send one child to the camp. The goal for each restaurant is to raise $27 per day to reach the per-store goal of $800 by the end of the month. The overall goal for all restaurants combined is $15,000.
Hawaii Family Physicians awarded
Hawaii Family Physicians David Arthurs and Beth Catanzaro have been selected for the 2014 Best of Kealakekua Award in the physicians and surgeons category by the Kealakekua Award Program.
Each year, the Kealakekua Award Program identifies companies that have achieved exceptional marketing success in their community and business category. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category.
Class teaches how to start a business
A free “How To Start a Business in Hawaii” workshop will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. May 22 at Kanu o ka Aina New Century Public Charter School, 64-1043 Hiiaka St. in Waimea.
Deadline to register is May 21. Register at hisbdc.org. For more information, call Jackie at 327-3680.
by local sources