Choice Mart, shoppers provide relief to Puna residents
Choice Mart Supermarket partnered with local community volunteers and grocery shoppers to bring relief to people suffering the effects of Tropical Storm Iselle in Puna. For each $10 shoppers donated at checkout, Choice Mart made a matching contribution and provided an emergency relief package valued at more than $20, including water, food, toiletries and other emergency supplies in a reusable shopping bag.
More than 100 emergency relief bags were purchased by Choice Mart’s generous customers.
“What a great example of our community coming together to support our neighbors,” Kealakekua Ranch Center Chief Executive Officer Rhonda Kavanaugh said. “I am proud and honored to be part of such a generous community and to see this spontaneous outpouring of support for those in need.”
Class helps business owners use social media
The Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce will host a Brown Bag Briefing, “Five Steps to Managing Your Online Presence for Business,” from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday at West Hawaii Civic Center, Community Hale, Building G.
Julie Ziemelis, owner of Ziemelis Communications, will present ways to use and monitor a business’s online presence through social media. Attendees can bring lunch and network after the presentation. The class is free for chamber members, $15 for nonmembers. Registration is encouraged and available at kona-kohala.com.
For more information, call 329-1758 or email info@kona-kohala.com.
Mana Physical Therapy blessing held
Hawaiian Rehabilitation Services Inc. sponsored a blessing Aug. 2 to celebrate the transfer of the Waimea clinic at the Carter Professional Center to Mana Physical Therapy, which is owned by physical therapist Jonathan Camacaylan.
Jean Thompson, who owned Hawaiian Rehabilitation Services for 34 years, celebrated the transfer with Camacaylan who had worked with the company for several years. He recently returned from Indiana to assume ownership.
Hawaiian Rehabilitation Services will continue to operate the Waikoloa and Kailua-Kona clinics. The Waimea staff of Hawaiian Rehabilitation Services also transferred to Mana Physical Therapy.
Yoga Hale moving to new location
Yoga Hale is moving to 74-5583 Luhia St. A2 in Kailua-Kona, Sept. 1.
Next to Bike Works and above Pacific Island Fitness, this yoga facility will offer classes by donation. It’s part of an effort to become a nonprofit organization, with the goal of helping people one breath at a time. It also strives to make health and wellness accessible and available to everyone. According to Yoga Hale, yoga reduces stress, relieves depression, increases sleep and decreases anxiety.
Throughout this transition, Yoga Hale will remain 100 percent operational. For more information, visit yogahale.com.
Nominations sought for magazine’s business awards
Nomination submissions have been extended for the fourth annual Pacific Edge Magazine Business Achievement Awards to be held at Iolani Palace on Oahu.
Nominations will be accepted until Thursday at pacificedgeawards.com and finalists will be announced by Sept. 1. Self-nominations are encouraged.
The awards presentation slated for Sept. 25 will celebrate the eighth anniversary of Element Media Inc., Hawaii’s premier custom publishing firm, while recognizing the state’s most influential business leaders, organizations and nonprofits.
Nomination categories include: Lifetime Achievement Award, Young Professional of the Year, Business Executive of the Year, Educator of the Year, Commitment to Green Award, Corporate Social Responsibility Award, Best New Business, Best Family-Run Business and Best Social Media Campaign.
Submissions are judged by an independent panel of community leaders.
Direct inquiries about corporate sponsorship or nominations to Jamie Giambrone at 737-8711 or jamie@elementmediahi.com.
Hawaii HomeOwnership Center getting $15K grant
The Hawaii HomeOwnership Center has received a $15,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation. The funds will help the center provide classes and individualized coaching to homebuyers throughout the state to attain sustainable homeownership.
Less than 1 percent of the center’s 1,050-plus homeowners have been challenged with their mortgage payments, which reflects the positive effect of homebuyers being educated prior to their home purchase. This funding support will also help the center continue providing foreclosure prevention counseling at no charge to homeowners experiencing difficulty paying their mortgage.
For more information, visit hihomeownership.org.
— NEW BUSINESS —
Massage school opens in Kealakekua
Island Spirit School of Massage has opened on the Big Island; classes start Oct. 20.
Island Spirit will host several free informational meetings explaining the school curriculum and licensing requirements in Hawaii. These meetings will be fun and informal with light pupu provided.
The events are slated from 6 to 7 pm. Aug. 25 and Sept. 5 and 8 at Island Spirit, located in the Pualani Terrace at 81-6587 Mamalahoa Highway in Kealakekua. Call 769-5212 or 936-1626 for more information.
— MOVERS &SHAKERS —
Johns named HVCB’s regional director of travel industry sales
George Johns has joined the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau as regional director of travel industry sales. He reports to Robyn Basso, senior director of travel industry partnerships.
Johns will represent The Hawaiian Islands in the Midwest and East Coast markets supporting sales and marketing through activities with travel agents, wholesalers, consortia and other key industry partners. In addition to cultivating key travel industry relationships, he will also be responsible for promoting and delivering customized live and virtual destination training including HVCB’s Hawaii Destination Specialist program.
Before joining HVCB, Johns served as the regional business development manager for Rocky Mountaineer where he developed and executed marketing efforts through co-op programs and agent training and development.
In his 30-year career, Johns has worked in sales at International Expeditions and Lindblad Expeditions, as well as Maritz Travel Company, where he handled the Hawaii market. Johns earned a bachelor’s degree from Colorado College.