GVS Transmedia Accelerator honored
The GVS Transmedia Accelerator was honored this past week at the White House as one of the first recipients of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Growth Accelerator Fund prize.
GVS was one of 50 applicants selected from a pool of 832 to receive $50,000 from SBA. Led by Konawaena graduate and Big Island film maker David Cunningham, the accelerator also recently held a demonstration day for the five projects it selected earlier this year for funding and mentoring. Having completed the six-month intensive program under the guidance of Hollywood producers and writers, the five selected Hawaii-based companies showcased the projects they have developed for commercial audiences across a variety of transmedia platforms.
“This is one of the most important projects I have been a part of in my six years as mayor,” said Mayor Billy Kenoi in a statement. “This accelerator is going to help build a future for the creative industries here on our island.”
Kona Stories celebrates Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday, the day in which shoppers are encouraged to do their Christmas shopping at small, local businesses, is Nov. 29.
Kona Stories Community Book Store in Keauhou Shopping Center will celebrate Small Business Saturday and its eighth anniversary with free photos with the Grinch from 1 to 3 p.m. The event will also included free gift wrapping, samples from cookbook author Author Adrienne Hew and guest bookseller author Tom Peek.
For more information, call 324-0350 or visit konastories.com.
Work continues on Thirty Meter Telescope
Construction activities for the Thirty Meter Telescope, including site preparation, grading and off-site work, has begun, according to the project organizers.
In China, partners are designing the telescope’s fully articulated main science steering mirror system and developing the laser guide star system. Japan has produced more than 60 special zero thermal-expansion glass mirror blanks for the main mirror and is designing the telescope structure in detail. Fabricating the mirror support system is ongoing in India. The adaptive optics facility is in final design and the enclosure is ready for construction in Canada. The primary mirror and mirror control system is in final design in California.
The advancement of TMT to this stage of imminent on-site construction has been made possible by the support of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The foundation has spent $141 million to date to fund the design, development and construction phases of TMT.
$4.4M boost for small businesses announced
Hawaii has received $4,477,238 in State Small Business Credit Initiative funds to help small businesses access the capital they need to grow and create jobs. To date, $13,168,350 in initiative funds have been disbursed to the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation to support businesses and the local economy, according to the U.S. Treasury.
The Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation is a state agency established in 1990 to promote economic development and economic diversification in Hawaii through a return driven investment program in partnership with private capital. The U.S. Treasury Department will award up to $1.5 billion to fund state programs across the country that support small businesses including small manufacturers. Initiative funding is not repaid by participating states to the federal government. Instead, to help even more small businesses, repaid loans and investments remain with participating states to be redeployed locally. The program is designed to help spur new private sector lending or investment in small companies by leveraging private capital along with the federal support offered by the program.
The initiative was created when President Barack Obama signed into law the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 on Sept. 27, 2010. To build on the momentum of the program’s success and capitalize on new working relationships among states and small business lenders and investors, Obama proposed an extension of the initiative in his 2015 budget with an additional $1.5 billion in funding.
Some Bank of Hawaii customers get Apple Pay
Hawaiian Airlines Bank of Hawaii customers now have access to Apple Pay, a new service that will transform mobile payments.
By integrating its Hawaiian Airlines Bank of Hawaii World Elite MasterCard with Apple Pay, Bank of Hawaii customers can enjoy an easy and secure way to pay. In participating stores, Apple Pay will work with iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. When paying for goods and services within apps, Apple Pay is compatible with iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3.
Customers can use Apple Pay in many stores that accept contact-less payments and through participating apps, with more added daily. Bank of Hawaii is also looking to offer Apple Pay for its other debit and credit cards in the near future.
— NEW BUSINESS —
Luxury brokerage firm opens Big Island office
Elite Pacific Properties, a luxury brokerage firm, is opening an office on Hawaii Island. The new, 438-square-foot office will be located at the Kings’ Shops in Waikoloa Beach Resort and be staffed by a broker-in-charge and three full-time agents.
The office will focus specifically on the Kohala and Waimea areas, with additional agents serving Kona.
Elite Pacific Properties was founded in 2005 by Stephen Cipres and Paul Mayer. It’s a full-service real estate firm focused on luxury residential property sales, multi-unit projects/developer sales and luxury vacation rentals. It has been ranked by Pacific Business News as the ninth fastest growing company in Hawaii on its 2014 Fastest 50 list. For more information, go to elitepacific.com.
— MOVERS &SHAKERS —
Kaehuaea takes charge of radio station
Hilo resident Wendell Kaehuaea, who ran for a state senate seat last election, is the president and director of Ka‘u Community Radio Inc. Christine Kaehuaea, his daughter, has resigned from the position.
From its 2010 inception to its final 2013 broadcast, the community radio station, KAHU 91.7 FM, had struggled to get established and sustain itself in Ka‘u. The mission was to enrich the community through musical programming and revitalize the district in partnering with organizations to create educational and employment opportunities for residents.
Because sufficient funding could not be secured to keep the station up and running, KAHU 97.1 FM was forced to cease transmitting in April 2013 and close its doors. In August 2013, hope came with the Federal Communications Commission approval for the sale of the call letters and license to Hawaii Public Radio. Once the proceeds from the sale had been exhausted, continued efforts were made to liquidate company assets not included in the sale of the call letters and license. Asset sales were encouraging at first, but the reality of each item sold was at a loss of almost 75 percent off the retail value.
Wendell was the founder and original station general manager of KAHU 91.7 FM. He stepped down from this position in order to run for state senator of Puna and Ka‘u against Russell Ruderman in 2012. As the new president and director of Ka‘u Community Radio Inc., Wendell was scheduled to receive all of the station’s electronic/hardcopy files and unsold equipment by Nov. 15 in order to take up the baton and finalize business operations.
Galante named Mauna Lani Bay’s sales manager
Mauna Lani Bay Hotel &Bungalows has selected Ruselle Galante as its sales manager.
Originally from Hawaii, Galante will be based in Southern California and will manage the travel industry and wholesale partnerships, which are an integral part of the resort’s business. Galante will be responsible for developing travel industry and leisure business by participating in trade shows, sales calls, account management and travel industry sales and marketing promotions.
— MILESTONE —
Book commemorating airline’s legacy available
Hawaiian Airlines is celebrating its 85th anniversary of continuous service for the islands this month. Hawaii’s first interisland service was launched Nov. 11, 1929, as Inter-Island Airways with a flight carrying eight passengers and two crew members from Honolulu to Hilo. It took one hour, 40 minutes and had a top cruising speed of 110 mph. The first flight to Kauai was made the following day, and soon all the Hawaiian Islands were receiving air service on a regular basis.
Hawaiian Airlines has published a celebratory book highlighting its legacy, now available at shop.hawaiianairlines.com.
By local sources