In Brief | Island Inc. | 12-8-14
Big Island Biodiesel gets USDA grant
Big Island Biodiesel was recently awarded $7,817 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support the production of advanced biofuels.
The funding for the Keaau-based biodiesel production facility is among $5.6 million in grants awarded last week by the USDA to 220 producers across the nation through the department’s Advanced Biofuel Payment Program, which was established in the 2008 Farm Bill, according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
Under the program, payments, which are intended to encourage expansion of biodiesel production, are made to eligible producers based on the amount of advanced biofuel produced from renewable biomass, other than corn kernel starch. Examples of eligible feedstocks include but are not limited to: crop residue; animal, food and yard waste; vegetable oil; and animal fat.
“Producing advanced biofuel is a major component of the drive to take control of America’s energy future by developing domestic, renewable energy sources,” Vilsack said. “These resources represent the Obama Administration’s commitment to support an ‘all-of-the-above’ energy strategy that seeks to build a robust bio-based economy. Investments in biofuels will also help create jobs and further diversify the economy in our rural communities.”
Through the program, the USDA has made more than $280 million in payments to more than 350 producers in 47 states and territories since the program’s inception. These payments have supported the production of more than 5.8 billion gallons of advanced biofuel and the equivalent of more than 58 billion kilowatt hours of electric energy, according to the USDA.
State association celebrates member providers
The Healthcare Association of Hawaii recently praised a group of long-term care provider members for their achievement in reaching national quality goals set by its national association, the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living. Thirty-five of the Hawaii association members met or exceeded at least one of four goals of the AHCA/NCAL’s Quality Initiative, a national effort focused on reducing hospital readmissions, nursing staff turnover and antipsychotic medications, as well as increasing customer satisfaction.
The following members received priase Aloha Nursing &Rehab Centre, Ann Pearl Nursing Facility, Arcadia Retirement Residence, Avalon Care Center — Honolulu, Convalescent Center of Honolulu, Garden Isle Healthcare, Hale Anuenue Restorative Care, Hale Hoola Hamakua, Hale Kupuna Heritage Homem, Hale Makua — Kahului, Hale Nani Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Hale Ola Kino, Harry And Jeanette Weinberg Care Center at Pohai Nani, Hilo Medical Center, Island Nursing Home, Ka Punawai Ola, Kahuku Medical Center, Kona Community Hospital, Kuakini Geriatric Care, Kula Hospital, Leahi Hospital, Life Care Center of Hilo, Life Care Center of Kona, Liliha Healthcare Center, Malama Ohana Nursing and Rehab Center, Maluhia, Maunalani Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Nuuanu Hale, Oahu Care Facility, Palolo Chinese Home, Pearl City Nursing Home, Puuwai O Makaha, Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital, The Queen’s Medical Center, and Wahiawa General Hospital. Special congratulations to Hilo Medical Center and Hale Nani Rehabilitation and Nursing Center that each achieved three of the quality goals.
The AHCA/NCAL Quality Initiative aims to further improve the lives of individuals receiving care in long-term care centers by setting specific goals in four key areas. For skilled nursing centers: safely reduce hospital readmissions within 30 days during a skilled nursing stay by 15 percent; increase staff stability by reducing nursing staff turnover by 15 percent; achieve customer satisfaction, as evidenced by having 90 percent of residents and families willing to recommend their center to others; and safely reduce the off-label use of antipsychotics by 15 percent.
Members that achieved any of the goals of the Quality Initiative were identified through AHCA/NCAL’s Quality Initiative Recognition Program. Member centers that met these goals were identified using data from outside sources on readmissions and antipsychotic use, while national surveys were used to collect staff turnover and customer satisfaction data directly from members. Hawaii’s achievers, as well as other achievers from across the country, will be honored at AHCA/ NCAL’s upcoming Quality Symposium, taking place Feb. 23 to 25 in Austin, Texas.
Destination Hawaii Prospecting Day held on Big Island
Several of Hawaii Island’s leeward hotel industry partners recently participated in a Destination Hawaii Prospecting Day at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows as part of a statewide Meetings, Conventions and Incentives sales effort organized and led by Meet Hawaii.
In the first Destination Hawaii Prospecting Day organized and led by Meet Hawaii, hospitality industry partners statewide are putting their individual interests aside and banding together to attract new group business from North America for the Hawaiian Islands. The concerted sales effort kicked off on Dec. 2 on Oahu at the Hawaii Convention Center and continued with additional call centers set up at Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows on the Big Island, Wailea Beach Marriott Resort and Spa on Maui, and Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa on Kauai.
Joining Meet Hawaii in the effort were representatives from more than 25 industry partners who are expecting to make up to 750 calls and generate between 40 to 50 leads during the two days.
Participating Hawaii Island partners included The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii, Hilton Waikoloa Village, Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows, Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa, and Mauna Kea Resort.
Nutrex Hawaii partners with garden network on #GivingTuesday
In honor of #GivingTuesday, Nutrex Hawaii, growers of natural Hawaiian microalgae supplements, donated 10 percent of all sales at Nutrex-Hawaii.com on Dec. 2 to the Hawaii School and Garden Network.
Founded by The Kohala Center, HISGN supports more than 60 school learning gardens on Hawaii Island through technical assistance, professional development programs, and mini-grants, connecting Hawaii’s keiki to real food, healthier eating habits and the aina. The network also administers FoodCorps Hawaii and the statewide Hawaii Farm to School and School Garden Hui, both of which work to develop garden and nutrition programs for learning gardens and help schools procure fresh, healthy, locally grown food.
#GivingTuesday is a global movement to celebrate and provide incentives to give. This effort harnesses the collective power of a unique blend of partners — charities, families, businesses and individuals—to transform how people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season.
Nutrex Hawaii, producer of Hawaiian Spirulina and BioAstin Hawaiian Astaxanthin, shas been the world’s leading microalgae cultivation farm for the past 30 years. Founder, Gerald Cysewski, chose the pristine Kona Coast because of the pure, unpolluted, clean growing location and access to deep ocean water from a depth of 2,000 feet. The 90-acre facility is located in a BioSecure zone, free of all pesticides and herbicides.
Patricio’s opens second restaurant
Patricio’s Mexican Taqueria recently celebrated the opening of its second restaurant in the Matsuyama’s shopping center on Hulikoa Drive in Kailua-Kona, next to Kona Mountain Coffee. The Nov. 30 event included a Hawaiian blessing, pupu and drinks.
Patricio’s offers authentic Mexican cuisine made with fresh, healthy and natural ingredients from homemade recipes. Its second location is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday. For more information, visit patriciostaqueria.com.
Central Pacific Bank gets outstanding rating from FDIC
Central Pacific Bank was once again given the highest rating of “Outstanding” for its efforts in meeting the needs of its community, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods and minorities between 2012 and 2014, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The FDIC assessment comes from its Community Reinvestment Act performance evaluation that measures how financial institutions support their communities in the areas of lending, investment and service.
The bank has now maintained an “Outstanding” rating for its CRA performance for 10 consecutive years.
The CRA report credits CPB with exceeding peer lending performance to small businesses and recognizes the bank as a leader in providing significant financial and technical assistance to community development nonprofit organizations. The report also says the bank exhibits an excellent record of serving the credit needs of the most economically disadvantaged areas, low-income areas, and very small businesses.
In 1977, Congress enacted the Community Reinvestment Act to encourage federally insured banks and thrifts to help meet the credit needs of their entire community, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods and minorities, consistent with safe and sound operations. The CRA evaluation measures how financial institutions support their communities in the areas of lending, investment and service.
Hawaiian Electric sends 6 Oahu solar contracts to PUC for approval
Hawaiian Electric Co. has submitted applications for approval of six power purchase agreements for independently-owned solar facilities on Oahu, totaling 207 megawatts to the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission.
The projects are part of Hawaiian Electric Co.’s energy plans that aim to lower electric bills and give customers more service options, nearly triple the amount of distributed solar while achieving the goal of 65 percent renewable energy by 2030.
With the application submitted in October for the 15-megawatt Ka La Nui Solar project planned in Waianae by NextEra Energy Resources, new, utility-scale solar projects proposed for Oahu total 222 megawatts. That will be a significant addition to Oahu’s present generation capacity of 1800 megawatts plus more than 260 megawatts of customer-sited rooftop solar.
The average price of the seven new solar projects is 14 cents per kilowatt-hour. All are below the avoided cost of fossil-fuel generation. The developers of these projects responded to Hawaiian Electric’s Invitation for Low Cost Renewable Energy Projects on Oahu through Request for Waiver from Competitive Bidding, issued on February 22, 2013. The PUC approved Hawaiian Electric’s request to negotiate with responding project developers outside of the lengthier competitive bidding process.
— MOVERS &SHAKERS —
Kanai is bank’s vp, management reporting manager
Central Pacific Bank has appointed Emi Kanai to vice president and management reporting manager of Management Reporting and Analysis. In her new position, Kanai is responsible for designing and implementing an internal performance measurement system and developing and maintaining effective line-of-business systems. Her duties also include leading the company’s annual budgeting process.
Kanai has more than seven years of finance experience. Prior to joining CPB, she was vice president and reporting manager at First Hawaiian Bank. Kanai holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Accounting Information Systems from University of Southern California, and graduated with honors from Pacific Coast Banking School.
Forest City Hawaii appoints Schatz as development manager
Forest City Hawaii, one of the largest homebuilders in the state of Hawaii, announces that Linda Schatz has been appointed to the position of development manager. She assumed the position Oct. 13.
Schatz is responsible for directing the marketing and branding efforts of Forest City’s new $140-million Kapolei Lofts rental residential neighborhood on Oahu, which began grading work on Oct. 27. The first of Kapolei Lofts’ 499 new rental homes will be available for pre-leasing next summer and will open for residency in fourth quarter 2015.
Schatz brings to Forest City Hawaii a diversified background of land development experience in Hawaii, including five years in the commercial real estate division of Kamehameha Schools from 2008-13. She most recently served as development manager for Kamehameha Schools and was part of the senior staff responsible for planning and strategizing its Kakaako Master Plan, which encompasses 29 acres and nine city blocks on Oahu. She also prepared development scenarios and analysis for other properties owned by Kamehameha Schools in urban Honolulu.
Schatz also served as marketing manager for Brookfield Homes Hawaii from 2004-06. She was responsible for developing and implementing the company’s marketing strategy and also managed the sales team’s activities on the neighbor islands.
Atlantis Adventures announces appointments
Atlantis Adventures recently announced two new appointments with Margie Lehman being named as director of sales and Tana Samuelu as cruise manager for Atlantis Cruises.
Atlantis Adventures provides Hawaii’s only submarine tour experience, offered by Atlantis Submarines off Waikiki, Oahu, Lahaina, Maui, and Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Island, and daily sunset dinner cruises and seasonal whale watch cruises by Atlantis Cruises off Oahu’s south shore.
Lehman is responsible for developing the sales programs promoting Atlantis’ submarine tours and cruise experiences to travel consumers in North America. She has 20 years of hospitality sales experience in Hawaii, which includes a previous five-year tenure with Atlantis as sales manager.
Before rejoining Atlantis, Lehman had worked for Polynesian Adventure Tours Gray Line Hawaii since 2010, most recently serving as director of business development. Her professional background also includes serving as president of the Hawaii Chapter of Hospitality Sales and Marketing International.
Samuelu is responsible for directing Atlantis Cruises’ operations on board its Navatek cruise vessel, with emphasis given to the food service and entertainment and education programs. Samuelu brings extensive customer service experience to Atlantis, highlighted by 16 years he previously served aboard the Navatek as a product manager for 10 years and cruise manager for six years. Before rejoining Atlantis, he worked as a sales manager for Wet ‘n’ Wild Kapolei.
With the Navatek, Atlantis Cruises operates Hawaii’s only vessel with a double-hull design to ensure the islands’ smoothest ocean cruise experience. The Navatek’s state-of-the-art Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull technology limits wave action against the vessel by lifting the passenger-carrying compartment above the surface. The vessel seats 300 guests and features outdoor observation decks and two air-conditioned dining rooms with large picture windows.
