In Brief | Business | 5-1-15

Waimea pilot awarded scholarship

Whirly-Girls International, a nonprofit, educational and charitable organization dedicated to advancing women in helicopter aviation, has announced that Margot Taylor, a helicopter tour pilot for Novictor Aviation in Waimea, was awarded the Erickson Vertical Reference/External Load Flight Training Scholarship.

Taylor began flying in gliders while in college at Penn State University, and earned her airplane ratings in a Citabria and Cessna 170a. After working as a scientist for many years, Taylor was “instantly hooked” after her first helicopter flight with a utility helicopter company performing nature conservation, she said. She changed careers instantly, enrolling in Mauna Loa Helicopter School in Hawaii, and now works as a tour helicopter pilot in Waimea.

The Erickson Vertical Reference/External Load Flight Training Scholarship is awarded to a female pilot who needs a vertical reference/external load endorsement for a flight position. This course will be completed at Western Helicopters in Rialto, Calif., and includes ground instruction plus up to 6.5 hours of vertical reference/external load training in an MD500 series helicopter.

HLH debuts koa honey

HLH, a sustainable forestry company based on Hawaii Island, has become the first company to produce honey sourced from the nectar of endemic koa tree blossoms on the Hamakua Coast.

This Hawaiian Legacy Honey is raw and unfiltered, with a unique flavor and thick crystalized consistency. It is rich in enzymes and micronutrients that would otherwise be destroyed if processed. The entire production of honey sold out within two days of a limited release, with individual serving containers starting at $8. All proceeds go directly into the planting of more koa Legacy Trees.

This honey will also be featured in a special edition koa honey wheat ale to be released this October by Kona Brewing Co. “This special beer will be the first beer ever to be brewed with honey made from koa blossoms and will be the fourth release in our new ‘Makana’ series, which includes beers that are only brewed and sold in Hawaii,” said Rebecca Villegas from Kona Brewing Co. “Proceeds from these beers benefit environmentally focused nonprofits in the state like The Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative, one of our longtime partners.”

Through state-of-the-art technologies and proprietary forest management practices, HLH is promoting long-term forest health, carbon sequestration, ecosystem diversity and unparalleled data collection for research and development, all while creating green jobs for Hawaii families. For more on HLH’s new carbon credit program, visit hlh.co.

Gallery, center form partnership

Harbor Gallery of Kawaihae is collaborating with Donkey Mill Art Center in its new community partnership program.

“It is my pleasure to welcome Gunner and Elli Mench of Harbor Gallery as community partners,” said Thalia Davis, cener board president. “In addition to providing an array of valuable benefits, our collaboration will enhance Harbor Gallery’s visibility on the Big Island not only as an accomplished dealer, but also as a key supporter of the arts and culture.”

With support from Harbor Gallery, the center will be able to expand its programs and fund additional youth scholarships for families in need while continuing to provide quality art education, exhibitions, youth programs and cultural events.

For more information on becoming a DMAC community partner, contact Davis at thalia@donkeymillartcen­ter.org or 322-3362.

New leadership at West Hawaii Mediation Center

West Hawaii Mediation Center in Waimea announces its new executive director, Katie Woods, and new board president, Jan Marrack, both of whom began their tenures this month.

Originally from the Big Island, Woods moved back in 2001 after many years on the mainland. She brings her experience in the nonprofit world — particularly in communications, marketing, fundraising and grant-writing — to West Hawaii Mediation Center after working in Parker School’s advancement office for four years, most recently as communications and marketing specialist. Prior to that, she worked for several years as a freelance writer and editor and has also worked and volunteered for other local nonprofits.

Marrack, a licensed clinical social worker, has lived on the Big Island for 45 years. She worked in human services for Family Support Services of Hawaii for 18 years then as a medical social worker for Liberty Dialysis before retiring in 2014. An active member of the community, Marrack is involved with Waimea Middle School’s mentoring program in addition to serving as WHMC board president. She was involved with WHMC early on, training and working as a volunteer mediator over 20 years ago.

WHMC is a nonprofit organization addressing the mediation needs of the West Hawaii community for more than 25 years. It provides community-based mediation for both self-referred and court/legal system-referred cases.

Kim named VP at Blue Zones Project

Healthways Inc. and Hawaii Medical Service Association announced the appointment of Heidi Kim as vice president of Blue Zones Project Hawaii. The Blue Zones Project is a community-based, well-being improvement initiative to help make healthy choices easier. HMSA brought the project to Hawaii to help transform the state and keep residents living longer, better.

As vice president, Kim is responsible for implementing Blue Zones Project in Hawaii, driving engagement and environmental change in selected Hawaii communities as well as selected Hawaii worksites. The goal is to create overall improvement in well-being, as measured by the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.

Kim previously managed marketing and corporate relations efforts at R. M. Towill Corp., a Hawaii-based engineering and planning firm. Prior, Kim served as a marketing research analyst, servicing clients in health care, travel and tourism, and financial service industries. She also worked with Fortune 1000 companies on communications strategy, testing and measurement.