Sales success workshop Wednesday
The West Hawaii Small Business Development Center will be offering a workshop, “Six Key Steps for Sales Success in 2019” 9-11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Hale Iako in Suite 208, 73-970 Makako Bay Drive, Kailua-Kona, on the NELHA (OTEC) campus.
Proactive planning for 2019 starts with assessing where you are now and creating a path to where you want to be. In this seminar you’ll learn how to define and refine your brand to increase client loyalty, change your relationship to your clients and vice versa, erase the notion of “competitors,” and more.
Registration is $20. Register online at www.hisbdc.org or call 333-5000 for more information.
G70 Foundation awards $50K
HONOLULU – The G70 Foundation, created in 2002 by employees of Hawaii’s leading design firm G70, awarded $50,000 to 12 local community organizations, environmental groups and nonprofits in December 2018. Three of the recipients—Boys To Men Mentoring Network, Hilo United Methodist Church, and Na Mamo O Kawa—are Hawaii Island nonprofits.
“The G70 Foundation Fund provides a rewarding pathway to connect G70 with local community organizations focused on building healthier communities in Hawaii,” said Cami Kloster, senior planner and associate at G70 who oversees the G70 Foundation. “This year, there were many deserving groups engaging in community development, environmental sustainability, housing and shelter, human services, and youth development, and G70 employees selected 12 awardees representing diverse communities across the state.”
Since 2002, the G70 Foundation has donated more than $650,000 to local nonprofit organizations that concentrate on improving communities in Hawaii through design, education, culture, environmental sustainment and community development.
The G70 Foundation is a donor-advised fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation.
Free seminar for homeowners
Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union is kicking off the new year with a free seminar designed to help potential homeowners navigate the often confusing home buying process.
Presented by Michael McCray, Counselor and Coach for Hawaii HomeOwnership Center, the event will be 9:30-11:30 a.m. Jan. 26.
5% jump in residential rooftop solar installations
HONOLULU – Installation of residential rooftop solar systems used by Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric and Hawaii Electric Light customers increased by 5.3 percent in 2018 from 2017, continuing Hawaii’s leadership as the No. 1 state for private rooftop solar.
Year-end figures, shared by the companies in a press release, show that 18 percent of residential customers in the Hawaiian Electric Companies’ five-island service territory are using rooftop solar, up from 17 percent in 2017. Nearly 4,000 new systems came online in 2018, supporting the companies’ drive to reach the state’s next milestone of 30 percent renewable energy by 2020.
Hawaii’s percentage is more than double that of Connecticut, which is second at 6.8 percent; California is third at 5.9 percent; Arizona, fourth at 4.5 percent; and Utah and Massachusetts are both at 3.4 percent, according to the Smart Electric Power Alliance.
“We are extremely proud of the progress we’ve made as a company and as a state to build steady growth in residential rooftop solar,” said Jim Alberts, Hawaiian Electric senior vice president of customer service. “Rooftop solar is a critical piece of the renewable mix that will move the state toward a 100 percent clean energy future, and we’re excited to see the numbers increase year after year.”
Residential rooftop solar systems installed across the Hawaiian Electric Companies’ service territory rose to 74,331 in 2018 from 70,607 in 2017, a 5.3 percent jump. All islands saw an increase.