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Well known in Honolulu show business circles, impresario Tim Bostock and his wife, Melanie Holt, are planning a complete renovation of their new mom-and-pop business, the historic Kamuela Inn, in Waimea on Hawaii island.
The 30-room hotel was built in 1961 by Muneo “Moon” Sameshima and was acquired by Bostock and Holt in June.
Bostock is known on Oahu for bringing large, limited-engagement theatrical productions to Hawaii, such as “Slava’s Snowshow,” French mime Marcel Marceau and others.
Holt also is owner of The Real Farm, an organic farm in Waikii on Hawaii island, and envisions farm-to-table dining events with visiting chefs, using food grown on the farm, “plus, cooking classes, special events for eco-tourists,” and other, similar activities, she said in a statement.
The property includes a wooden teahouse the Sameshima family built to host art shows, which Holt might put toward the same purpose in support of young artists.
Renovations began with the breakfast room and will spread to the rest of the property.
Duane Puhi has been named hotel manager of the historic inn, off Kawaihae Road in Waimea Town.
Standard room rates begin at $99, with additional information available at thekamuelainn.com.
Aqua, Aston hotels jointly re-brand
Oahu-based hotel groups Aqua Hospitality and Aston Hotels & Resorts have re-branded jointly and will now be known as Aqua-Aston Hospitality.
The five brands under the new Aqua-Aston Hospitality brand include Aston Hotels & Resorts; Aqua Hotels and Resorts; Lite Hotels; Instinct Hotel Collection (formerly Monogram); and Maui Condo & Home. The companies manage some 7,500 units in Hawaii under an integration that began a year ago.
Native Hawaiian conference set next week
The Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association is holding its first Hawaiian culture education conference at the Hawai’i Convention Center on Aug. 26.
The meeting, called Kipa Aloha, will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and help educate Hawaii’s hospitality industry about the importance of Hawaiian culture in business.
The conference will include interactive workshops and Hawaiian language exercises, education on Hawaiian values and a case study on Waimea Valley as a visitor destination focusing on its cultural significance.
The cost is $65 and includes breakfast and lunch ($30 will be refunded to those who attend the entire day).
Hawaii Pacific University has hired Adrienne Gigantino as director of its Office of International Students and Scholars. She has 15 years of experience in international education, specifically in international students and scholars services, as well as teaching English as a second language. Gigantino has served in positions as associate director of International Students at Towson University and assistant dean for International Students & Scholars Services at Drexel University.
Central Pacific Bank has promoted Amery Lam to senior vice president and community banking region manager from vice president and community banking region manager. Lam, who has been with CPB since 2008, has more than 25 years’ experience in residential, consumer and small-business lending, commercial account servicing and international banking.
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PHOTO COURTESY KAMUELA INN
