Toyota repairs cars

WASHINGTON » Toyota has repaired most of the 5.7 million cars and trucks it recalled for brake, accelerator and floor mat problems in the past year. The automaker is trying to improve the safety of future cars by installing brake override and other systems. Toyota, whose U.S. market share has slipped since the recalls began, needs to reassure buyers that it is making progress in tightening quality standards.

Hard Rock hiring dozens

Hard Rock Cafe Honolulu is hiring more than 65 workers for its new flagship location on Beachwalk Avenue in Waikiki.

The restaurant is scheduled to open in November.

The company will be holding a job fair in October and November at the original Hard Rock location at 1837 Kapiolani Blvd. Interviews of retail staff will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday and Monday, and all other staff on Nov. 10-11.

Hard Rock is looking for servers, bartenders, bussers, cooks, hosts and other positions to add to its existing staff.

The new restaurant will include more than 13,000 square feet of space, outdoor dining and a gift shop featuring rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia.

For more details on the new cafe, go to www.hardrock.com.

Tory Burch coming to Ala Moana

Hawaii’s first Tory Burch boutique will open Friday at Ala Moana Center.

The 3,100-square-foot store is the company’s 40th location worldwide.

Tory Burch sells shoes, handbags, eyewear, jewelry and small leather goods.

The collection is sold at 39 freestanding Tory Burch stores across the United States and Asia, and more than 500 department and specialty stores worldwide.

Better Place plans car plug-in spots

Better Place, a Silicon Valley electric car company, has chosen the Sheraton Waikiki Resort and the Ward Avenue Hawaiian Electric Co. site and two other as yet undisclosed locations for its first charging stations in Hawaii.

Better Place was one of five companies awarded funding from the Hawaii Renewable Energy Development Venture, a local nonprofit group using federal funds to promote clean energy projects here.

The charging stations are expected to be installed early next year.

Better Place is bringing in seven cars for its Hawaii launch.

Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts, which owns the Sheraton Waikiki, said the two vehicles it is getting would be used as fleet vehicles and guest shuttles.

Better Place is seeking to set up a $1 billion statewide charging network for electric cars in Hawaii that would include battery-switching stations.

HTA looking to fund programs

The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), the state’s tourism agency, is seeking projects to fund under its 2011 Natural Resources Program and its Kukulu Ola Living Hawaiian Culture Program (LHCP).

"Hawaii’s unique attributes, including our Hawaiian culture and natural resources, provide a tourism product that can’t be found anywhere else in the world," said Mike McCartney, HTA’s president and chief executive officer.

"Supporting and promoting what makes us unique as a destination is at the forefront of HTA’s efforts in continuing to provide a visitor experience that is both distinctive and memorable. We are also cognizant of and committed to our role in supporting our host culture and caring for Hawaii’s precious environment, in partnership with the community."

Application materials are available now at the HTA office located within the Hawai’i Convention Center or through HTA’s website, www.hawaiitourismauthority.org. The deadline to apply for either program is Nov. 4.

For more information, call 973-2255.

On the Move

UHA, University Health Alliance, has hired Jay Fujimoto as its project director. He will be responsible for finalizing, planning and executing the company’s business projects within budget parameters and pre-defined deadlines.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has appointed Susan Murray to vice president of service, quality and safety for the Hawaii region. She will be responsible for developing programs and supporting performance in clinical quality, service and patient and employee safety.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has awarded a grant to the East-West Center for a program that will help Pacific communities cope with climate change. The $3.86 million NOAA funding will be shared over a five-year period by the following partners in the Pacific RISA program: East-West Center, University of Hawaii International Pacific Research Institute, UH Social Science Research Institute, UH Water Resources Research Center, UH Center for Island Climate Adaptation and Policy, National Weather Service Pacific ENSO Applications Center, NOAA Integrated Data and Environmental Applications Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative and various community groups and government agencies throughout the region.