Japanese Cultural Center goes green

The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii has installed a photovoltaic system on its roof through GreenPath Technologies that is expected to generate 160,669 kilowatt-hours of electricity in the first year and offset 12 percent of the center’s annual electricity needs from renewable energy.

It is also expected to generate an estimated 30 percent electricity cost savings during the power purchase agreement term of 20 years without the risk of ownership, operation and replacement.

"As a nonprofit institution, the cultural center could not take advantage of the energy tax initiatives that is normally available to other businesses and residents, which initially meant higher costs that we weren’t sure we could afford," said Lenny Yajima Andrew, JCCH president and executive director.

Alaska debuts Bellingham-isle flights

Alaska Airlines began nonstop service yesterday between Bellingham, Wash., and Honolulu.

The Seattle-based carrier is offering introductory $149 one-way fares for tickets purchased by Jan. 18 for travel from Bellingham to Honolulu between Feb. 14 and June 9, and for travel from Honolulu to Bellingham between Monday and June 9. The flight from Bellingham leaves at 5:20 p.m. and arrives at 9:40 p.m., while the Honolulu leg to Bellingham leaves at 10:30 p.m. and arrives at 6:10 a.m. the next day.

Chevron restarts Kapolei unit

Chevron Corp. will restart a process unit at its Kapolei refinery in the coming week, ending a shutdown that began Dec. 19. The unit, which produces propane, was shut for mechanical issues. The refinery supplies local gas stations with motor fuel and the local utility with fuel oil.

The 54,000-barrel-a-day plant is one of two refineries in Hawaii. Tesoro Corp. also operates a refinery in Kapolei that can process up to 94,000 barrels a day.

Hawaiian Island Creations expands

Hawaiian Island Creations’ first Big Island store will open in midmonth at the Shops at Mauna Lani, resort officials announced. The 1,800-square-foot store is located near Tommy Bahama in the resort’s retail complex.

The surf and skate lifestyle shop was founded in Kailua in 1971 by Stephen and Jimmy Tsukayama.

On the Move

» RevoluSun has hired Steven Mazur as project developer. He was previously an independent consultant providing strategic counsel on finance and marketing for clients such as Oceanit and Better Place Hawaii.

» The Queen’s Health Systems has announced four new members to its board of trustees: Christine M. Gayagas, Peter K. Hanashiro, Robert K. Nobriga and Barry M. Weinman. They also will serve on the Queen’s Medical Center board of trustees.

» Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu has promoted and hired:

— Daphne Rees to full time from part-time, school-based case manager.
— Melda Tani as fund development associate.
— Alicia Gutierrez as match support specialist.
— China Haag as school-based case manager.

» Sales and Marketing Executives International, Honolulu Chapter, was awarded the Chairman’s Gold Award and the Raymond Bill Award of Excellence at the SMEI’s annual conference in Philadelphia.