Head of Japanese Cultural Center retiring

Lenny Yajima Andrew, president and executive director at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, plans to retire to spend more time with family and friends.

Andrew, who oversaw all operations at the Cultural Center for the past 41⁄2 years, managed a staff of 12 employees. She said Monday she will stay at the center until a successor is chosen.

The board of directors has begun a search for a new president.

"I am proud of the progress we have made at the cultural center," Andrew said. "The cultural center is well positioned to meet exciting challenges and to continue telling the evolving stories of the Japanese-American community."

Waipahu Neighborhood Board backs Ho’opili

The Waipahu Neighborhood Board has voted to support developing 11,750 homes in nearby Ewa.

The board voted 16-0 last week to back the estimated $4.6 billion project called Ho‘opili proposed by the local Schuler Division of Texas-based homebuilder D.R. Horton.

The vote followed a vote of support in June from the Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board.

Schuler has attracted considerable support for Ho‘opili, including from the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation. But opponents also have lined up to contest the developer before the state Land Use Commission.

The Sierra Club, community group Friends of Makakilo and state Sen. Clayton Hee have petitioned to contest the project at LUC hearings. Hearings are set to begin Oct. 20.

Bankers Association food drive nets $31,000

The Hawaii Bankers Association’s fourth annual drive for the Hawaii Foodbank brought in more than 12 tons of food and raised $31,000. Ten financial institutions joined together to collect food and raise donations for this year’s drive.

Finance Factors led Hawaii Bankers Association members in monetary collections with more than $11,600. Territorial Savings Bank was second with more than $6,400.

Food collection also was topped by Finance Factors with more than 6,000 pounds, followed by Bank of Hawaii and First Hawaiian Bank.

Coldwell raises $33,000 for Aloha United Way

Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties raised more than $33,000 for Aloha United Way’s 2011 Pacesetter Campaign, exceeding the company’s goal of $24,000.

The six-week campaign, which began June 13, used fundraisers that included silent auctions, plate lunch sales, manicures and bake and book sales.

Snorkel Bob dives in to Mauna Lani

Snorkel Bob’s has expanded to a third location on Hawaii island, having opened a new store in the Shops at Mauna Lani resort center on the Kohala Coast.

The shop carries equipment for snorkeling, including masks and fins, and sells reef photography and prints. Snorkel Bob’s also is well known for booking various types of visitor adventure packages from sailing and action sports to helicopter flights and luau. The company has 11 locations around the islands.

Manufacturing growth hits 2-year low

WASHINGTON » Manufacturers had their weakest growth in two years in July, a sign that the economy could weaken this summer. The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing executives, said Monday that its index of manufacturing activity fell to 50.9 in July from 55.3 in June. The reading was the lowest since July 2009 — one month after the recession officially ended.

Any level above 50 indicates growth. The manufacturing sector has expanded for 23 straight months.

Construction spending rises 0.2 percent

WASHINGTON » Builders began work on more office buildings, shopping centers and hotels in June, pushing construction spending higher for a third straight month. But even with the gains, activity remains at depressed levels.

Construction spending rose 0.2 percent in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $772.3 billion, the Commerce Department reported Monday. That put overall spending just 1.2 percent higher than the 11-year low hit in March.

ON THE MOVE

Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii has hired Tim Motts as its new executive director. He was chief professional officer/executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of West San Gabriel Valley for the past five years.

Finance Factors has hired Romeo Anacan as the company’s new business development manager for residential loans. He was previously a mortgage loan officer at Central Pacific Home Loans and a senior loan officer for New Century Mortgage and Home Loans of Hawaii.

Briant Construction has hired Nathan Rutledge as project manager. He will be responsible for overseeing construction of Lyman Road, which is in Schofield Barracks and expected to break ground this month.