Business Briefs

Hawaiian starting Maui-San Jose flights

Hawaiian Airlines is expanding its service from the Bay Area to Maui with the launch of three-times-a-week, nonstop flights from San Jose, Calif., starting in January.

The flights will depart Maui on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 1:25 p.m. and arrive in San Jose at 8:25 p.m. Return flights will leave San Jose on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 8:10 a.m. and arrive on Maui at 11:45 a.m.

Hawaiian is offering an introductory round-trip fare of $298.40 (plus applicable fees) for travel between Jan. 10 and March 14. Tickets must be purchased by Sept. 14.

In conjunction with its introductory fare, Hawaiian is offering Kona-bound travelers the cost-saving option of flying to Kona via a flight connection on Maui at no extra charge.

Last week, Hawaiian announced the introduction of four-days-a-week, nonstop service between Oakland and Maui, also starting in January.

Sheraton Keauhou Bay plans renovation

The new owner of the 519-room Sheraton Keau hou Bay Resort and Spa on Hawaii island said it plans to soon begin a multimillion-dollar renovation of guest rooms and public areas.

Kona Surf Partners, a New York-based equity group, bought the hotel on 22 acres for an undisclosed price earlier this year.

The partnership also appointed Boston-based Pyramid Hotel Group as its asset manager to oversee management of the hotel, which will continue to be operated as a Sheraton.

Among other changes, the new operators said they have added new cultural activities for guests and the public, including complimentary guided tours of the cultural preserve area adjacent to the resort twice a week.

Easy Music Center to open in Kapolei

Easy Music Center said Tuesday it will open its third store at the Halekuai Shopping Center in Kapolei on Nov. 1. The store will join Easy Music locations in Honolulu on South King St. and in Pearl City.

“Even in today’s sluggish economy, Easy Music is experiencing a record breaking growth, which allows an expansion into fast growing Kapolei,” said Peter Dods, owner of Easy Music Center. “We believe in Kapolei and our ability to help catalyze and energize the Island music scene there.”

Dods said he plans to have a stage for informal jam sessions at the new store as well as host music clinics with leading instrumentalists and manufacturers’ representatives and offer daily music lessons.

First Hawaiian unveils mobile banking

First Hawaiian Bank has launched FHB Mobile Banking to give its customers greater convenience and access to their accounts through their mobile phone or device.

FHB Mobile Banking enables customers to use their mobile device to check their account balances, transfer funds between First Hawaiian Bank accounts, pay bills, and locate the nearest First Hawaiian branch or ATM. The new mobile banking service is available free to all First Hawaiian customers.

For more information about FHB Mobile Banking, visit www.fhb.com/mobile or any First Hawaiian Bank branch.

Innovation Fund offering nonprofit grants

Grant awards up to $100,000 are again available to Hawaii nonprofit groups as part of the Island Innovation Fund.

The program is accepting applications this month, and anticipates narrowing applicants in November and then selecting winners based on presentations before a review panel by February.

This is the second round of grants offered through the $3 million innovation fund established by the Hawaii Community Foundation and made possible by a $50 million pledge to the foundation from eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife, Pam. An initial round of grants drew 180 applications and awarded $461,119 to five nonprofit groups in March.

Applications are available at islandinnovation.org online.

J. M. Waller Associates expands

J. M. Waller Associates Inc. has moved the company’s Hawaii-Pacific operation into a new office space at the Pacific Guardian Center building at 733 Bishop St., Suite 1820.

This larger office location in Honolulu will allow JMWA to further increase support for its customers and continue to grow its environmental, facilities and logistics services while also expanding capabilities in Hawaii and across the Pacific Rim. The space will also allow for potential expansion of JMWA’s Pacific work force.

JMWA’s Hawaii office supports several key clients including the U.S. Air Force, Federal Aviation Administration-Hawaii, NAVFAC-Hawaii, U.S. Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Reserve and U.S. Navy operations, including extensive services performed at multiple Hawaii locations including Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

ON THE MOVE

Hawaiian Airlines has promoted Kathy Wong-Nakamura to managing director of application development and maintenance. Her experience includes manager of systems development as well as several other positions at Hawaiian Airlines.

The Mediation Center of the Pacific has named the following to their 2011-2012 board of directors: Cynthia T. Alm, president; Gerald Clay, vice president; Warren Haight, secretary; and Eric S. Austin, treasurer. Board members: Sid Ayabe, Ann Botticelli, Thomas W. Cestare, Nicholas Dewitt, Lee W. Erwin, David H. Franzel, Connye Harper, Andrew Hipp, Patricia Hamamoto, Dee Dee Letts, retired Judge S. Victoria Marks, Ron Matayoshi, Bruce McEwan, Peter Knapman, Peter E. Robb, Abelina M. Shaw and retired Judge Mel Soong. Emeritus Directors: Charles H. Hurd, Michael F. Nauyokas, Susan Lampe and Ruth Tschumy.

AARP Foundation has announced that it has awarded educational scholarships to five low-income women in Hawaii as part of its fifth annual Women’s Scholarship Program. Three who received scholarships are: Kathy Hanson, Julie Lawrence and Stephanie O. Tinao. The scholarships will provide funds to older women who seek training, job skills and educational opportunities to support their families and themselves.