Dawson back as head of Hawaii Film Office

Donne Dawson, manager of the Hawaii Film Office from 2001 to 2009, has officially returned to her old job, according to a news release issued by the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism on Wednesday.

Dawson was laid off in December 2009 as part of Gov. Linda Lingle’s budget cuts. Dawson was hired back as interim film commissioner on Jan. 4 of this year, and the assignment became official this week.

"I’m back in the thick of it," said Dawson, who is working within DBEDT’s Creative Industries Division.

"Dawson will again lead Hawaii’s film industry efforts and work toward streamlining the state’s film-permitting system, strengthening the film tax incentive program, managing the next phase of (capital) improvements at the state’s Hawaii Film Studio (at Diamond Head), and marketing Hawaii globally as one of the world’s premier filming locations," the news release said.

Dawson said the success of "The Descendants," the George Clooney film set in Hawaii that was nominated for a best picture Oscar, has "just sparked a fire" for Hawaii’s film industry. "The Descendants" also "elevated exposure for our gifted writers and gifted musicians," Dawson said.

Barnwell Industries’ loss widens to $3M

Honolulu-based Barnwell Industries Inc. said its loss widened in the January-through-March quarter from the same period a year earlier due to several factors, including a decline in the value of some of its real estate holdings on Hawaii island and lower natural gas prices from its energy operations in Canada.

The company lost $3 million, or 36 cents a share, in its second fiscal quarter, Barnwell reported Wednesday. That compares with a loss off $1.5 million, or 18 cents a share, during the same three-month period a year ago.

The biggest factor in the loss was a $1.8 million reduction in the carrying value of two luxury homes in which Barnwell owns a stake on the Kona Coast. The year-over-year comparison also was affected by a $1.3 million gain in drilling royalty credits a year ago that did not exist in the most recent quarter. Additionally, Barnwell was hit by a 48 percent decline in natural gas prices.

Those declines were partially offset by a 16 percent increase in net oil production, a 6 percent rise in oil prices and a $1.45 million drop in stock appreciation rights expense.

Remaining stake in Pearlridge Center sold

The minority owner of Pearlridge Center completed a deal Wednesday to purchase the remaining interest in the mall for $289.4 million. An affiliate of Ohio-based Glimcher Realty Trust, which already owns 20 percent of the state’s second-largest shopping center, acquired the remaining 80 percent from affiliates of a real estate fund owned by New York-based Blackstone Group LP. The sales price includes Blackstone’s share of the $175 million mortgage debt and $149.4 million in cash, Glimcher said.

The deal includes the Uptown and Downtown portions of the mall anchored by Macy’s and Sears, as well as buildings housing Toys R Us, Bed Bath & Beyond, Anna Miller’s restaurant and about 100,000 square feet of office space. Adjacent buildings, formerly occupied by INspiration Furniture and J.C. Penney, now owned by Blacksand LLC, are not part of the sale.

Pain Society event to generate $4.7M

The American Pain Society’s annual scientific meeting scheduled in Honolulu from Wednesday through Saturday is expected to pump $4.7 million into the state’s economy and generate 8,000 room nights for Hawaii hoteliers.

The event, which follows on the heels of an orthodontists gathering that was the Hawai‘i Convention Center’s largest meeting of the year, is anticipated to draw more than 1,000 attendees from around the world, especially from Japan, Australia, Canada and Europe.

"We are honored to be chosen as the forum to host this event for the first time," said Hawaii Tourism Authority President and CEO Mike McCartney. "With attendees from around the world, the HTA hopes to gain global exposure for our islands." The APS is an organization of scientists, clinicians and others working to change public policy and clinical practice to reduce pain-related suffering.

ON THE MOVE

The Hawaiian Eye Center has hired the following for its Wahiawa office:

» Ashley Rivera as a patient services representative. She previously worked for a local cosmetologist-dermatologist.

» Nicole Norton as a certified medical assistant. She received her degree from the Community College of Indiana.

» First Insurance Co. of Hawaii has established a $35,000 endowed scholarship for part-time and full-time students who are enrolled at the University of Hawaii at Manoa Shidler College of Business. The scholarship is one in a series of gifts that FICOH has made to the college.

Kukui Grove Center has donated $2,500 to the Kauai Independent Food Bank. Funds will support Garden Island residents through creating initiatives, food donations and pilot programs, including the Backpack Program. KIFB works with the Boys & Girls Club in Kapaa, where needy youths get their backpacks filled with nutritious food every Friday. The program is in its fifth year and was expanded to Niihau in 2011.