KFC closes one Oahu restaurant, with another to follow

KFC closed its Kapiolani Boulevard restaurant on Wednesday and plans to close its Dillingham Boulevard outlet on Sunday. The owner, Kazi Foods, which operates 45 KFCs and Burger Kings in Hawaii, said it did not renew leases at the two locations.

The Kapiolani property, on the corner of Keeaumoku Street, was purchased by Walgreens and will be developed into a new Walgreens store. The Dillingham location lacked adequate access for drive-through customers, Kazi said.

"We want to consolidate our operating costs and strategically engage our team and resources into our remaining restaurants," said Hossein Djavadi, Kazi Foods’ general manager.

No jobs will be lost as a result of the closures. All full- and part-time employees were given the option to relocate to other Kazi restaurants, the company said.

Ellison named top billionaire island owner

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, who purchased Lanai this year for a reported $300 million, has been named the world’s top billionaire island owner by Wealth-X Research.

Using what it called a proprietary valuation model to assess all asset holdings, Wealth-X found Ellison’s net worth valuation of $43.9 billion topped the list of five individuals who own islands.

Second, with a net worth of $28.3 billion, was Bernard Arnault, owner of Group Arnault, who owns Indigo Island in the Bahamas. At $24.7 billion Google CEO Larry Page is No. 3. He owns Eustatia island in the British Virgin Islands.

Microsoft co-founder and Vulcan Chairman Paul Allen weighs in at No. 4 with a $15 billion net valuation. Allan Island in Washington state is among his assets.

U.K. businessman Roman Abromovich, at $12.4 billion, owns New Holland Island in St. Petersburg, Russia, and is the owner of Millhouse Capital.

Hawaii is top choice for July Fourth travel

Southern Californians traveling by air for the Fourth of July holiday are more likely to choose Hawaii than other destinations, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California. The club found that because this year’s holiday falls on a Thursday, 0.7 percent fewer Southern Californians are expected to make holiday trips.

However, about 2.92 million SoCal residents still plan holiday travel, most of them by car.

The 343,000 expected to travel by air represent a three-tenths of 1 percent increase over the 2011 travel number.

State to receive aid for worker training

The U.S. Department of Labor says Hawaii is in line for nearly $1.8 million in federal grant money to train dislocated workers. The department says the money for Hawaii is part of $58 million in funding to 30 states for expanded training for dislocated workers to acquire industry-recognized credentials in new careers.

Dislocated workers include people out of work because of the closure of an office or a plant.

The grants will pay for on-the-job training, customized training, apprenticeships and other means to train workers.

The department says states were asked to focus on efforts to train workers unemployed for at least 27 weeks and those who were nearly through their eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits.

RevoluSun forms unit to help nonprofits

Honolulu-based solar energy company RevoluSun has formed a division called "Project Empower" to provide resources and other support to nonprofit and community groups.

Project Empower will formalize many of the community outreach initiatives RevoluSun has undertaken since the company was formed four years ago. Over the years RevoluSun has donated more than $100,000 to various projects and events in Hawaii and Massachusetts, the two markets where RevoluSun operates.

In 2011 RevoluSun designed and installed off-grid solar PV systems on Habitat for Humanity homes on Molokai. Last year the company raised $1,500 to buy a portable solar power unit for the Aloha Medical Mission, a nonprofit that sends teams of doctors and nurses to help people in medically underserved countries in the Asia-Pacific region

RevoluSun promoted Marian Kang from the company’s legal department to the position of community relations coordinator to oversee Project Empower.

Aulani receives ‘green’ certification

Disney’s resort at Ko Olina has earned the third-highest certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for environmentally friendly construction practices and building systems.

Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, earned the LEED Silver certification for incorporating features that include the use of waste heat for hot water needs and 34 electric vehicle charging stations. In addition, the certification recognized the fact that building the resort at a master planned location meant that no trees needed to be cleared and no undeveloped lands were disturbed, according to a news release from Disney.

Bankoh receives national service award

Bank of Hawaii was one of 23 awardees nationwide and the only bank in Hawaii to receive a national Community Service Leadership Award Wednesday from the Financial Services Roundtable. It was the third straight year the bank was honored. The award, which recognized the bank’s commitment to volunteerism, community service and financial literacy, was presented during the Community Service Honorary Congressional Host Committee reception on Capitol Hill.

Lunch Bunch to explore gas versus electric

Traditionally and alternatively boosted horsepower will provide the Kars at the Kurb comparison at the July Auto Lunch Bunch gathering on Tuesday.

On display will be a 350-horsepower 2013 Volvo S 60 from Volvo Honolulu, as well as two electricity-powered Tesla S four-door sedans owned by Marilyn Carlsmith and Carl Choy. Tesla S models offer horsepower ranging from 302 to 416.

The guest speaker will be Danny McKeever, founder and owner of Fast Lane, the official school of Toyota Racing. For decades, show business celebrities have received training at Fast Lane for the annual Long Beach Grand Prix Celebrity Race.

A video presentation will highlight celebrity race action.

Attendees are asked to bring $14.25 in cash to the usual location at 1599 Ala Moana Blvd. to cover the noontime meal, drink and a tip. RSVP via email to billmaloney15@aol.com or call Ed Kemper at 225-2965.

Auto thefts rise by 10.6 percent in Hawaii

Reported auto theft cases in Hawaii and a dozen other western states rose 10.6 percent in 2012 from 2011, according to a new study.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau issued its annual Hot Spots vehicle theft report and found that California again dominated the per capita number of cases.

Hawaii was not among the top 10 markets for auto theft cases. Rather, eight California cities and two areas in Washington state had the highest vehicle theft rates.

Thefts, however, are decreasing. Rates in the Midwest, Northeast and South are down by 3.1 percent, 7.9 percent and 2.9 percent, respectively.

The NICB suggests several steps to help prevent auto theft, including common-sense steps of removing keys from the ignition, closing windows and locking doors. Also helpful, it said, is a factory-made or aftermarket warning device, an immobilizing device or, in the event of a theft, a tracking device.

ON THE MOVE

Hawaii Dental Services announced:

»Clesson Pang has been named director of underwriting. Pang was with Kaiser Foundation Health Plan for 15 years.

»JanIga was named director of human resources. Iga has more than 10 years of experience in human resources.

Svetlana "Lana" Yudina has joined MobiPCS as a senior financial analyst. She was previously a finance manager with Procter & Gamble in the United Kingdom and Germany. Yudina also served in financial analysis and teaching positions at Oxbridge Academic Programs in the UnitedKingdom and PhosAgro in Russia.