Hawaii a leader in solar energy capacity

The 109 megawatts of solar energy generating capacity installed in Hawaii last year was enough to rank the state second highest nationally on a per capita basis, according to a report to be released today.

The total amount of solar power installed in 2012 in Hawaii equaled 78 watts per person, according to the report from Environment America, a coalition of environmental advocacy organizations in 29 states. Arizona led the nation with 108 watts of solar generating capacity installed per person in 2012.

The total solar capacity installed in Hawaii through 2012 was 191 megawatts, or 137 watts per person. That was the third highest nationally after Arizona at 167 watts per person and Nevada with 146 watts per person.

The 191 megawatts of generating capacity installed in Hawaii is enough to meet the energy needs of about 40,000 homes using 600 kilowatt-hours of electricity a month.

Accounting for darkness at night and cloud cover during the day, solar photovoltaic systems in Hawaii on average are able to convert about 17 percent of their generating capacity into actual electrical energy, according to data from Hawaiian Electric Co.

New high-rise in Kakaako is in the works

Kamehameha Schools is moving forward with the third piece of its Kakaako redevelopment master plan, which will include a residential tower involving local developer Stanford Carr.

The trust is scheduled to announce details of the plan Friday.

The project will include a residential tower, townhomes, live-work units, rental apartments and commercial space, Kame­ha­meha Schools said in an announcement Monday. Other information, including the site location, was not disclosed.

Kamehameha Schools launched two pieces of its Our Kakaako master plan earlier this year.

The first piece is being developed by local development firm Alexander & Baldwin Inc., which is buying the former site of a Comp­USA store at the makai end of South Street from the trust and proposing a tower and low-rise buildings with 470 condominiums.

The second piece is a retail complex with a parking garage dubbed SALT on a block adjacent to The Collection that will be created mostly by renovating old buildings on the site.

Both The Collection and SALT are pending approval by the Hawaii Community Development Authority.

The Our Kakaako master plan covers 29 acres spread over nine blocks and allows up to 2,750 residential units, seven towers and 300,000 square feet of commercial space.

Central Pacific warns of phishing scam

Central Pacific Bank is warning consumers of phishing attempts by scammers trying to trick bank customers into divulging debit card information via text and automated voice messages.

The phishing is not specific to CPB, the bank said in a statement, urging any bank customers who receive such messages to immediately delete them.

Account-holders who have responded to such messages are encouraged to contact the bank’s customer service center at 544-0500.

The CPB statement mirrors similar statements by other banks in the past, saying it will never request confidential information via unsolicited phone, email or text message contacts.

Bariatric group accredits Kaiser Moanalua

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii’s Moana­lua Medical Center announced Monday that it has received accreditation by the Bariatric Surgery Center Network program of the American College of Surgeons for inpatient and outpatient services.

The state’s largest health maintenance organization said it has met essential requirements to ensure it is capable of supporting a bariatric, or weight loss, surgery program.

"Our weight management and bariatric surgery team works closely with our patients every step of the way to provide them with the programs and support to make the kinds of lasting lifestyle changes that are needed to improve their health following surgery," Mark Yama­mura, Moana­lua Medical Center’s chief of surgery, said in a statement.

The American College of Surgeons program, established in 2005, accredits U.S. facilities that have undergone an independent, voluntary peer evaluation that meets nationally recognized bariatric surgical standards.

McDonald’s pessimistic

McDonald’s is mixing up its menu with healthier, fresher-sounding items such as its chicken McWraps, but not enough customers are biting. It said Monday that second-quarter earnings rose 4 percent to $1.4 billion but warned of a tough year ahead, given heightened competition and rough economic conditions worldwide.

On the Move

Hawaiian Airlines has announced the following hires: 

>> Donna Ishii is now director-corporate reporting. She has 21 years of accounting and financial analysis experience and was previously serving as a reporting and analysis manager at Servco Pacific as well as a senior financial analyst at Starbucks Coffee Hawaii and business analyst at Louis Vuitton Hawaii.

>> Keith Asato is director-SEC reporting and SOX compliance. He has 12 years of experience in accounting, auditing and financial reporting in Hawaii and was previously a corporate controller at Hoku Corp. and manager of assurance and advisory services at Accuity.

Hospice Hawaii has hired Jennifer Schack as planned giving and major gifts coordinator. Prior to joining the company, Schack was advancement director of Parker Schools on Hawaii island. Her experience includes serving as development director at Baker Demonstration School in Illinois, assistant to the development director at Music Institute of Chicago and manager of the Jubilate Children’s Choir in Illinois.

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