Top HECO executives’ salaries go up

The top executives of Hawaiian Electric Co. received modest salary increases in 2013, although their overall compensation packages were lower than in 2012, the company reported Friday in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

President and CEO Richard Rosenblum topped the list with a salary of $617,100, up from $605,000 in 2012, the company reported. His total compensation package, which includes cash and stock incentives based on performance, fell to $2.28 million from $2.5 million.

Next on the list was Chief Financial Officer Tayne Seki­mura, who saw her salary increase to $312,000 from $289,000. Seki­mura’s total compensation package slipped to $739,713 from $1.11 million, according to the filing.

Stephen McMenamin, chief information officer, received a salary boost to $287,000 from $267,000. His compensation package declined to $732,532 from $743,420.

The salary of Robbie Alm, senior vice president for public affairs who left the company in August, fell to $252,667 from $369,000 in 2012. His salary was prorated to reflect his departure. His compensation package fell to $939,667 from $1.18 million.

Moana Surfrider finishes $21M renovation

Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort & Spa recently completed about $21 million in renovations, including guest room and snack shop enhancements and the construction of a new club lounge.

About 522 guest rooms and 36 suites have been refreshed with decor that ties both the Tower and Diamond Head wings together. The Tower Wing’s renewal also included the creation of the new Penthouse at the Moana floor, which is perched 21 floors above Waikiki Beach.

Moana Surfrider also added a signature guest facility with the construction of the new Beach Club. In addition to concierge services and complimentary computer access and Wi-Fi, the Beach Club offers island-style continental breakfast, midday snacks and refreshments, and early evening pupu and beverages. The Beach Club is available to guests who book Moana Surfrider’s Banyan Classic Ocean Club category, and for guests in all rooms for an additional $100 per day.

The former "snack shop" near the Moana Surfrider’s pool has now been renamed the Surfrider Cafe and offers locally inspired and regionally sourced food from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Kauai utility solar project set for spring

The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative plans to break ground on a 12-megawatt solar energy project this spring in Ana­hola now that it has secured a lease for the site.

The KIUC’s board of directors and members of the Hawaiian Homes Commission this week approved the terms of a 25-year lease of 60 acres for the $54 million project, according to a news release from KIUC.

The Anahola project, which is expected to be in operation by early 2015, will generate electricity at a cost of about 12.5 cents a kilowatt-hour compared with the 24 cents a kilowatt-hour for electricity created by burning oil, according to KIUC. The system is expected to produce about 5 percent of the island’s annual energy needs, or enough electricity to serve about 4,000 households. During daylight hours about 20 percent of Kauai’s electricity will come from the project, according to KIUC.

CPB plans festivities for new Kapaa branch

Central Pacific Bank will hold a weeklong grand opening for its Kapaa branch that opened last month in the Kapaa Shopping Center on Kauai.

The festivities will begin Monday and continue through March 1 and include daily prize drawings, refreshments and special product offers. The Kapaa branch, at 4-1105 Kuhio Highway, Suite 103, is the bank’s second branch on Kauai and 36th branch statewide.

On March 1 the branch will hold a party from 9 to 11 a.m. that will include a grand-prize drawing for a trip for two to Las Vegas. The bank’s canine mascot, Alex, also will be there to greet guests and will be available for photos.

Branch hours will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and holidays.

Cardax begins trading under new symbol

Honolulu-based biotech firm Cardax Inc., which went public recently, began trading under a new ticker symbol Friday in the over-the-counter market.

Cardax now trades under the ticker symbol "CDXI." It previously traded under "KOFF," which reflected the name of the firm with which it conducted a reverse merger as part of its transition to a publicly traded company.

Shares of Cardax fell 1 cent to close at $1.55 Friday.

Cardax began trading as public company Feb. 10 at the price of $1.50 a share after completing a reverse merger with Houston-based Koffee Korner Inc.

ON THE MOVE

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Hawaii has announced Toni Muranaka as its state executive director. She was previously an executive director for Kahoomiki: Aloha State Games where she managed and oversaw the Senior Olympics and the Great Aloha Keiki Run. Muranaka’s experience includes serving as a senior director of the Heart Walk at the American Heart Association of Hawaii and office manager at Castle Medical Center.

Outrigger Enterprises Group has announced additions to its global marketing team:

» Bitsy Kelley has rejoined the company as vice president of corporate communications.

» Jasmine Tso as vice president of their global brand.

» Tammy Uy as executive creative director, a new position in the Outrigger.

» Sun Wong has been promoted to corporate director.

» John Limper as vice president of sales and marketing for Hawaii and Guam.

Social Media Club Hawaii has announced its board of directors: Gwen Woltz, Shelly Simpson, Jennifer Armstrong, Tara Coomans, Liberty Peralta, Loryn Guiffre, Shauna Goya, Trey Roy, Amanda Tompkins, Joaquin Villarreal, Richel Cole, Sylvia Dahlby, Shiloh Swanson, Denise Laitinen, Ali Catalano and Peter Liu.