Central Pacific opening Manoa branch

Central Pacific Bank will debut its 37th branch when it opens its doors Monday at Manoa Marketplace.

The branch at 2851 E. Manoa Road was previously occupied by Bank of the Orient, which pulled out in February.

Manoa branch hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and holidays. A grand opening of the branch is slated for July 12.

Michelle Salvador, who was appointed Manoa branch manager, has nearly 20 years of banking experience and four years of branch manager experience. She was most recently with American Savings Bank, where she served as Manoa branch manager.

State offering $4.5M for land preservation

A state program has $4.5 million up for grabs to help preserve private land in Hawaii.

The Legacy Land Conservation Program is seeking applications from nonprofit organizations and public agencies with proposals to protect land for its public-resource value through purchases or conservation easements.

County agencies and nonprofit applicants must be able to provide at least 25 percent of a proj­ect’s total cost. State agencies also may apply.

On average, funded proj­ects usually have about 65 percent in matching funds from federal, county or private sources, according to the Legacy Land Conservation Commission, which nominates proj­ects for funding.

Awards are subject to budget restrictions and require approvals from the state Board of Land and Natural Resources and the governor.

The annual program, which was created in 2005, is financed by a portion of the state’s property conveyance tax.

Since 2006 the program has awarded funds to protect roughly 20,000 acres of lands having natural, cultural and agricultural resource values. For every state dollar spent, about two dollars were attracted from federal, private and county sources, according to the commission.

Forms and instructions for participating will be available online June 1 at dlnr.hawaii.gov/ecosystems/llcp/apply.

To be considered for funding, applicants must submit agency consultation forms by July 1. Grant applications are due by 4:30 p.m. Sept. 15.

For more information, call 586-0921.

Kailua firm to become Sotheby’s affiliate

Kailua real estate brokerage firm Carvill & Co. is slated to become an affiliate of Sotheby’s International Realty on Wednesday.

Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC announced the planned change for the firm that will become known as Carvill Sotheby’s International Realty.

With the addition, Sotheby’s will expand to nine independently owned and operated offices in Hawaii.

The Kailua firm owned by Scott Carvill was founded in 1995 by his parents, Connie and Rich Carvill, who remain active in the business.

U.S. economy shrank at 1% rate in quarter

WASHINGTON » The U.S. economy was battered even more than first suspected by the harsh winter, actually shrinking from January through March. The result marked the first retreat in three years, but economists are confident the downturn was temporary.

Gross domestic product contracted at an annual rate of 1 percent in the first quarter, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

That was worse than the government’s initial estimate last month that GDP during the period grew by a slight 0.1 percent. The economy last posted a decline in the first three months of 2011 when it dropped 1.3 percent.

SHIP AHOY!

Today’s ship arrivals and departures:

HONOLULU HARBOR

Montage Kapalua Bay has announced the appointment of Riko Bartolome as executive chef. He will oversee all the culinary experiences at Montage Kapalua Bay, including the Sunset Patio, in-room dining and the Cane & Canoe restaurant. Bartolome has led culinary programs at Grand Wailea Maui as well as Hotel Nikko’s Pangaea, Hotel Del Coronado’s Crown Room, W Hotel and Asia-Vous, all in San Diego.

The YWCA of Oahu has selected Ron Foronda as camp manager of the 11-acre Kokokahi property in Kaneohe. He will oversee retreat and camp programs, facility rentals, aquatics programs and other operations at Camp Kokokahi. Foronda has an extensive camp management background, including 12 years of experience with the Boy Scouts in California and Hawaii.