Hawaii Symphony, musicians union OK pact
The Hawaii Symphony Orchestra and Musicians Association of Hawaii have reached a two-year agreement that will run through June 30, 2016, and provide two additional weeks in each year to accommodate more diverse programming and outreach.
The agreement covers 84 musicians, the majority of whom have performed with the symphony for more than 10 years, including three with more than 40 years of service.
"The musicians have been extremely helpful and flexible during our first two seasons," said HSO director Jonathan Parrish, who was hired from the ranks of the orchestra itself in November 2013. "With the news that we are projecting to close the books this season with a balanced budget, and the soon-to-be announced third season, we hope this agreement demonstrates that the HSO is committed to building a sustainable organization and bringing the very best artists and symphonic performances to the state."
The 2014-2015 season subscription renewals are under way and the full season will be announced soon. The season opens Sept. 13 and 14 with a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall. On Sept. 13, 1964, the symphony performed for the formal opening of the venue and has performed concerts, ballets and operas there ever since. The anniversary program will offer selections performed for the 1964 opening, along with a new ballet commission featuring the Oahu-based Onium Ballet Project, and the popular Bolero by Ravel.
Dunkerley wins Airline Strategy Award
Hawaiian Airlines President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Dunkerley has received the 2014 Airline Strategy Award for Regional Leadership from Airline Business, an aviation industry publication. The award recognizes Dunkerley’s role in transforming Hawaiian from a bankrupt niche U.S. carrier to a strong and growing global player. He was selected by an independent panel of industry experts.
Dunkerley’s award was one of seven presented Sunday by Airline Business at a ceremony in London. Airline Business has recognized the industry’s highest achievers in boardroom leadership with the Airline Strategy Awards for the past 13 years.
"Hawaiian was the runt of the litter," said one judge on the panel. "What Mark has done at the airline is a very sizable transformation."
Dunkerley said Hawaiian’s 5,300 employees have lifted the company’s fortunes and transformed the business from a small local carrier to a global carrier with local roots over the course of the last decade. "It has been my privilege to have been a part of that story," he said.
Edible barcode wins innovation award
The dust-particle-size edible barcode designed by Honolulu-based TruTag Technologies Inc. has won distinction as one of the 2014 R&D 100.
TruTag’s tiny barcode can serve to authenticate, track and tag food products, pharmaceuticals, electronics and other consumer items and industrial components, and was devised as a way to combat the counterfeit market.
The local company will be feted in November alongside globally known companies including Alcoa Inc., Daimler AG, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and others. The awards were established in 1963 by R&D Magazine, and in the years since have honored developments including the fax machine, ink-jet printer and Taxol, an anti-cancer drug.
Manchester United gets $1.3B Adidas deal
Manchester United landed the richest uniform deal in soccer, a $1.3 billion, 10-year agreement with Adidas that replaces its Nike sponsorship.
The contract, worth an average of $128 million a year beginning in 2015, was announced after Nike decided against tripling the cost of its existing 13-year agreement.
The arrangement with Adidas underlines the durability of United’s brand. Adidas currently pays about $50 million a season to Chelsea and Real Madrid, and United could make far more from the German sportswear firm than the $1.3 billion, which is described as a "minimum guarantee."
NFL owner’s truck-stop chain fined $92M
NASHVILLE, Tenn. » Authorities say the truck-stop company owned by Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has agreed to pay $92 million in fines for cheating customers out of promised rebates and discounts.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Pilot Flying J has accepted responsibility for the criminal conduct of its employees, 10 of whom have pleaded guilty to participating in the scheme.
The agreement was signed Friday by attorneys for the nation’s largest diesel retailer. The agreement does not protect any individual at Pilot from prosecution and requires the company to cooperate with an ongoing investigation of current and former employees.
ON THE MOVE
Hawaii Accounting has announced Stacey Katakura White has joined the Hawaii Group as president of Hawaii Accounting. She has 17 years of industry experience and was previously chief financial officer for Forest City Hawaii.
The Landmark Hotels Group, the management company of the Kahala Hotel & Resort in Honolulu and Makena Beach & Golf Resort on Maui, has appointed Randy Clark to regional sales manager. He previously worked for the Kahala in 2004-06 and returned to the firm in order to sell the Lodge at Koele and the Manele Bay Hotel, this time under the Four Seasons Resorts flag.
Atlantis Adventures has appointed:
» Jonelle Shimamoto to marketing and public relations manager. She has been with Atlantis for 14 years and has held various positions in sales and marketing.
» Annika Seavey to brand manager. She has 15 years of advertising and media-buying experience, including as senior media planner-buyer at Core Group One, a Honolulu advertising agency.
