First Hawaiian Bank is giving away a free Marcus Mariota "Be Your Own Role Model" poster. The posters are available at all its branch locations. There is a limit of one per customer while supplies last.
The bank’s website has information about Mariota and photos from the recent "It All Starts with Yes" TV commercial shoot. The new Mariota TV commercial began airing on Monday.
In the commercial, Mariota’s father, Toa, recounts the story of how his son made a commitment to himself in fourth grade to pursue his dream of becoming a National Football League quarterback.
Mariota, a former star at Saint Louis School and the University of Oregon, was the first-round pick — selected second overall — of the Tennessee Titans in last month’s NFL draft.
Hilton finishes $7M center renovation
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort has completed a $7 million renovation of its Tapa Conference Center, which includes a ballroom, lounge and suites.
The 16,536-square-foot ballroom was redesigned by Honolulu-based Pacific Asia Design Group Inc., which was inspired by Hawaiian tapa, or kapa, cloth patterns and local artists.
A large kapa-inspired 3-D relief sculpture by local artists Georg James and John Dinsmore is the new focal point of the space. Supporting artwork includes a collection of kapa cloth in koa frames featured throughout the ballroom.
"As Hawaii’s premier meetings resort with the most space devoted to group use and the largest room inventory at a single resort in Hawaii, it’s important to keep our indoor venues consistent with the natural beauty provided by our 22-acre destination resort," said Tracy Walker, Hilton Hawaiian Village general manager. "Our goal was for groups to still feel a strong Hawaii sense of place that is inspiring for a productive meeting or celebration."
Prison term of ‘nut rage’ exec suspended
SEOUL » A South Korean court Friday suspended the prison term of the former Korean Air executive whose onboard "nut rage" tantrum delayed a flight last year, immediately ending her incarceration.
Cho Hyun-ah, who is the daughter of the airline’s chairman, did not violate aviation security law when she ordered the chief flight attendant off a Dec. 5 flight, forcing it to return to the gate at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, according to the Seoul High Court.
The upper court sentenced Cho to 10 months in prison and then suspended the sentence for two years. It said she was guilty of using violence against flight attendants. A lower court had earlier sentenced Cho to a year in prison. She has been locked up since her December arrest.
She achieved worldwide notoriety after an onboard tantrum triggered when a first-class flight attendant served her macadamia nuts in a bag instead of on a dish. Cho, head of the airline’s cabin service at the time, had a heated, physical confrontation with members of the crew.
Yellen eyes first rate increase by year’s end
WASHINGTON » Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen said Friday she expects to begin raising interest rates later this year — if the job market improves and the Fed is confident inflation will climb closer toward its target rate.
She described the U.S. economy as "well positioned for continued growth," but at the same time highlighted a number of headwinds that threaten progress. Wages have been disappointing and too many people who want full-time jobs are instead working part time, she said. She also noted a lackluster housing recovery and modest business investment.
The Fed has kept its key benchmark rate at a record low near zero since December 2008.
Adult dating site investigating data breach
PALO ALTO, Calif. »The operator of a popular adult dating website said Friday it’s investigating a data security breach following reports that hackers stole names, email addresses and information about the sexual orientation or habits of up to 4 million members.
Britain’s Channel 4 news outlet reported that hackers posted some of the information on an obscure website after stealing account data from AdultFriendFinder.com. The online service claims 64 million members worldwide use its service to "hook up, find sex or meet someone hot now."
FriendFinder Networks, the Silicon Valley company that operates the service, said in a statement that it hired a prominent cyber-security firm to investigate and is telling members to update their user names and passwords.
ON THE MOVE
Architects Hawaii Ltd. has promoted the following staff members:
» Mariel Moriwake to associate from project architect. She has been with AHL since 2005 and has focused on health care projects and educational and commercial facilities.
» Keane K. Kakuda to associate from project architect. He has focused on federal, state and municipal facilities.
» Jeffrey L. Lee to project administrator from designer II. He joined AHL 10 years ago, with experience ranging from architectural to interior design.
» Dewi Fukuoka to office manager from studio administrator. She has been with AHL for 51⁄2 years.
» Erin M. Marquez, Rebecca Weatherford and Xenia Regalia were promoted to designer/ drafter II from designer/drafter I.
