Local pizzeria makes nation’s Top 100

Honolulu’s J.J. Dolan’s is the only locally based pizza restaurant to make an industry publication’s Top 100 list.

The restaurant, on the Pizza Today list for the third consecutive year, moved up to No. 96 from No. 100 last year, based on 2014 gross sales of $2,448,000 at its single location.

J.J. Dolan’s is a combination Irish pub and pizza restaurant on Bethel Street established by J.J. Niebuhr and Danny Dolan in 2008.

“Making our list is quite an accomplishment,” said Pizza Today’s editor-in-chief, Jeremy White, in a statement. “Making it here isn’t easy, it’s a testament to many factors such as great food and service, solid marketing and old-fashioned hard work. The pizzerias on our Hot 100 list have managed to really set themselves apart from the competition.”

Niebuhr and Dolan have leased the former Brasserie Du Vin space, also on Bethel Street, for development of a new restaurant and wine bar that will serve Italian, Portuguese and Mediterranean-influenced cuisine.

Separately, the two also own Ferguson’s Pub in downtown Honolulu, in partnership with Don Murphy, of Murphy’s Bar & Grill, and Brian Blair, who along with his wife, Amy, runs the pub’s day-to-day operations.

Kaiser nurses ratify 3-year-contract

The union representing nurses at Kaiser Permanente ratified a three-year contract Thursday covering 900 Hawaii-region employees.

All 28 local unions in the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, including the Hawaii Nurses Association, approved a national agreement affecting 105,000 union workers nationwide. The contract took effect Thursday.

The agreement includes 2 percent wage hikes per year with a 1 percent additional increase in the last month of the contract. The existing national agreement expired Wednesday. Retiree medical benefits were also increased, while pensions remained intact, said Maureen Meehan-Golonka, HNA president.

Kaiser’s national trust fund for education also increased by $23.2 million. Locally, that means each nurse will have a $3,000-per-year tuition reimbursement, which allows nurses to further their education and training.

“This allows the Hawaii region of Kaiser Permanente nurses to engage and participate collaboratively to ensure the success of our organization,” she said.

Construction begins on new Matson ships

Construction began on two “Aloha Class” Matson Inc. container ships Thursday.

The cutting of steel plates for the construction of both ships commenced following a ceremony at Aker Philadelphia Shipyard in Pennsylvania.

The ships have been designed for service to the islands and have greater capacity and the latest in environmentally geared technology, according to a company statement.

Matson Navigation Co., a Matson subsidiary, signed the $418 million contract with Aker for construction of the ships in 2013. Both ships are due to be delivered to the islands in the third and fourth quarters of 2018, respectively.

The first of the new ships will be named after the late U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, whom Matson describes as a longtime supporter of the U.S. maritime industry.

On The Move

» Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Waikiki Complex, announced that Charlene Nakamura has been named its new complex director of sales. Her responsibilities include directing sales efforts at Starwood’s four Waikiki properties: the Royal Hawaiian, Moana Surfrider, Sheraton Waikiki and Sheraton Princess Kaiulani.

» The Royal Hawaiian has appointed Scott Kawasaki as its director of sales and marketing. He has more than 20 years of experience in advertising, public relations and food and beverage sales. He has previously served as director of public relations for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Waikiki Complex.

Ship Ahoy!

Friday’s ship arrivals and departures: