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Biki, Honolulu’s bike-share program, began its “Biki Buys” promotion for November on Wednesday.
Biki partnered with 20 retail merchants in urban Honolulu that will offer riders discounts of 10 to 20 percent on merchandise and other deals until Nov. 30. Biki riders simply show their Biki pass, same-day receipt or proof of an active account on the Biki mobile app to get the discounts at participating businesses.
Among the deals are one free cookie from the Honolulu Cookie Co., 10 percent off a regular-price Tori Richard-branded item, 20 percent off customized rubber slippers at LeaLea Market Originals, and 20 percent off regular-price footwear and apparel at the Running Room. Biki users also can receive a free gift after spending $200 in same-day receipts at the Royal Hawaiian Center.
The Biki Buys deals are not valid with other offers or promotions. A full list of participating retailers is available at gobiki.org/promotions or on the Biki app.
Taiwan added to global entry program
Taiwan has officially been added to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Global Entry program, offering significant benefits for Hawaii tourism, according to U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono’s office.
With the inclusion, Taiwanese citizens can apply for expedited customs clearance when visiting the United States, and American citizens can also be extended similar benefits on arrival in Taiwan.
More than 18,000 Taiwanese citizens visited Hawaii in 2016, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, which supported Hirono’s effort along with the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association.
George D. Szigeti, president and CEO of the HTA, said that last year travelers from Taiwan generated $4.2 million in state tax revenue and supported 441 jobs.
MAUI
Parks permit offices to close
The County’s Department of Parks and Recreation will close several permit
offices Tuesday for staff training and implementation of new procedures.
There will be no public access to the following locations:
>> Central Maui Permit Office (War Memorial Gym Complex)
>> Molokai Permit Office (Mitchell Pauole Center)
>> South Maui Permit Office (Kihei Community Center)
>> East Maui Permit Office (Eddie Tam Complex)
>> West Maui Permit Office (Lahaina Civic Center)
To get more information on the closures, the Department of Parks and Recreation, Permits and Enforcement Section, can be reached at 270-7389.
KAUAI
KIUC to award contract for plant
Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative announced Friday it will award a contract for services and equipment supply for the Pu‘u Opae Energy Project, on the west side of the Garden Island.
The energy project will incorporate “PV and pumped storage hydro technology and could provide up to 15 percent of the island’s energy needs,” KIUC said in a news release.
KIUC said it has been pursuing the project since 2014, and in August reached conditional land agreements with the Agribusiness Development Corp. board and the Hawaiian Homes Commission. Its board has approved up to $350,000 for preliminary surveying and environmental studies.
The RFQ submittal deadline is Nov. 30, and it can be obtained from the KIUC website through website.kiuc.coop/content/ request-qualifications or by contacting Dawn Huff at dhuff@joulegroup.com.
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