Hawai‘i Convention Center seeks manager
The Hawaii Tourism Authority is preparing to accept applications from companies wanting to manage and market the Hawai‘i Convention Center after the current contract expires at the end of this year.
The HTA said Monday it is first looking for a company to do market research "to improve the HTA’s knowledge of private industry’s capabilities." Then it will accept proposals for managing the facility, including adding "uniquely Hawaiian elements."
The "introduction of Hawaiian music, dance, art, language and other cultural elements within the (Hawai‘i Convention Center) is viewed by HTA as an important priority," the HTA said in a statement.
For more information, see www.hawaiitourismauthority.org and click on "Request for Proposals."
Kona Brewing shipments up 27.3% in 2012
Kona Brewing Co. said increased marketing of its flagship brand Longboard Island Lager helped boost overall shipments statewide, as well as to the mainland and abroad, by 27.3 percent to 220,000 barrels last year from 172,800 barrels in 2011. The company, based in Kailua-Kona, also saw an 18 percent increase in shipments in its home market.
Kona Brewing said Longboard Island Lager represented more than 50 percent of the company’s shipment volume.
"Strength in the home market is key for our growth in other markets," Kona Brewing President Mattson Davis said. "The support of our community where we created and brewed our first beer here in Kona 18 years ago is a springboard to our success on the mainland because it’s what makes us authentically Hawaiian, and craft beer consumers know this."
The August rollout of Big Wave Golden Ale to the mainland was a highlight of 2012. Big Wave, a longtime craft beer staple in Hawaii, became the third in Kona Brewing’s portfolio of year-round craft beers, joining Longboard Island Lager and Fire Rock Pale Ale.
Youth entrepreneurship contest open
The nonprofit business competition for kids known as Lemonade Alley is looking for competitors, team sponsors and volunteers for its third annual go-round.
Student contestants learn about the elements involved in running a small business by writing basic business plans, building lemonade stands, creating recipes, marketing their products via social media and other channels, and competing against other teams by pitching ideas to panels of judges.
The competition is open to teams of students in kindergarten through 12th grade and offers prizes of up to $1,000 per division. Teams of up to five kids each need not be affiliated with schools or organizations in order to compete.
Three free workshops will offer training and details leading up to the competition. Entries will be accepted online at lemonadealley.com through April 6.
HECO energy guides in Japanese, Ilocano
Hawaiian Electric has translated two of its most popular free energy conservation guides for small businesses into Japanese and Ilocano, the company announced Monday.
The publications are titled "Power to Save for Small Business" and "Ways to Save at Work."
Hawaiian Electric first translated the business-oriented guides into Korean in February 2012. In addition, the company’s "Power to Save" and "101 Ways to Save" guides for residential customer are available in Ilocano and Cantonese.
The free guides can be picked up at Hawaiian Electric’s customer service centers on Oahu, at 820 Ward Ave. and 900 Richards St., or by calling 543-7511 to have a copy mailed.
Copies also can be downloaded at www.heco.com.
Monster defends its energy drinks
Faced with increased regulatory and consumer pressure as well as a lawsuit, Monster Beverage Corp. went on the offensive to deflect accusations that its products offered more than just a liquid jolt.
The energy drink maker, responding Monday to the lawsuit, said there was "no medical or scientific evidence" to support a finding that its energy drinks contributed to the death of a 14-year-old Maryland girl.
The family of Anais Fournier accused Monster of negligence and wrongful death in a lawsuit filed in October. The teenager went into cardiac arrest and died after consuming two 24-ounce cans of Monster beverages within a 24-hour period in December 2011.
The case raised the level of concern from legislators, parents and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about a host of possible health problems related to the consumption of energy drinks.
The spotlight on the problems has resulted in consumer perception of many brands in the $12.5 billion energy drink industry to tank in recent months.
ON THE MOVE
The Landmark Hotels Group announces the following promotions: Carmine Iommazzo to hotel manager at the luxury Kahala Hotel & Resort. He has been with the Makena Beach & Golf Resort on Maui since 2011 as a resident manager and general manager. Iommazzo was previously the director of food and beverage at The Kahala. Declan McCarthy to general manager of the Makena resort. He has been with the resort for 18 years. Under the Landmark management, McCarthy was a manager and part of the team that worked on the hotel’s multimillion-dollar rooms makeover program in 2011-12.
Aloha Air Cargo has appointed Capt. John Floyd as director of safety. He was previously a flight operations B737 ground instructor for Aloha Air Cargo. Floyd’s experience also includes serving as a pilot for Aloha Airlines for more than 22 years as well as manager of pilot and dispatcher training for Island Air.
