Hale ‘Oihana (House of Business) earlier this month opened its doors as a new business support and mail service center, with no advance advertising. Entering its fourth week today, it has already expanded its services to include courier and direct-mail
Hale ‘Oihana (House of Business) earlier this month opened its doors as a new
business support and mail service center, with no advance
advertising.
Entering its fourth week today, it has already expanded its
services to include courier and direct-mail capabilities, said partner
Stephanie Reed.
The business, in the Lihu’e Plantation Building behind
First Hawaiian Bank on Rice Street in Lihu’e, is a one-stop center for those
needing copying and fax service, packaging and mailing, laminating, binding,
and secretarial assistance.
Reed, a former newspaper editor from Baltimore,
explained that the new business also offers computer time with Internet access
available for rent and, if requested, time with a QuickCam can be rented with
it.
“I think this is a great opportunity for someone who’s on vacation, and
who wants to show off their tan while they chat with friends back home,” she
said. “I’m certain that business professionals will put it to use for modified
video-conferencing,” Reed continued.
The sign in front of the business
reads Hale ‘Oihana and Kokua Business Services, the latter to reflect the side
of the enterprise specializing in accounting, tax preparation, and temporary
employee rental.
Where Hale ‘Oihana’s new direct-mail service is concerned,
Reed explained that if a client requests a flyer, brochure or other item to be
designed, the company can also copy, print, and mail the documents,
internationally or just to certain Kaua’i zip codes.
The store, open
Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., has state-of-the-art Xerox
equipment for black-and-white and color copying; scanning services with editing
capabilities; and efficient and experienced secretarial services.
Reed even
offers gift-wrapping, regardless of whether or not a customer desires to
utilize the mailing service along with the wrapping.
“I always dreamed of a
place where I could just drop off the gifts I buy and have them all
gift-wrapped, especially during the holidays,” she said.
“I love it that I
can offer that to people.”
Copy jobs big and small are being accepted. “We
have the capability to create booklets and newsletters, reports, and even
visual aids for office presentations,” she said.
“The copier that we have
here can add the date or comments to the documents being copied. It can even
number the pages.
“These features save the time of someone having to go
back and work on the documents before they bring them in to be copied,” she
said.
“I think the professionals in the area will want to take full
advantage of these kinds of services,” plus the accounting, payroll, tax
services, and temporary employment services Hale ‘Oihana is offering, she
added.
The firm is already doing much business with an architect in another
office in the historic Lihu’e Plantation Building.
As well as being an
authorized shipping center for UPS, FedEx, and DHL, Hale ‘Oihana offers
packaging and supplies, and rents personal mail boxes.
“Hale ‘Oihana will
use recycled and biodegradable materials for packaging whenever possible,” she
said.
“I know that the landfill doesn’t have long to go before it’s at
capacity, and as a new member of the community I want to extend that life as
much as possible.”
Cornstarch peanuts instead of Styrofoam are used for
packaging, and paper instead of plastic bubble wrap is used for filler. The
bubble wrap is saved for fragile pieces, and when the customer requests it, she
said.
“We want to let people know that we’ll accept used mailing boxes and
packing materials for recycling.” Customers can call 245-3442 with questions
about materials acceptable for recycling.
“I want to help preserve the
beauty of this island in any way I can,” she said. “I fell in love with the
purity of the air and water, and the gorgeous, picture-perfect scenery. So I
was determined to help make a positive impact on the environment by making
recycling a priority in my business,” she said.
“Kaua’i is a completely
different way of life from the East Coast. The island is exactly the type of
place where I want to raise my daughter; where stress is the exception and not
the rule,” she said.
She admitted it’s taking her awhile to get used to
“island time. But I quickly came to my senses and realized that island time was
just another aspect of the beauty of the place.”
