NEWS & NOTES Jason chairs Women in Business Roundtable Debra Jason has agreed to serve as the 2005 chair of the Women in Business Roundtable. A real-estate professional with Vision Properties and owner of a 16-year old marketing business, The
NEWS & NOTES
Jason chairs Women in Business Roundtable
- Debra Jason has agreed to serve as the 2005 chair of the Women in Business Roundtable. A real-estate professional with Vision Properties and owner of a 16-year old marketing business, The Write Direction, Jason said she is honored to assume the chair from Barbara Bennett. “Many years ago, I was chair of the Business Women’s Leadership Group through the Boulder (Colorado) Chamber of Commerce, and it turned into one of the most well-attended groups. I look forward to this opportunity.”
The Women in Business Roundtable began three years ago, designed to be a flexible, informal organization that brings business-women together to network, support and mentor one another. “We are so delighted to have Debra as chair,” said Bennett. “Her past experience with organizing and leadership workshops have made her more than qualified to be a part of the WIBR team. Her work with the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce has also been outstanding,” Bennett added.
Jason has written articles for trade and business publications including the Kauai Business Report, taught continuing-education classes at the University of Colorado at Boulder and Denver, and presented seminars for such organizations as the Kaua‘i Small Business Development Center, Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce, Boulder Area Realtors, and the Boulder Chamber of Commerce. Visit her online at www.writedirection.com and www.kauaiha-waii-realestate.com. She may be reached at 826-1846.
Cruise ships calling on Nawiliwili
- The Norwegian Wind, a 754-foot cruise ship, calls on Nawiliwili Harbor this Wednesday, Feb. 23, scheduled to arrive at 8 a.m. and depart at 5 p.m. The Pride of Aloha, 850 feet long, calls each Monday, arriving at 7 a.m. and remaining overnight, leaving Tuesday at 1 p.m. The Island Princess, 965 feet long, calls this Saturday, Feb. 26, scheduled to arrive at 7 a.m. and leave at 6 p.m. The Statendam, 720 feet long, also calls this Saturday, Feb. 26, arriving at 7 a.m. and leaving at 2 p.m. the same day.
Construction Career Expo is coming
- The Construction Career Expo is set for today, Sunday, Feb. 20, from 8 a.m. to noon on the campus of Kaua‘i Community College in Puhi. There is no admission fee. Construction career information will include material on apprenticeship programs, training opportunities, and demonstrations of various trades. Several governmental and private-industry entities sponsor the event. For more information, please call 274-3060.
Drugs in workplace is seminar topic
- Gary Shimabukuro of Laulima Hawaii leads a Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce workshop, Drugs in the Workplace, The Role of the Supervisor, this Thursday, Feb. 24, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Radisson Kauai Beach Resort near Hanama‘ulu. The registration dead-line is this Tuesday, Feb. 22. Training includes drug awareness, the supervisor’s role and responsibility, identification, intervention skills, documentation, and more. The cost, which includes all materials, continental breakfast and light refreshments, is $35 per person for Chamber members, $30 each for three or more Chamber members, and $40 per person for guests. For reservations and more information, please call the Chamber office, 245-7363.
Reporter Howard Dicus is Chamber speaker
- Howard Dicus, Web and broadcast editor for Pacific Business News and reporter for Hawaii Public Radio and KHON channel 2, is guest speaker at the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce 1st Quarter General Membership Meeting, set for Friday, March 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa. The charge is $51 for guests, $41 for Chamber members, and $46 for Chamber members after Monday, March 14. Please call 245-7363, fax 245-8815, or see the Web site, http://www.kauaichamber.org/reservations?view-res&98 for reservations and more information.
Visitors bureau offers free online images
- Leaders at the Hawai‘i Visitors & Convention Bureau recently announced the availability of a new online image library made available to the public free of charge. The Web site is www.hvcb.org/imagelibrary. HVCB leaders, joined by officials with the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, announced the launching of the online library, and encouraged business leaders to take advantage of the resource for brochures, ads, Web sites, and marketing materials promoting Hawai‘i. “We’ve chosen a wide range of photos that highlight the remarkable beauty of our islands and captures the special experience of being here,” said John Monahan, HVCB president and chief executive officer.
Workplace smoking is seminar topic
- Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce leaders offer a free workshop on how having a smoke-free workplace will help business owners. The event is Tuesday, March 8, with registration at 9:30 a.m. and the seminar from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by a buffet lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m., at the Aloha Beach Resort-Kauai. Dr. Richard Sargent, chairman of quality assurance at St. Peter’s Community Hospital, conducts the seminar, which will explain to participants how a smoke-free workplace will lead to fewer sick days, increased productivity, and create a healthier environment for all employees. For registration and more information, please call the Chamber office, 245-7363, fax at 245-8815, or register on-line at www.kauaichamber.org/reservations?view-res&96. The registration deadline is Monday, Feb. 28.
Taro millings were up last year
- State Department of Agriculture statistics showed that poi millers used five million pounds of taro for poi last year, up from 4.7 million pounds the year before, although fourth-quarter millings were down in 2004 compared to the same period in 2003. Most of the state’s taro for poi comes from Hanalei Valley on Kaua‘i.
Humane Society hosts after-hours function
- Leaders of the Kauai Humane Society host a Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours function Thursday, March 3, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the shelter on Kaumuali‘i Highway outside Puhi. There will be pupus, refreshments and door prizes, tours of the facility. The registration deadline is this Thursday, Feb. 24. Registration and more information are available by calling the Chamber office, 245-7363, faxing 245-8815, or registering online at http://www.kauaichamber.org/reservations?view-res&95. The cost is $20 for guests and at the door, $10 for Chamber members, and $15 for Chamber members after Feb. 24.
Landscape training course set
- A free, three-month, entry-level landscape maintenance job-training program begins in March, to be held at the Kauai Agricultural Research Center in Wailua. The program is sponsored by the University of Hawai‘i Cooperative Extension Service and WorkWise! To register or for more information, please call the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Workforce Development Division, 274-3056.
Flores of L&L donates to center
- Eddie Flores Jr., owner of the expanding L&L Franchise (L&L Drive-Inn and L&L Hawaiian Barbecue), donated a condominium valued at $135,000 to the FilCom Center (Filipino Community Center), to start off a second round of fund-raising for the center. Flores made the transfer of the property to the center’s new board chair, Lito Alcantra.
Gala fund-raiser welcomes new ship
- A fund-raiser for Child & Family Service, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement and Kapi‘olani Children’s Miracle Network is planned aboard the Pride of America, a new cruise ship expected to begin interisland cruises that include a weekly stop at Nawiliwili later this year. The overnight fund-raising cruise is Friday, July 22, starting and ending in Honolulu.
Po‘ipu Beach reference guide published
- The 48-page guide to the Po‘ipu Beach area has been published by leaders of the Poipu Beach Resort Association, and is available free of charge to the public and travel agents. Contained therein is information on 60 accommodations, 30 restaurants, numerous activities, attractions and services, and much more. To order a copy, please call 742-7444, e-mail info@poipubeach.org, or see the Web site, www.poipubeach.org.
Chief executive named at Island Air
- Robert Mauracher has been named chief executive officer of Island Air, Inc., according to Charles Willis, the interisland carrier’s chairman. Mauracher, who has held management positions with Air Jamaica Limited and Bombardier Aerospace, began his new job earlier this month. Neil Takekawa continues as president of Island Air.
Unions ratify contracts with Aloha, Hawaiian
- Hawaiian Airlines officials announced members of the International Association of Machinists (IAM) District Lodge 142 have approved a new, three-year contract. Officials at Aloha Airlines announced members of their dispatchers and schedulers have voted to ratify a new agreement, becoming the fourth of five employee groups to accept new contracts. With the Transport Workers Union ratification, 94 percent of Aloha’s workforce has agreed to cost-cutting measures in support of company leaders’ plan to emerge from bankruptcy protection, a company spokes-man said.
