NEWS & NOTES Aloha in New York City Kaua‘i Film Commissioner Art Umezu, and state Film Commissioner Donne Dawson, recently represented the Film Offices of the Hawaiian Islands (FOHI) at the Third Annual Pacifika New York Hawaiian Film Festival. Presented
NEWS & NOTES
Aloha in New York City
- Kaua‘i Film Commissioner Art Umezu, and state Film Commissioner Donne Dawson, recently represented the Film Offices of the Hawaiian Islands (FOHI) at the Third Annual Pacifika New York Hawaiian Film Festival.
Presented by leaders of the Hawaiian Cultural Foundation, the event drew many people from Hawai‘i and others of Polynesian descent currently living in the Big Pine-Apple. More than two dozen feature films and documentaries were aired, including the premiere of “Hawaiians-Reflecting Spirit,” by award-winning Hawaiian film maker Edgy Lee, Umezu said.
The highlight of the festival, according to Umezu, was the world premiere of “Te Toa Aniwaniwa: The Rainbow Warrior, A President in the Making,” a 52-minute documentary by Maori film makers Robert Pouware and Gary Tataham. The film is about the election of Tahiti’s popular new President, Oscar Manutahi Temaru, who fought for reform on that island.
Umezu said he was proud to bring aloha to New York, but was equally excited about the contacts and experience the city offered him, and by extension, Kaua‘i.
Founded in 1997 by Michelle Akina and Janu Cassidy, Hawaii Cultural Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to perpetuating Hawaiian culture outside of Hawai‘i.
Cruise ship calling on Nawiliwili
- Tomorrow, Monday, June 6, the Pride of Aloha, 850 feet long, calls on Nawiliwili Harbor, arriving at 7 a.m. and remaining overnight, leaving Tuesday, June 7, at 1 p.m. This Wednesday, June 8, Norwegian Wind, 754 feet long, arrives at 8 a.m. leaving the same day at 5 p.m.
KIUC begins renewable energy presentations
- Leaders with the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) began presenting last week a series of discussions about what they are doing about current electricity supply and demand, and plans for development of renewable-energy sources. Another discussion is this Wednesday, June 8, at 6 p.m., and Thursday, June 9, at 10:30 a.m., both at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall. The next scheduled meeting will be Thursday, July 7, at 1:30 p.m. at the Kapa‘a Public Library. For more information, please call Melanie Dickerson at 246-4373.
SunTrips adds six flights to Hawai‘i
- Kaua‘i began receiving additional air passengers effective Wednesday, June 1, when leaders at SunTrips added six flights per week to Kaua‘i, Honolulu, Maui and Big Island, in order to meet increased demand during the summer, they said. There are now 11 flights per week from Oakland, Calif. to Hawai‘i. SunTrips also offers flights among the Hawaiian Islands under an agreement with Aloha Airlines. SunTrips is a subsidiary of RCG Cos. Inc. “We are seeing strong demand for SunTrips’ vacation packages,” said William Goldstein, RCG chief executive.
Hawaiian Airlines does well with DOT
- Hawaiian Airlines leaders won top marks in April from officials in the U.S Department of Transportation (DOT) for their on-time performance, fewest flights canceled, and for excellent baggage handling, according to a company spokesperson. The DOT’s Air Travel Consumer Report cited Hawaiian Airlines’ performance in these categories as the best among all air carriers for April. Hawaiian Airlines leaders emerged from bankruptcy protection Wednesday, June 1.
Cost-U-Less reports recent earnings
- Cost-U-Less, Inc. leaders last week reported an increase of 2.6 percent in same-store sales (stores open for a full 13 months), for a four-week period ended May 22. For the corresponding period a year ago, company leaders experienced a same-store-sales increase of 16.1 percent. For the first fiscal quarter 2005 plus the first two months of the second fiscal quarter, same-store sales rose 6.1 percent, down from 15.6 percent for the corresponding period a year ago. Cost-U-Less owners operate a store in Kapa‘a.
