• Chamber event stresses Web sites for businesses • Grand Hyatt named to ‘Best Place to Work’ list • Central Pacific 2Q dividend of 25 cents • Hawaiian to debut Oakland-Hawai‘i service Chamber event stresses Web sites for businesses The
• Chamber event stresses Web sites for businesses
• Grand Hyatt named to ‘Best Place to Work’ list
• Central Pacific 2Q dividend of 25 cents
• Hawaiian to debut Oakland-Hawai‘i service
Chamber event stresses Web sites for businesses
The Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce is hosting a half-day workshop on the benefits of Web sites. The event from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 7 at the Hilton Kauai Beach Resort is open to businesses interested in creating or strengthening existing Web sites.
Topics of discussion will also include how to use eCommerce to increase profitability as well as eMarketing.
Attendees will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with consultants from the High Technology Development Corp. to review eCommerce development strategies as well as apply for financial aid for up to 50 percent of Web development fees through HTDC consultants.
Panelists will include Rob Reckward, president of Tsunami Marketing, and Winston Welborn, creative director of Wasabi Marketing Elements.
“In creating our Kaua‘i Made program we realized that many of our members have either no Web site at all or a very basic web presence,” said Beth Tokioka, director of the county Office of Economic Development, a sponsor of the event. “This workshop is designed to help small businesses learn how to make the most of their web presence and find creative ways to market and grow their business.”
One of the key benefits of participating in the seminar, noted Randy Francisco, president of the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce, is access to grants that could cover up to 50 percent of the cost of upgrading a company’s eCommerce efforts.
The cost of the workshop is $50 for Kaua‘i Chamber and members or $75 for non-members.
For more information, visit www.kauaichamber.org or call 245-7363.
In other Chamber news, the organization is moving to a new location, 4268H Rice St. at the Punua Building in Lihu‘e, effective Thursday. The phone and fax numbers will remain the same.
For the move, the office will be closed Monday through Wednesday.
Grand Hyatt named to ‘Best Place to Work’ list
The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa joined King Auto Center as the two Kaua‘i-based businesses to be featured on Hawaii Business magazine’s “Best Places to Work in Hawai‘i” list.
The list is an annual look at companies that invest in their staff and create a positive place to work. Honorees were recognized at an awards dinner at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in March.
The competition awarded recipients in three size categories based on the number of employees. As the largest private employer on Kaua‘i, the Grand Hyatt resort was honored in the large business category.
After applying for consideration, companies underwent reviews, including employee interviews. Those employers who meet certain standards are included on the best workplace list and ranked according to their score.
Some of the reasons Grand Hyatt was named a “best place” are its health and wellness offerings for staff, including a health monitoring machine provided by LifeClinic to watch health indicators such as weight, blood pressure, body fat analysis, body mass index and pulse rate. Associates are also provided with healthy meals daily, extensive training and advancement opportunities, educational reimbursement assistance and complimentary stays at other Hyatt hotels.
Central Pacific 2Q dividend of 25 cents
Central Pacific Financial Corp., parent company of Central Pacific Bank, announced a second quarter cash dividend of 25 cents per common share payable on June 13 to shareholders of record as of May 16. The 25 cent dividend was also declared in the first quarter of 2008. The 50 cent-per-share year-to-date dividend represents a 4.2 percent increase over the 48 cent-per-share dividend paid in the same period last year.
Central Pacific Financial Corp. is the fourth largest financial institution in Hawai‘i with more than $5.6 billion in assets. Central Pacific Bank, its primary subsidiary, operates 39 branch offices and more than 95 ATMs throughout Hawai‘i. For more information, visit www.centralpacificbank.com.
Hawaiian to debut Oakland-Hawai‘i service
Hawaiian Airlines will debut daily nonstop service between Oakland International Airport and Honolulu on Thursday, which is Lei Day in Hawai‘i.
The new route will kick off with a celebration in Oakland featuring live music and hula; orchid lei; a Hawaiian blessing for the plane, flight, passengers and service; and brief remarks from airline executives and local representatives.
This week leading up to the inaugural flight, a five-piece traditional ensemble known as the Hawaiian Airlines Serenades will visit several locations throughout the East Bay. Audiences at these performances will also receive a flower lei and a certificate good for 10 percent off the price of flights aboard Hawaiian through June 6.
