Small Business News & Notes for Sunday, January 24, 2010

• Kukui‘ula Village to welcome Living Foods Market & Cafe • Kaua‘i Beach Resort hosts concerts • Foodland accepting donations for Haiti • Cher’s Hawai‘i home sells at auction

Kukui‘ula Village to welcome Living Foods Market & Cafe

Kukui’ula Village announces the planned Thursday opening of the Living Foods Market & Café which will retail gourmet, green and lifestyle goods, and offer simple European-style fare from a café-style restaurant, with seating on an adjacent lanai.  Living Foods Market will feature the island’s largest selection of organic, sustainable and locally grown produce in a prime 5,000 square feet retail space in the heart of Kukui‘ula Village. The Living Foods Market & Café is conceptualized by Jim Moffat, acclaimed chef/owner of Bar Acuda restaurant in Hanalei.

In addition to an assortment of island-grown products, Living Foods will also feature specialty gourmet goods, “green” household and lifestyle items and an extensive wine selection — over 400 labels with a strong emphasis on biodynamic and organic wines.

The market’s café-style restaurant will open daily offering a simple European-style menu, from grilled panini sandwiches, pizzettas and crepes to Niçoise salads, roasted chicken and a selection of fresh entrées “to-go” or to enjoy on a 1,000+-square-foot open air deck. The café will also roast their own coffee on-site and serve a variety of espresso drinks and fresh fruit agua fresca throughout the day.  All meals will be served in recycled, biodegradable containers.

Living Foods’ 1,500-square-foot commercial kitchen will turn out homemade breads, pastries and charcuterie items, including sausages, salamis and pâtés and a gourmet deli will offer restaurant quality prepared foods and ready-to-grill organic items including marinated steak, chicken, duck, pork, lamb and seafood.

The Living Foods Market and Café will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, and employ a staff of 20.

Kaua‘i Beach Resort hosts concerts

Kaua‘i Beach Resort is host hotel for the 12-week ki hoalu (slack key) musical entertainment series E Kanikapila Kakou – a Garden Island Arts Council event.

Themed “The Stories Behind the Songs,” E Kanikapila Kakou kicked off Monday with Grammy-award winning father and son duo George Kahumoku, Jr. and Keoki Kahumoku conducting two afternoon slack key workshops followed by a musical showcase.

E Kanikapila Kakou continues Monday through April 1 with award-winning musicians and artists participating throughout the ki hoalu series. Featured musicians include: Eddie Kamae, Dennis Kamakahi, Puakea Nogelmeier, Kaumakaiwa Kanakaole, Sean Naauao Cody Pueo Pata, Aaron Sala and many more. In keeping with the theme, musicians will share the stories behind their music.  Events are free with donations welcome. 

Two concerts are also scheduled during the series: 

— March 6: EKK Concert at the Kauai Community College Performing Arts Center features Palani Vaughan & King’s Own: Kimo Artis, Lance Artis and Donald Kaulia. Tickets are $25 general, $20 seniors 62+ and $35 at the door.

— April 1: Final night “Alice in EKK Wonderland Masquerade Concert” in the Jasmine Ballroom features MAKANA, Lopaka Colon and Lono Kaumeheiwa. Tickets are $20 with costume and $25 without costume. 

In support of E Kanikapila Kakou, Kaua‘i Beach Resort is offering a kama‘aina special of $99 per night room only and $129 per night for room and car, plus taxes. The special is available through March 31 based on availability.

For reservations, see your preferred travel agent or call Kaua‘i Beach Resort at 246-5517, toll free at 1-888-805-3843 or online at www.kauaibeachresorthawaii.com.

Foodland accepting donations for Haiti

Foodland stores statewide will accept donations at checkout to support the disaster relief efforts in Haiti. Donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Foodland and Western Union and funds will be sent to the American Red Cross.  Foodland’s “Help for Haiti” program will run through Jan. 31.

Customers are invited to make a $5, $10 or $20 donation at any Foodland or Sack N Save checkout through Jan 31. The donation amount will be added to the customer’s grocery purchase total.  Customers are also invited to donate their spare change in the coin cannisters at checkout. All donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Foodland and Western Union, then sent to the American Red Cross to support their relief efforts in Haiti. Foodland Super Market, Ltd., Hawai‘i’s largest and locally owned, locally operated grocery retailer, was founded in 1948 by Maurice J. “Sully” Sullivan. The kama‘aina company has 31 stores spanning four islands with approximately 2,500 employees.

For more information about Foodland’s “Help for Haiti” program, call Foodland at 808-732-0791.

Cher’s Hawai‘i home sells at auction

Concierge Auctions announced earlier this week the sale of Cher’s home in the exclusive Hualalai Resort in Hawai‘i to a buyer from Arizona for $8.72 million. The Monday auction included the successful sale of five properties in Kona, Hawai‘i, for a total of more than $19.4 million.

In addition to Cher’s home, a property at 72-3209 Ka Nehe Place in the Kuki‘o Golf and Beach Club and Residences selling absolute was purchased by a buyer from Beverly Hills for $4.95 million. A second home selling absolute in Kuki‘o, at 72-3205 Punaloa Place, was purchased for $3.85 million. Collectively, the prices achieved for the homes in Kuki‘o were $10 per square foot higher than the average price per square foot for other homes sold in the Maniniowali section of Kuki’o over the past six months. Additionally, two home sites in Kuki‘o sold for $990,000 and $962,000, respectively.

The efforts of the Concierge Auctions team and its partners resulted in 110 interested buyer prospects and 25 registered bidders from throughout the world, including seven phone bidders.

For more information on Concierge Auctions and its services, visit www.ConciergeAuctions.com or call 888-966-4759.