Westin Princeville opens restaurant

The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas has opened Nanea Restaurant and Bar for buffet and a-la-carte breakfasts, lunch and dinner.

Nanea offers a plantation-style retreat overlooking a koi pond.

Executive Chef and Maui native Kahau Manzu has created simple, elegant selections that incorporate food from seven local farms, including tomatoes, lettuce, honey and goat cheese.

Kahau was formerly the executive sous chef at Moana Surfrider, and sous chef at the Four Seasons Maui.

“Our staff is amazing, genuinely engaged and friendly,” Todd Oldham, director of food and beverage, said. “We’re proud of our product, and it shows in everything we do.”

Hours are 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. for breakfast, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. lunch, and 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. for dinner.

DBEDT sponsors Korea-Pacific U.S. business conference

The Hawai‘i Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism in joint sponsorship with Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington is presenting the sixth annual KoreanPacific U.S. States Joint Conference in Seoul and Jeju-do Nov. 14-15.

During the second day of the conference, Hawai‘i will take the lead on a renewable energy session, speaking about its Hawai‘i Clean Energy initiative as well as promoting the 2009 Korea-Pacific U.S. States Joint Conference, which will be held in Hawai‘i.

Other sessions will focus on information and communication technologies and education.

“Korean companies entering the U.S. market need to have U.S. partners, just as U.S. companies need Korean partners to enter Asian markets,” Theodore E. Liu, DBEDT director, said. “This is especially true for renewable energy technologies and services, education and information technologies.”

The registration deadline is Sept. 30. There is no conference participation fee. Companies requesting business matchmaking sessions must also register by that date.

For more information, visit www.kusec.or.kr/kusec/eng/pacific.html or contact Jamie Lum at (808) 587-2753 or jlum@dbedt.hawaii.gov

Genuine Parts acquires C.W. Carter and Redline Automotive

Genuine Parts Co. has signed a definitive agreement to purchase the assets of C.W. Carter Co. and Redline Automotive. The two Honolulu-based warehouse distributors of automotive parts and accessories are currently owned by GMOB Group of Houston, Texas.

C.W. Carter and Redline Automotive have been in operation in Hawai‘i for many years and together have eight stores and warehouses on Kaua‘i, O‘ahu and Maui. C.W. Carter also distributes to a number of independently owned auto parts stores located throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

The effective date of the transaction is planned for Nov. 1.

Genuine Parts Co. is a distributor of automotive replacement parts in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. It posted 2007 revenues of $10.8 billion.

Hawaiian traffic up, capacity down

Hawaiian Airlines Inc. posted increases in passenger numbers for August as well as for the year to date, though seating capacity declined for both.

The increase in year-over-year passenger numbers is mainly the result of Hawaiian’s expansion of interisland operations, while the lower average load factor reflects adjustment of capacity between markets and a lower transpacific load factor as Hawaiian has raised fares in an effort to offset the increased price of fuel, the company said.

In August, 725,272 total passengers were transported, up 12.6 percent over the same month last year. The August 2008 load factor, a measure of seating capacity, was down 5.6 percentage points over August 2007, at 82.1 percent compared to 87.7 percent.

The year-to-date picture was relatively similar. Total passengers this year through August were 5.34 million, up 12.4 percent over the 4.75 million last year to date.

Load factor was 83.8 percent this year to date, down 3.6 percentage points over last year to date at 87.4 percent.