Hawaii Business Magazine - April 2015

A Different Way of Seeing Things

When you’re surrounded by some of the world’s most gorgeous landscapes and seascapes, painting outdoors instead of in a studio makes sense. But painting outside requires a different technique than painting indoors, says artist Lynne Boyer. Boyer teaches painting in…

Natural Energy Lab Fosters its Own Startup Paradise

I believe the Hawaiian people have been given a tremendous gift from Pele and that gift is this access to deep ocean water,” says Rich Bailey, owner of Dewpoint Systems. The gift of deep ocean water may be Pele’s, but…

More Efficient Power

In the hospitality world, it’s not just hotel guests who win points and rewards. The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas on Kauai’s North Shore earned a bonus when it installed a system that delivers electricity more efficiently and comes with…

Inevitable Change

Soon – maybe even by the time you read this article – the state’s largest company, Hawaiian Electric Industries, will begin a radical transformation from the stodgy monopoly we’ve known for 124 years, into a much more nimble and competitive…

For Starters: This Month's Cover

Our cover was created by Matt Tapia, a nationally recognized illustrator and hand-lettering artist, born and raised in Hawaii. He’s done work for clients ranging from Nike to Zoo York. His approach is…

At Whole Foods, The Team Votes You On or Off

Employees at Whole Foods Market vote on the fate of a new hire, but the company likes to call it an act of affirmation, not something you’d see on “Survivor.” “It’s really affirming this new team member is part of…

Only Half of Hawaii Got a Raise

Only Half of Hawaii Got a Raise QMark Research surveyed 400 people statewide for Hawaii Business and asked if they got a raise over the past two years. Here is what those who work outside the home told QMark: Raises…

Protecting You From Bitcoin Fraud

CREATOR: Larry Fenton has been an ironworker by trade for 26 years, holds a B.A. in history and political science from Chaminade University and a business certificate from the Wharton School of Business, and says he’s “been looking for a…

Ask the Expert: Website Makeovers

Mary Fastenau Partner at Anthology Marketing Group and founder of its digital division AnthologyMarketing.com Question: What should I consider when revamping my business’s website? Answer: It’s time to redo your website, but where do you start? Everybody from Google to…

Not Always Easy Riding

For frugal folks, riding a motorcycle or moped is the way to go, says Glenn Koishigawa. “People’s jaws drop when I tell them they can get up to 60 miles to a gallon on a moped,” says Koishigawa, owner of…

Love Your Curves

“Belly dancing makes you love every muscle in the body. … It made me appreciate the curves I was born with.” You may have seen belly dancing and been in awe, but actually doing it offers something no other workout…

Private Chef Makes At-Home Meals Special

A luxurious meal at home prepared by a professional chef is not just a privilege of the rich and famous, but available to anyone willing to spend a few hundred dollars on…

Helping Plan Hawaii Opera Future

“If you find the right organization – someone whose work you admire – (volunteering) does not feel like a lot of work,” says Leighton Yuen. For attorney Yuen and banker Cori Weston, that organization is the Hawaii Opera Theatre, and…

Parting Shot: Eyeing the Needle

Wednesday, 10:35 A.m. Working Class Tattoo, Kaimuki Photo by Olivier Koning Owner Steven Lam meticulously inspects a sterilized needle through a magnifying loupe to ensure it is straight and sharp before it punctures flesh. Lam says that during the manufacturing…

Meaning Built Into the State Capitol

Some say symbols are all around us if we know how to look and that’s certainly true at the state Capitol, which is imbued with representations of Hawaii’s culture, history and aina. One major theme of the design is the…

Eye-Candy Interiors

Name: Charene Davis Job: Senior designer and owner of Aloha Staged Interiors Experience: 15 years START: Davis earned degrees in interior design and journalism, but wound up getting her real estate license in…

Kahala Renaissance

If your realtor suggest you buy on a street now vibrating with jack hammers, buzz saws, chain saws and tree grinders – including the requisite oversize, loud-mouth backhoes and flatbeds, blackdust barricades and…

You're Wearing That to Work?

When I was a little girl, in the 1950s, my father sometimes took me downtown for a piece of the Alexander Young Hotel’s fabulous lemon crunch cake. It was a special time to have my busy businessman father all to…

5 Steps to Becoming an Empathetic Leader

Empathetic leadership means human-centered mindfulness throughout an organization. Community developer Neenz Faleafine, who has studied and practiced design thinking and leadership development, says learning to become an empathetic leader can be condensed into a five-step ALIVE process if you are…

Talk Story: Richard Wacker

Richard Wacker didn’t start as a banker. An engineer by training, he spent 20 years in executive positions at General Electric. His first banking job came in 2004, when he left GE to run the troubled Korea Exchange Bank for…

Best Places to Work 2015

BPTW QUICK LINKS LARGE COMPANIES  |  MEDIUM COMPANIES  |  SMALL COMPANIES SPECIAL AWARDS     BEST PLACES TO WORK: BENEFITS AT A GLANCE Company Name Offers profit sharing or stock option % of employee medical premium paid by employer Number…

Secrets of Healthy Workplaces

Mark Tanouye's wake-up call was actually a fire alarm. The 50-something data analyst at American Savings Bank was sitting in a conference room when a fire drill began.