Hawaii Business Magazine - July 2011

Ask SmallBiz: Online Reputation

Q. I seem to have no control over the things that are said about my business online. What can I do? A. If a client searches on Twitter,Facebook or Yelp, they can see all kinds of things that have been said about your business…

Brides Love Kauai Weddings

And Kauai’s romance industry loves the money wedding couples and their families spend on the Garden Island On an April afternoon, Pamela Wen stepped off a plane in Lihue, 5,020 miles away from and 40 degrees warmer than her New…

Parting Shot: Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle at Work

  10:38 A.M.  Tuesday Peter Carlisle’s private office, Honolulu Hale Photography by Twain Newhart >> Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle gets most of his work done in his inner office, not the ceremonial office that you often see on TV. He…

App Guides you to Hawaii-Grown Food

As big round figures go, this one is remarkable: Hawaii imports an estimated 85 percent of its food. Meaning, of the $3.7 billion that Hawaii consumers fork over annually for food, only about $550 million is spent on locally grown…

My Job: Not As Seen On TV

Name: James Waldron Lindblad Job: Certified bail agent and president of the Professional Bail Agents Association of Hawaii, director of the Hawaii State Sheriff Association and occasional bounty hunter Years of experience: 34 Toughest part: Lindblad has bailed out more…

Take Control of Your Truck Fleet

if you ever wonder what your drivers are doing with your delivery trucks, GPS tracking may be the answer. Local companies such as Comspec and Hawaiian GPS say their vehicle-tracking systems can save you money, increase your drivers’ productivity and…

Carrots and Sticks for Workers who Smoke

Smoking in Hawaii Hawaii has the fifth-lowest rate of cigarette smoking by adults among the states — and that rate is falling. 2000: 19.7% 2008: 15.4% Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Smoking cuts workplace productivity in Hawaii by…

Polo Tailgating

If you miss fall’s football tailgating, drive up to Waialua on Oahu’s North Shore any Sunday until Labor Day for horses and tailgating at Polo Mokuleia Field. Spectators enjoy two polo matches plus an eclectic mix of halftime shows, from…

What it's Worth? Piano Planet

What’s It Worth? $65,000 What is it: This fully restored 1948 Steinway Grand piano, with a mahogany finish and ivory keys, was the personal piano of tobacco heiress Doris Duke. Restoration: George Nellas, owner of Piano Planet, purchased it in…

Goliath Is Gone, but 5 Davids Survive

When the big Borders bookstore closed in Hilo in August 2010, attorney Bob Marx helped fill the void by opening Books, Nooks and Crannies two months later. His store adds to a rich literary scene in downtown Hilo, where four…

Zoo Renovations by the number

Poor reviews of the Honolulu zoo from visitors and trip advisories were some of the reasons the City and County of Honolulu and zoo director Manuel Mollinedo devised a six-year plan to turn the Waikiki attraction around. Here is a…

Innovation: The Department of Hawaiian Homelands' New Efficient Homes

Armstrong Builders and the Department of Hawaiian Homelands have partnered to create housing communities that are both energy and water efficient. “We’re always looking for new opportunities and are committed to building as many green projects as the market can absorb,” says Daniel…

Editor's Note: It Take Guts to Offer Ex-Cons a Job

I don’t know if I’d have the guts to do it, but I’m glad some people are brave enough to hire ex-cons. In this issue, writer Janel Lubanski reports about three local companiesthat regularly hire former criminals and about the employees…

Talk Story with Richard Parry of Aloha Petroleum

In his three years as CEO of Aloha Petroleum, Richard Parry has helped the company diversify its business. Last year, it purchased the Hawaii assets of Shell Oil. It also has gradually expanded its interests in alternative fuels. We talked to…

Solar Power Pays Off for Businesses

When Thomas Lee, owner of The Audio Visual Co. in Waimalu, decided two years ago to expand his work space – from 15,000 to 24,000 square feet – he knew his electricity bill would likely grow, too. With air conditioning…

Ex Cons Make Great Employees

Kahala Caterers had difficulty recruiting dishwashers and general laborers for its chef staff a few years ago. “People were coming in but weren’t motivated,” company president Winston Gample says. “They all just want to be executive chefs or the next TV…

Tesoro Hawaii Transforms Oil into Fuel

About 40 million barrels of oil are delivered by tanker to Hawaii every year and transformed into a host of products: gasoline, jet fuel, asphalt, diesel and more. These photographs trace the process of refining oil, which – even in…

Architect Gerald Choi Integrates Solar Power in Home Design

LEED-accredited architect Gerald Choi is on the cutting edge of a new trend – integrating a photovoltaic system into his home as both an energy producer and an architectural element. When he needed to replace the aging 45-foot-by-5-foot skylight running…