TheBuzz Erika Engle

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KHNL vet departing; Flores goes back to class

Marvin Buenconsejo, the last remaining charter member of the KHNL-TV news department, will be leaving the station at month's end.

"When you put it that way," it makes him sort of sentimental, Buenconsejo said.

He starts a new job March 3 as director of communications for U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono. He will be based on Oahu.

Back in 1995, Buenconsejo was the fifth on-camera person hired, he said, behind Dan Cooke, Robert Kekaula, Lee Cataluna and Barbara Wallace, for what KHNL.com says was the first all-digital newsroom in the world.

Its first local newscast aired April 17 of that year.

For four years prior, Buenconsejo was a reporter for KHON-TV, hired as he was right out of college, which he knew was "a huge break, and now it's happening again," he said. "It is an honor to serve a member of Congress" that is a "role model" for girls like his 7-year-old daughter.

He submitted his resignation Friday, and the news spread over the weekend.

Buenconsejo has worn numerous hats at KHNL, as a reporter, anchor, sports guy and assistant news director under a previous regime. He was to be the reporter on a year-long environmental series -- shoes KHNL is now seeking to fill.

"We're very saddened," about his departure, said News Director Dan Dennison, but at the same time, "we're excited for him, about his new opportunity."

Eddie would know

Empire builder Eddie Flores, co-founder of the 190-unit L&L Drive-Inn and L&L Hawaiian Barbecue chain, is up to something.

He will lead a 5-session workshop series targeted at helping low-income entrepreneurs -- but there is a catch.

It's not a big enrollment cost -- the $100 fee is refundable.

The catch is, that the money will be returned only if participants attend all classes and complete a required community service component.

"We've always believed in community work," he said, citing L&L's service to Goodwill Industries of Hawaii Inc. "Whoever takes the class must spend one Saturday doing community work," of a type that is to be determined.

Flores has previously taught classes on how to start a small business, but wanted to teach a more advanced class this time. Lessons will include how to negotiate, salesmanship and "impact marketing," some of the "secrets of business success."

Classes will be limited to 40 students for the sessions starting March 18.

"This is specifically geared to people that need this, and the economically depressed and disadvantaged, they have the first crack," he said.

Applications can be obtained online at www.hawaiianbarbecue.com or by calling 951-9888, extension 116.