Business Briefs
Star-Bulletin staff
and wire services
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HAWAII
DLNR to enforce wedding permits
Effective August 1, the Department of Land and Natural Resources will step up its enforcement of required permits for commercial beach weddings taking place on state beaches and unencumbered lands.
DLNR held meetings with commercial wedding industry representatives during the last week to clarify the law, which it said has been in place since 2002.
A wedding beach permit will cost 10 cents per square foot, according to Morris Atta, DLNR's Land Division administrator. They average a minimum of $20 per event, he said. Vendors can apply for a minimum of 10 at one location.
The permits will be issued about a week after the application has been received, although it has taken more than a month in the past.
At a meeting yesterday on Oahu, wedding industry vendors asked the state to postpone its enforcement until a planned online permit application process is in place.
Outrigger debuts isle Web site
Outrigger Enterprises Group said yesterday it is unveiling a new travel destination Web site, OutriggerHawaii.com. The site allows visitors to navigate Hawaii's destinations, research itinerary options and browse hotel or condominium offerings from a portfolio including Outrigger Hotels & Resorts, Outrigger Condominium Collection, Ohana Hotels & Resort, Ala Moana Hotel, Embassy Suites-Waikiki Beach Walk, Keauhou Beach Resort and Wyland Waikiki.
NATION
GM shares close below $10
NEW YORK » Shares of
General Motors Corp. plunged yesterday to close below $10 for the first time in more than half a century, on worries about the company's cash needs and speculation about a possible bankruptcy protection filing down the road.
GM shares fell $1.77, or 15.1 percent, to close at $9.98. Their session low of $9.96 marked their lowest point since Sept. 13, 1954, when they hit $9.92, according to the Center for Research in Security Prices at the University of Chicago.
Wal-Mart looks local for veggies
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. » Wal-Mart stores in Arizona now stock Grand Canyon sweet onions while aisles in New York display state-grown eggplant, as the world's largest retailer says it has become the nation's largest buyer of locally grown fruits and vegetables.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. plans to purchase and sell $400 million worth of produce grown by local farmers within its state stores this year, an effort the company says will only grow. Academic studies show buying locally cuts down on transportation mileage while also assuring customers of a product's provenance amid mass recalls.
TAKING NOTICE
New Hires / Promotions
» The Kahala Hotel & Resort has announced the following promotion and new hires:
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Khara Markham to financial controller from assistant controller. She was previously served at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
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Naile Brennan as group sales manager. She was previously corporate sales manager at the Hilton Waikiki Prince Kuhio Hotel.
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Jerry Meng as group sales manager. She was previously associate director of sales and acting director of sales and marketing at the Hyatt Regency Suites Atlanta Northwest.
» State Farm Insurance has named Kaina Kauahi as a new agent. His 17 years with the company include administrative management positions at State Farm offices in Calif., New York, Ariz. and Ga.
» Stryker Weiner & Yokota Public Relations has announced the following promotions within its travel marketing and promotions division:
* Krislyn Hashimoto to senior account executive from account executive. She will oversee client accounts including Hawaii Tourism Authority, Norwegian Cruise Line and U.S. Dry Cleaning Corp. She previously worked in the communications department at the Office of the Governor and currently serves o the Hawaii Youth Symphony board.
* Rebecca Pang to senior account executive from account executive. She will oversee client accounts including the Oahu Visitors Bureau, Ala Moana Center and Blue Planet Foundation. Her previous jobs include a marketing associate at the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau, and an editorial news assistant and digital imaging/photography intern at the Los Angeles Times.
» McNeil Wilson Communications has announced the following promotions in its corporate/ public affairs division:
* Darcy Manning to senior account executive from account executive. She will oversee client accounts including Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, Waste Management of Hawaii and Group 70 International. She has six years of experience in public relations and marketing.
* Lee Britos to senior account executive from account executive. She will oversee client accounts including the Battleship Missouri Memorial. Her eight years of marketing experience include time as senior marketing analyst at Time Inc. in New York.
» Bank of Hawaii has announced the following promotions:
* Ofarma B. "Ofie" Calderon to vice president and service manager of the Waiakamilo branch from assistant vice president.
* Glen H.W. Chong to vice president of the Controllers Department and finance database manager from assistant vice president.
* Steven K. Kaneko to vice president and senior business banking officer of the Waialae-Kahala Business Banking Center from assistant vice president.
* Scott K. Yoshihara to vice president and branch manager of the Waiakamilo branch from assistant vice president.