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TheBuzz

BY ERIKA ENGLE

Lunches not free,
but draw interest

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The Institute of Real Estate Management -- Hawaii Chapter promises a hot lunch at its membership meeting tomorrow at the Ala Moana Hotel starting at 11:30 a.m.

The boom in new subdivisions is the overall topic for panelists who will also address underlying issues such as what may be fueling new home construction and the impact new residential development is having on the inventory of available homes.

Speakers include Stanford Carr of the development company bearing his name, Harry Saunders of Castle & Cooke, Bob Brandt of Gentry Homes and a relative new kid on the block, David Murphy of Brookfield Homes which entered the Hawaii market in 1999.

The latter was the first to advertise in golf carts via a global positioning satellite and computer software keyed to certain holes on the Ted Robinson Championship golf course at Ko Olina. As golfers using the carts approached the holes, "beauty shots" of selected properties at Coconut Plantation would be displayed on the computer screen.

The early registration deadline for the luncheon has passed so placing an RSVP right now will cost $25 for IREM members and $31 for members' guests.

Other information is available at the chapter Web site at IREMHawaii.org.

Agribusinesslunch

Corporate planning and agriculture seem like an odd combination for a luncheon. Nevertheless the Hawaii Society of Corporate Planners (not crop planners) have invited University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Dean Andrew Hashimoto to speak at its meeting Thursday at 11:30 at the Hawaii Prince Hotel.

Hashimoto is pushing the idea of working more closely with Hawaii business to increase diversified agriculture -- the college is the only public source of agricultural research in the state and as such feels it has much to contribute.

To add spice to a topic not everyone may find enthralling, the theme of the luncheon meeting is "An Agricultural Revolution in Hawaii's Back Yard."

Members enticed by the thought of blooming agriculturally related business connections will pay $30 while guests will fork over $35; other details are available at HSCP.org.

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Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com