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TheBuzz
Erika Engle
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CPAs awash with fond memories
Not every boardroom is abloom with economic doom and gloom.
Honolulu-based N&K CPAs Inc. is marking its 35th anniversary and celebrated the occasion last week with a party for present and former employees at the exclusive Waialae Country Club.
"We usually have an alumni party every five years," said Vicki Shinsato, firm administrator.
The first was in 1998; the next took place in 2003.
This year, more than half the 100 folks at the party were alumni and all attended on the company's dime.
"Oh yes, everything is paid for by the company," she said.
Shinsato cited the perspective of managing principal Alton Miyashiro, who feels "our strength is our people. We really appreciate all of the people that have worked for us. They have set the tone, set the stage for us and we have been able to build on that." The alumni parties are a way to thank them, she said.
When people leave the firm, "the hardest thing for them to leave is the people. They like the people they work with, the culture, and they remember that when they leave."
N&K paid for the party but didn't have to spring for entertainment.
Music plays on the house speakers and a company video plays, but "you know, we don't have entertainment because everybody just wants to talk. It's a nice evening and the time goes by so quickly," Shinsato said.
With three consecutive "Best Place to Work" awards from Hawaii Business magazine, one must wonder if employees who leave ever come back.
"Oh yes," Shinsato said.
"Even people who have moved to the mainland, for family reasons, but when they came back, they asked to come back (to the firm) again. We've had a lot like that, that at least shows at least we're doing something right."
KHRA sale OK
The purchase of Korean-language radio station KHRA-AM 1460 has been approved by the Federal Communications Commission.
Local businessman Tony Young Ho Kim made a $790,000 deal to sell the station in July, to California-based RK Media Group Inc., led by Phill Sohn.
Kim, who bought the Garden House property and owns other businesses including the Ala Moana Golf Shop and Jewels of Hawaii at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, had owned KHRA under KMC Broadcasting LLC.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Call 529-4747, 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:
erika@starbulletin.com