HAWAII

Former MLP workers to get aid

U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye said yesterday that the federal government will offer job training workers who lost their jobs with Maui Land & Pineapple Co. shut down its Kahului cannery in June 2007.

Sixty-six workers were certified for assistance under the U.S. Department of Labor's trade adjustment assistance and alternative trade adjustment assistance programs, which support workers who lose their jobs because of foreign competition.

“;Many of the laid-off workers are 50 or older,”; Inouye said in a statement. “;The federal aid will allow them to adapt existing skills to remain in the agriculture field including the cultivation of seed corn or in landscaping, or in pursing entirely new opportunities like health care and information technology.”;

Credit union to educate on saving

University of Hawaii Federal Credit Union said yesterday it has partnered with Professor Michael Cheang of the UH School of Family and Consumer Science and Kuhio Elementary School in educating youth about the importance of saving.

Cheang was allotted a grant from the Hawaii Community Foundation to fund a pilot program that gives $25 to each participating child to open a savings account. These students will watch their money grow by contributing additional earned funds.

To assist these students to save, UHFCU created the “;Super Star Savings Account”; specially designed for participating children to create a fun and interactive means of learning about the value of saving. The account includes a Star coin bank, a special dividend rate and passbook to track savings with interactive games.

Summa centralizes in Vegas

Hospitality consultant Summa International is centralizing its mainland operations by establishing its headquarters in Las Vegas, while maintaining base operations in Hawaii. The company opened its Hawaii office in 2001.

“;Although the Las Vegas market is not our immediate focus, the location makes perfect sense seeing as the market is on the cutting-edge of the hospitality industry, is centrally located, and inundated with hospitality professionals with whom we will further expand our operations,”; Bryce Sprecher, company president, said in a statement yesterday.

Heinrich awarded new contracts

Heinrich Marketing Hawaii announced that it has been awarded the advertising and marketing assignments for Humana in Hawaii and Oahu's the Cookie Corner, according to Marc Witter, managing director.

Patrick Bullard, the agency's senior director, will head up the team for Humana, a Medicare insurance provider.

The Cookie Corner, a 12-location company, will be directed by Account Service Executive Katie Gallo.

Heinrich Marketing Hawaii is a full-service advertising and marketing firm established in Hawaii in 2003.

Hoana Medical launches product

Hoana Medical Inc., a Honolulu-based health care provider, said it has launched its second product offering, the LifeGurney Patient Vigilance System, which transforms patient stretchers into an untethered tracking, assessment and alert network for both cardiac and respiratory functions.

Like its sister product, the LifeBed, the LifeGurney tracks a patient's heart and respiratory rate, as well as bed exit attempts, and notifies the nursing team immediately if the patient begins to deteriorate. 

Promotions / New hires

» Hawaiian Airlines has named Gordon Chow station manager for its Maui flight operations at Kahului Airport. He joined Hawaiian's Sacramento station in 2006 as a customer service agent and has also served as assistant station manager and station manager at Oakland International Airport. He has more than 20 years of management experience, most of which in the food and beverage industry.

» Maui Land & Pineapple Co. has named Charles Ray Jackson vice president of real estate sales. He was previously executive vice president of sales and marketing for Gencom Group, vice president of sales for Hokuli'a and has extensive sales experience from the mainland, Central America, Mexico and the Pacific Rim.

» HomeStreet Bank has hired Erica Miyashiro as assistant service manager at the Honolulu branch. She has 10 years of industry experience.

» The Big Island Visitors Bureau has promoted Deanna Isbister to director of sales from sales manager. She was previously regional sales manager for ResortQuest Hawaii and group sales manager Apple Vacations and Hyatt Hotels.

» RIM Architects has named Eric R. Nelson managing principal of RIM Architects Hawaii. He returns to the Hawaii operations after more than 22 years working at the firm's Alaska, California, and Guam offices. He has 30 years experience in government, military and private sector projects throughout Hawaii and the Pacific Rim.