Pacific energy summit date set

Hawaii's Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism said last week that Hawaii will host the seventh-annual Korea-Pacific U.S. States Joint Conference in Honolulu at the Sheraton Waikiki, from Aug. 31-Sept. 2, 2009.

The state will also launch the inaugural Asia-Pacific Clean Energy Summit & Expo to help region nations share renewable energy policies, practices and technologies.

For more information on conference participation or sponsorship, visit http://asiapacificcleanenergy.com.

Tax workshops begin next month

The state Department of Taxation's year-end workshops for 2008 will begin on Kauai on Nov. 24. Workshops on Maui, Oahu and the Big Island will be held in the following weeks.

  All workshops begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 12:30 p.m. Topics include 2009 possible tax legislation proposals, changes to forms, general excise tax on nonprofit organizations and department initiatives.

  The cost is $70 for those who register at least two weeks in advance; there is a $5 fee for later registrations. The cost includes continental breakfast and all workshop materials. The course provides four hours of Continuing Professional Education credit. Workshop materials may be purchased separately for $20 each.

Registration forms are available at www.hawaii.gov/tax. For more information, call 587-1786, or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

UH faculty endowment established

The University of Hawaii at Manoa's Shidler College of Business said recently that it has established a $200,000 Accuity LLP accounting faculty fellowship endowment. Accuity and partners contributed to the $100,000 gift that was matched through the college's matching gift program.

Originally established as Baker & Gillette in 1951, Accuity LLP is one of the largest public accounting firms in Hawaii.

College awards 211 scholarships

The Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaii said it has awarded more than $735,000 in scholarships to 211 business students for the 2008-09 academic year.

The number of scholarships awarded this year increased by more than 26 percent, and through the school's matching gift program, it has received more than $2.9 million in scholarship endowments since the start of 2007.

Pet insurance product rolled out

Veterinary Pet Insurance, the nation's largest provider of pet health insurance, said it has started offering two new products to customers in Hawaii, with a complete product rollout in all states during the next 18 months.

Core WellCare provides pet owners with up to $250 in total annual benefits for $12 a month and its Premier WellCare policy offers policyholders up to $400 in total annual benefits for $22 a month. Both include benefits for physical exams, vaccinations, heartworm testing, fecal testing, deworming, microchip identification, flea and/or heartworm preventive and routine diagnostics.

For more information, visit petinsurance.com.