Taiwan to support isle ocean plant

Hawaii will be home to a 10-megawatt ocean thermal energy conversion pilot plant, through a partnership between the Taiwan Industrial Technology Research Institute and Lockheed Martin Corp., Gov. Linda Lingle said yesterday.

OTEC will provide electricity generated from the difference in temperature between the ocean's warm surface and its chilly depths.

The ocean temperatures and the subsea terrain make the waters surrounding Taiwan and Hawaii ideal for this technology. Lockheed Martin has developed and studied OTEC technology for three decades, and plans for the plant are already underway.

Most OTEC research and development in recent decades has been performed at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority in Kona.

Japanese Chamber to host forum

The Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce will host a roundtable discussion with legislators and business executives tomorrow from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the state Capitol, room CR016.

The discussion will address issues affecting business and the economy. Participants will include Senate President Colleen Hanabusa and Speaker of the House Calvin Say; as well as Kathryn Inkinen, president of Inkinen & Associates Inc. and Paul Kosasa, president and CEO of ABC Stores.

The cost is $20 a person, including bento lunch and the program. Contact the Chamber at 949-5531 or visit http://www.honolulujapanesechamber.org.

FedEx Freight cuts transit times

Memphis, Tenn.-based FedEx Freight said yesterday it has reduced transit times on more than 3,300 regional next-day, second-day and extended routes since Jan. 1.

Service routes between central Michigan and several points across the continental U.S. and points in Hawaii were improved by one day. FedEx Freight has scheduled more than 1,600 similar enhancements for 2009.

These service improvements enable faster delivery of freight, quicker go-to-market time and better inventory management for customers using fast-cycle logistics.

Collectively, these transit-time enhancements at FedEx Freight improve service within the continental U.S., Hawaii, Mexico and Canada. FedEx Freight offers next-day or second-day service for more than 68,000 routes.

DVD rental firm starts isle service

DVDPlay Inc., a California-based DVD rental kiosk operator and entertainment technology company, said yesterday it has expanded to Oahu and Maui, bringing new-release DVDs to select Safeway stores across the islands.

The DVDPlay kiosk features movies for $1 a night. The company has 1,400 other locations nationwide.

Kiosks hold more than 500 movies and allow customers to choose titles using a touch-screen monitor and pay using a debit or credit card.

CBRE vows to be carbon neutral

The CB Richard Ellis Hawaii office announced its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2010.

The company will offset the energy it consumes either by reducing what it uses (through more efficient space utilization and energy savings) or by purchasing carbon offsets.

At the same time, CBRE will assist with energy-efficiency programs in the more than 8 million square feet of commercial property and facilities it manages for clients.

A nationwide team of CBRE employees—called the Green Knights—serve as energy-efficiency experts for clients. Nestor Longboy, CBRE Hawaii's director of operations/project management, is part of that team.

Promotions / new hires

» Hawaiian Airlines has named Lisa Lei Lai station manager at Oakland International Airport. She joined Hawaiian in 2000 and has 15 years of management experience including interim station manager for Hawaiian's Maui flight operations at Kahului Airport and inflight supervisor at Honolulu International Airport.

» CB Richard Ellis has hired Nancy Sakamoto as real estate manager in the asset service division at the Big Island office. Her 18 years of retail management experience including customer service associate at the Morgan Stanley Office of Convenience and owner of her own child clothing company.

Board Elections

» North Hawaii Community Hospital has elected its new board members: William Anderson, Linda M. Clifford, John Dawson, Clifford C. Dias, Robert “;Bill”; Hastings II, William Hutchinson, Michael Luce, Billy Mitchell, Robert Momsen, Carolyn Quick, Michael Rossi and Kenneth F. Wood.