Konishiki to lead Marriott tour of Japan

Retired Hawaii sumotori Konishiki will lead the Japan portion of Marriott Resort's Hawaii's “;Spirit of Aloha Tour”; through key markets in Japan beginning in October.

The company's Spirit of Aloha bus tour traveled across the mainland earlier this year, and in Japan the “;Dream Cruiser Luxury Bus”; will visit travel agents and tour wholesale suppliers as well as make public and media appearances in Nagoya, Osaka and Tokyo over the course of seven days. Konishiki, now a recording artist and TV host in Japan, gained global acclaim during his sumo career from 1982 to 1997, when he retired with the second-highest rank in the sport.

Hawaiian Air, Nature Conservancy team up

Hawaiian Airlines and the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii have announced a partnership in which airline employees provide volunteer support for statewide conservation projects, collaboration on educational programs and a corporate donation.

Hawaiian will donate $10,000 to support the group's educational outreach programs teaching the value of protecting Hawaii's environment. The partnership program extends from July to October and will have Hawaiian employees helping to remove invasive plants, restoring an estuary and planting trees at key sites around the state.

HECO energy executive joins private industry

Karl Stahlkopf has joined Sennet Renewables, a subsidiary of Hawaii-based merchant bank Sennet Capital LLC, as a partner. He retired June 30 from Hawaiian Electric Co. where he had served as chief technology officer and senior vice president for energy solutions and as president of its Renewable Hawaii subsidiary.

Sennet Renewables is focused on project financing for renewable energy work in Hawaii.

Keiki-to-Kollege fundraising mixer planned

Latin Business Hawaii, a Honolulu-based ethnic chamber of commerce, and the Hawaii Hispanic News monthly newspaper plan to raise money for the Keiki-to-Kollege scholarship fund with a business networking mixer from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Hukilau Honolulu in Executive Centre. The event will include Latin music, entertainment and a no-host bar. The cost is $15 for LBH members and $25 for nonmembers. Reservations are requested by today via phone at 638-3098 or by e-mail at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Title and escrow company relocating on Maui

Old Republic Title & Escrow of Hawaii will relocate its Lahaina branch office to the newly completed Keawe Business Center this summer. The center was built near the first phase of the Lahaina Bypass Highway in Lahaina Business Park.

The center is continuing to sell and lease office and medical suite spaces, touting energy-efficient systems that will provide cost savings on utility expenditures.

Coming Up

» Today: The Institute for Supply Management releases its services sector index for June.

» Wednesday: Federal Reserve releases consumer credit data for May. President Barack Obama attends the Group of Eight summit, through July 10, in L'Aquila, Italy. He also leads a meeting on energy and climate. Alcoa Inc. reports second-quarter financial results.