Kona hotel finishes room renovation

King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel has completed a 230-room renovation and plans to finish a more extensive $25 million renovation this summer.

The hotel will celebrate completion of its most recent room renovations, which included new bedding and bathroom upgrades designed by Group 70 International, with a limited-time offer of up to 30 percent off the nightly rate.

“;The renovations are nothing less than a renaissance for King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel,”; said General Manager Jak Hu.

By Aug. 1 the hotel plans to complete modernization of the elevator, fire, life and safety systems, and energy-efficient electrical and plumbing upgrades. By early 2010 the hotel plans to complete renovations on its 224 rooms and six suites in the East Tower.

By mid-2010 the hotel plans extensive upgrades to its lobby and public spaces and will revamp the pool, landscaping and retail areas and add 110 spaces to the parking lot.

Trip Advisor lauds Outrigger hotels

Six Outrigger-managed or affiliated properties have earned accolades on a recent Trip Advisor listing of 20 Hawaii hotels that were recommended by business travelers.

Among the top choices for business travelers, and their rankings, are: 4. Embassy Suites-Waikiki Beach Walk; 6. Outrigger Reef on the Beach; 7. Courtyard by Marriott Waikiki Beach; 12. Outrigger Luana Waikiki; 16. Ala Moana Hotel; and 18. Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach.

State industrial vacancy falls to 2.9%

The statewide industrial market is still fundamentally strong; however, landlords have had to drop their prices as the economy has continued to slow, according to a report released yesterday by CB Richard Ellis.

Statewide industrial vacancy fell 0.5 percent to 2.9 percent during the second quarter, and base asking rents decreased by 4 cents to $1.16 per square foot. Approximately 208,397 square feet was rented across the islands during the quarter.

On Oahu, industrial vacancy decreased to 4.5 percent, and 203,534 square feet was rented during the quarter. As a result, CBRE predicts that the industrial market on Oahu will remain flat for the balance of the year and that rents will continue softening.

Roy's closes Scottsdale restaurant

Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine closed its Scottsdale, Ariz., location last week and is working to relocate employees to other company restaurants. It has two other Arizona locations in Chandler and Phoenix.

The restaurant, named after Hawaii-based chef and restaurateur Roy Yamaguchi, was developed by a joint venture headed by Outback Steakhouse parent company OSI Restaurants Inc. and was not 100 percent owned by Yamaguchi.

OSI gave no reason for the closing, but Arizona's economy hasn't been thriving. It had the fourth-highest state foreclosure rate in the nation in May.

Development firms sued

The County of Hawaii has filed a lawsuit in Third Circuit Court against UniDev LLC and UniDev Hawaii LLC, alleging the companies knowingly filed false and fraudulent claims for payment with the county.

The suit also alleges UniDev deliberately provided false information and false documentation to the county in 2007 and 2008 in an effort to persuade county officials to commit $31 million to support the 1,200-unit Kamakoa at Waikoloa work force housing project.

On the move

» Distributed Energy Partners has hired Shane Nesbitt as project developer. He previously was a sales consultant with Sunetric.

» Ho'ala Landscape and Maintenance has promoted Nestor D. Lomboy Sr. to grounds maintenance manager from landscape manager. He has more than 20 years' experience in landscaping, irrigation and maintenance.

» MetLife Bank has hired Percy Ihara as a reverse mortgage consultant for the Hawaii region. He previously was a reverse mortgage specialist for Financial Freedom.