Oceanic Institute names new president

Anthony Ostrowski has been named president of Oceanic Institute by its board of trustees.

Ostrowski previously was the institute's vice president and director of the U.S. Marine Shrimp Farming Program, one of its largest and most successful research programs.

“;Dr. Ostrowski was selected after a lengthy, nationwide search and from a highly competitive pool of 48 candidates,”; Oceanic Chairman Chatt G. Wright said. “;We knew he was a well-qualified candidate coming into the competition, and were delighted to find out he was in fact the best choice of all.”;

The Oceanic Institute, a nonprofit, private institution dedicated to research, technology development and education in marine aquaculture, biotechnology and coastal zone management, is affiliated with Hawaii Pacific University, over which Wright is president.

Deep-sea water firm shuts cafe in operations revamp

MaHaLo Hawaii Deep Sea Water closed its MaHaLo Ocean Cafe and showroom at the Waikiki Shopping Plaza Wednesday as parent company Koyo USA Corp. relocates to the Waikiki Galleria Tower above DFS Galleria Waikiki.

The new operation and MaHaLo offices will open tomorrow at 2222 Kalakaua Ave., Suite 707. The cafe, offering deep-sea water beverages and desserts, has been discontinued.

MaHaLo had opened the water bar and showroom at the Waikiki Shopping Plaza in 2005.

Mobi PCS upgrades Big Island networks

Honolulu-based Mobi PCS has activated a new cell site in Holualoa, on the Kona side of the Big Island, to enhance its 3G voice and Hele Wireless Broadband networks in the area.

The addition boosts in-building and street coverage throughout residential areas of Holualoa, including the Kilohana, Komohana, Iolani and Kahakai Estates subdivisions, and is one of nearly 20 new cell sites the company has deployed this year.

Isle-based solar tech firm blesses new project

Sopogy Inc., a Hawaii-based solar technology company, held a blessing recently for its solar thermal project, Holaniku at Keahole Point.

The project is the largest solar array in the state and the world's first MicroCSP solar electric farm, according to Sopogy. Using solar power collectors, parabolic mirrors harness thermal energy from the sun to generate clean, renewable power.

The field of 1,000 solar collectors on 3.8 acres at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii in Kona has the capacity to power more than 250 homes, according to Sopogy.

Coming up

» Tomorrow: Federal Reserve releases industrial production for November.

» Wednesday: Federal Reserve interest rate meeting, announcement expected 9:15 a.m. HST.

» Thursday: The Conference Board releases leading indicators for November. Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims. Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, releases weekly mortgage rates.

» Friday: CarMax Inc. releases third-quarter financial results.