KAUA‘I AND HAWAI‘I BY THE NUMBERS Punzal, Campbell, Makanani win Operation Aloha awards Jacob Punzal of Embassy Vacation Resort Poipu Point was named the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce Operation Aloha winner for December. He was nominated by Pat Camp of
KAUA‘I AND HAWAI‘I BY THE NUMBERS
Punzal, Campbell, Makanani win Operation Aloha awards
Jacob Punzal of Embassy Vacation Resort Poipu Point was named the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce Operation Aloha winner for December. He was nominated by Pat Camp of Lakewood, Colo. Previous winners include Kuulei Campbell of Gaylord’s Restaurant and Lyndelle Makanani of Pahio at Bali Hai Villas. They all won framed certificates and gift certificates to Cold Stone Creamery courtesy of owners Don and Barbie Taylor.
Chamber officials wanted to thank leaders at the following businesses for hosting the Operation Aloha program: Aloha Beach Resort, Cold Stone Creamery, Embassy Vacation Resort Poipu Point, Hanalei Colony Resort Association, Kauai Coffee Cafe, Kauai Coffee Company, Kauai Kookie Company, Kauai Tropicals, Lawai Beach Resort, Lihu‘e Airport, Pahio Resorts, Inc. (two locations), Pahio Vacation Ownership, Inc. (seven locations), Poipu Bay Golf Course, and Puakea Golf Course.
Princeville Resort makes Gold List
The Princeville Resort on the North Shore is one of four Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawai‘i properties to make the Condé Nast Traveler (magazine) Gold List for 2005.
The others are The Lodge at Koele and The Manele Bay Hotel, both on Lana‘i, and The Royal Hawaiian on O‘ahu.
Princeville Resort, a member of The Luxury Collection brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, has 252 rooms and suites, all with views of Hanalei Bay, an oceanfront pool, three outdoor whirlpools, access to two golf courses and 45 holes of golf, health club, spa services, beauty salon, tennis, and multiple dining options including Cafe Hanalei, with indoor and outdoor views of Hanalei Bay.
Each year, editors of Condé Nast Traveler, a magazine known for its readership of discerning and experienced travelers, surveys over 20,000 of their subscribers to have readers name the world’s top hotels, resorts and cruise lines.
Only 180 Gold List and 68 Gold List Reserve properties were chosen in the entire United States for this distinction. As a company, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. earned more than 50 placements on the 2005 Gold List, as featured in the magazine’s January issue.
Many people make their travel decisions based on Condé Nast Traveler’s reader recommendations. Starwood properties making the Gold List earned their places through “impeccable service, exceptional facilities, and outstanding guest experiences,” Starwood officials said.
Starwood leaders also own and operate the Sheraton Kauai Resort in Po‘ipu.
First Business After Hours event of 2005 is planned in Kalaheo
Bruce Grantham, owner and operator of Window Trends, hosts the first Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours function for 2005, this Tuesday, Jan. 25 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the new location along Kaumuali‘i Highway in Kalaheo.
The new Window Trends showroom is one of just two Hunter Douglas Window Fashions Gallery locations in the state.
Pupus catered by Casablanca and ice-cold refreshments will be served. The cost is $15 per person at the door. For more information, please call the Chamber office, 245-7363.
Feed and Ranch Depot opens along Koloa Road in Lawa‘i
Adam R. Brun Jr. has opened Feed and Ranch Depot LLC, a store catering to farmers and ranchers. The business is along Koloa Road in Lawa‘i, and is open Monday through Friday from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
In addition to his new business, Brun is involved in the Kauai Keiki and High School Rodeo Association, and has been a member of KKHSRA for 12 years. He is once again helping to put together the Waimea Round-Up Rodeo in back of the old Waimea Dairy during the Waimea Town Celebration Friday and Saturday, Feb. 25 and 26. The event is a benefit for KKHSRA.
Brun may be reached at his business, 332-5411, or via e-mail at kalaheoroper@yahoo.com.
Landscape council has classes planned
Leaders of the Kauai Landscape Industry Council (KLIC) have a series of classes planned early this year, as one of their goals is to “enhance and elevate the skills of the people in the landscape industry with certified training.” A chain saw safety class is set for this Friday, Jan. 28, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kaua‘i Community College. A Certified Landscape Technician class is set for next month, and a Certified Tree Worker program is new for 2005, KLIC Coordinator Diane Hansen said. A Certified Arborist Program begins this fall, and a two-day irrigation technicians’ training class is set for March.
Employers Training Fund money may be available. For information on that potential funding source, please call the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Workforce Development Division Office, 274-3056.
For more information or registration for any of the classes, please contact Garden Island Resource Conservation and Development, Inc., 246-0091, the Kaua‘i Community College Office of Continuing Education & Training, 245-8318, or Hansen 332-0611 or dmhansen5@aol.com.
KLIC is sponsored by Garden Island Resource Conservation and Development. Inc., a community- based, nonprofit organization.
Cancer group hosts Business After Hours
Leaders of the American Cancer Society host a Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours function Tuesday, Feb. 15 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the St. Michael & All Angels’ Episcopal Church parish hall at the intersection of Hardy and ‘Umi streets in Lihu‘e.
There will be pupus and refreshments, and lots of information about how the island’s residents support the research, education, advocacy and local-patient services; and of the society’s free workplace-wellness programs.
The cost is $10 for Chamber members, $20 for guests and at the door, and $15 for Chamber members registering after Thursday, Feb. 10. For more information, please call the Chamber office, 245-7363.
Island Air adds interisland routes
Effective earlier this month, Island Air officials expanded interisland routes and now operate three nonstop flights a day from Lihu‘e to Kahului, Maui, and three nonstop flights a day from Kahului to Lihu‘e, and have added one- and two-stop service aboard the same airplane between Lihu‘e and Kona and Lihu‘e and Hilo on the Big Island. The carrier’s leaders also announced 10-percent discounts on fares for those who book online at www.islandair.com. Reservations, flight information and other details are also available by calling toll-free 1-800-323- 3345.
State offers information about declaring mileage
State Department of Taxation officials have announced that state standards are the same as federal standards for mileage rates for computing deductions for operating automobiles for business-, charitable-, medical- and moving-expense purposes. The business rate is 40.5 cents per mile, 15 cents per mile for medical or moving, and 14 cents a mile for charitable transportation.
To claim the allowable standard mileage rate for business purposes, taxpayers may use federal Form 2106, “Employee Business Expenses,” or federal Form 2106-EZ, “Unreimbursed Employee Business Expenses.” Hawaii Form N-139, “Moving Expenses,” must be used to claim the allowable standard mileage rate for moving expenses, state officials said.
Current forms and other tax information may be downloaded from the department’s Web site, www.state.hi.us/tax. Those who know the form numbers they need may call the department’s form-request line toll-free at 1-800-272-7572, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Hawaiian Air has zero complaints
Officials at Hawaiian Airlines recently announced that the carrier led the nation’s airline industry in key customer-service areas in November, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The federal Air Travel Consumer Report ranks Hawaiian number one in three of four categories measured, with no complaints, highest on-time performance (93.4 percent), and lowest number of passengers denied boarding (0.3 percent per 10,000 passengers.
Finance Factors unveils ‘Callable CD’
Leaders at Finance Factors recently launched Hawai‘i’s first “Callable CD,” which allows Finance Factors officials to “call” or redeem customers’ certificates of deposit before the certificates’ maturity date if market rates fall.
This will ensure CD holders the higher interest rate before the call date, and allow them to either reinvest or withdraw funds without penalty for up to 10 calendar days after the call date.
At the Lihu‘e Finance Factors branch on Kukui Grove Street in Kukui Grove Commercial Village, the minimum opening deposit is $1,000 for the four-year, Callable CD. Please call 245- 3305, or see the Web site, www.financefactors.com, for more information.
Expedia!fun has Kaua‘i activities desks
After officials at Expedia, Inc. acquired Activity World activities desks last year, company leaders began offering a wide range of Kaua‘i activities for booking through desks at the Aloha Beach Resort in Wailua, and in Lihu‘e, Po‘ipu and Princeville.
