• Hawaiian tops in on-time performance • Forum focuses on vision • Forum focuses on vision • Wooten’s Produce, Dow get conservationist nods • Walmart celebrates project’s completion Hawaiian tops in on-time performance HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaii’s largest and
• Hawaiian tops in on-time performance • Forum focuses on vision • Forum focuses on vision • Wooten’s Produce, Dow get conservationist nods • Walmart celebrates project’s completion
Hawaiian tops in on-time performance
HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaii’s largest and longest serving airline, ranked number one for on-time performance again for the seventh consecutive month this year, with fewest canceled flights among the nation’s 16 largest carriers in August, as reported today by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Hawaiian Airlines’ flights arrived on schedule 94.3 percent of the time throughout the month of August 2013. In addition, the DOT reported that Hawaiian Airlines ranked first overall in the category of fewest flight cancellations for August at 0.1 percent, representing five cancellations out of 6,408 total flights.
Hawaiian Airlines provides daily nonstop service to Hawaii from 11 gateway cities in North America – more cities than any other carrier – using Airbus A330-200 and Boeing 767-300 aircraft, making it the only carrier to offer wide-body, twin-aisle aircraft for all transpacific flights.
Hawaii’s largest and longest-serving carrier is also the leading provider of air service between the islands of Hawaii.
First Hawaiian sees third-quarter growth
First Hawaiian Bank reported third quarter 2013 net income of $51 million, a 0.6 percent gain over the same quarter of 2012.
Net income for the nine months ended Sept. 30 was $155.4 million, a 5.1 percent decrease from third quarter 2012.
Total assets grew to $16.7 billion, an increase of 3.7 percent.
“We continue to see strong loan growth in a recovering marketplace” said Bob Harrison, First Hawaiian Bank, president and CEO. “The bank performed well this quarter with both deposits and assets achieving solid gains. We expect to see continued steady economic improvement as more projects begin construction.”
Forum focuses on vision
“Developing a Personal Vision of Success for Yourself and Your Company” is the keynote topic that will be presented by Allen Fishman at a leadership breakfast forum sponsored by Duke’s Canoe Club and Barefoot Restaurant on Thursday, Nov. 7 from 7:30 to 10 a.m.
The Kauai Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Leadership Kauai and the chamber’s Kauai Young Professionals program, provide this final forum of 2013 as part of the chamber’s centennial year events held throughout the year.
Fishman is an entrepreneur, Wall Street Journal best-selling author and founder and executive chairman of TAB Boards International, Inc., which is a peer advisory board, coaching and Alignment Training organization.
Fishman will talk about creating a unique vision of success and being motivated to start a business. Other topics in the keynote will include: clarifying your dreams for the future of your business; strategically leading your business to its destination and ensuring that your company plans are in alignment with your vision of success.
The registration fee of $15 includes breakfast. Info: www.kauaichamber.org or 245-7363
Wooten’s Produce, Dow get conservationist nods
LIHUE — John Wooten remembers reading copies of “Organic Gardening” while his mother worked the farm in California.
“I want to dedicate this award to my mother because as a youngster, I read copies of ‘Organic Gardening’ to learn about mulch,” Wooten said. “I piled mulch everywhere and my mom thought it was disgusting. But I told her, ‘your generation created the dust bowl, our generation is going to transform it back to fertile land.’”
Wooten, along with his wife Nandanie Wooten of Wooten’s Produce of Kauai, were announced one of two conservationists of the year by the East and West Soil and Water Conservation Districts Tuesday during an informal gathering at the county’s Department of Water.
Dow Agrosciences was announced the winner of the West Kauai Soil and Water Conservation District by Peter Towsend for its efforts at transforming an aging irrigation system.
“Today’s agricultural land users face the challenge of working with aging infrastructure from Kauai’s former sugar plantations,” Towsend said. “Much of the equipment is useable and farmers often make-do with what is available, despite it being inefficient and old.”
Walmart celebrates project’s completion
LIHUE — Jayson Rosales is not going home.
During last Friday’s blessing celebrating the completion of a “freshening” project of the Lihue Walmart, Rosales was promoted to assistant store manager.
“We’re keeping him,” said Crystal Fernandes, manager of the Lihue Walmart.
Rosales came to the Kauai Walmart in August for the remodeling project, the first in five years and considered a “freshening” of the store.
“This is a pretty good place,” Rosales said.
During the remodeling, the store’s exterior and interior were repainted, new tile floors were installed, and the bathrooms were remodeled.
New counters, including self-checkout, replaced some of the cashier lines and other counters appeared in layaway, pharmacy and the courtesy desk areas.
The grocery section was remodeled with more refrigeration units, both freezer and chill being added for a more streamlined and wider variety in that department. The refrigeration units, during its installation, created excitement when helicopters were utilized to set the units, which use energy-saving Light Emitting Diode technology.
Other departments were streamlined and, in some cases, relocated to make room for the expanded grocery offerings.
Kahu Mokihana Powers of the Kapaa First Hawaiian Church presided over the small blessing ceremony celebrating the completion of the Kauai “freshening” project which took place outside the store.
During the fiscal year ending in 2012, Walmart spent more than $227.8 million for merchandise and services with 409 suppliers, and supported 21,986 supplier jobs throughout the state of Hawaii.
The Lihue Walmart is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. until midnight.