Biz Wrap: First Friday Tonight in Hilo

In business news this week, Hilo Downtown Improvement Association is holding its monthly First Friday Art Walk tonight in an effort to draw people to downtown businesses.

In other business news, the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce recognized nine West Hawaii residents and businesses with Pualu awards, This Week Magazine moved to new offices in Kailua and Action Photos of Hawaii-Hilo is expanding its workforce.

First Fridays Art Walk Tonight in Hilo

The monthly First Friday Art Walk will take place tonight in downtown Hilo. The event, which is held the first Friday night of the month, is an effort by the Hilo Downtown Improvement Association to draw people to Hilo’s downtown business district.

Festivities include the First Fridays Night Market at the corner of Mamo St., opening night of Shakespeare in the Park in Kalakaua Park, as well as art shows and live entertainment at various locations throughout downtown Hilo.

Many downtown businesses stay open later than normal as part of First Friday Art Walk.

The corner of Mamo St. and Kilauea Ave. will be closed to traffic from 3 p. to 10 p.m. for the festivities.

This Week Magazine Moves to New Location

This Week staffers celebrated moving into new offices last week. From left: Lenita Richmond, circulation; Diane Rivas, sales director; Stan Mulkey, publisher/COO and Fern Gavelek, freelancer. Photo credit: This Week Publications.

This Week Big Island magazine recently relocated to Hanama Place in Kailua. A grand opening ceremony and blessing was held last week for the new West Hawaii office located at 75-5706 Kuakini Hwy., Suite 104.

Founded in 1966, This Week Publications is the largest publisher of Hawai‘i’s visitor publications with a total annual circulation of more than four million magazines. Locally operated, This Week Publications also publishes Pleasant Hawaii Magazine and Queens’ MarketPlace Magazine.

KKCC Pualu Awards Tap Nine for ‘Working Together’

The Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce recently recognized nine individuals, businesses or organizations with Pualu Awards at its annual Installation and Membership Banquet at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.

Meaning to “work together,” Pualu Awards were established in 1979 to honor those in West Hawai‘i for their dedication and hard work in the community.

There were nine winners in seven categories and they were chosen by an awards committee from nominations received by Chamber members and the general public. Pualu Award winners include:

• Community Education Individual Award:  Wayne Iokepa, a staunch supporter of workplace mentoring and exploratory career options for high school students at Oceanic Time Warner, was recognized for the internship program he oversees at the cable company.
• Community Education Business Award: West Hawaii Explorations Academy’s Aloha Kai Tour Project was honored for its educational tour program that hosts visiting school children from across the state.
• Environmental Awareness Award: Ann Goody, curator of Three Ring Ranch, was recognized for her innovative care for animals and birds and educational youth programs.
• Business Innovation Award: Kohala Zipline was recognized for adding jobs to the North Kohala region and its creative product development and marketing.
• Lifetime Service Award: Carl A. Carlson, Jr., founder of Hu’ehu’e Ventures was honored for his lifelong commitment to the West Hawaii community. A member of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Carlson served as trustee of the Parker Ranch Foundation Trust. In addition to serving on numerous boards and committees, Carlson represents the Island of Hawai‘i on the University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents.
• Visitor Industry Marketing Award: two winners: Greenwell Farms and Linda Zabolski, co-owner of Captain Zodiac. Zabolski was recognized for singlehandedly establishing the first trade booth for the State of Hawai‘i at the annual Cruise Shipping Miami/Seatrade conference. Greenwell Farms, a fourth generation multi-faceted agribusiness, was recognized for using savvy marketing and media technology to promote their business and West Hawaii as a destination.
• Culture & Heritage Award: Thomas Hickcox, president and chairman of the board of directors of Ahu’ena Heiau, was honored for his preservation and promotion of Hawaiian history.
• Chamber Member of the Year: Nick Sutton was honored for his efforts spearheading the KKCC membership drive and his consistent promotion of the Chamber of Commerce.

Action Photo of Hawaii Hilo Expanding

In April we reported that Action Photo of Hawaii-Hilo would be hiring in the coming months.

The photo company recently announced it is expanding and is looking to hire four people, including assistant photographers.

The expansion comes as the company prepares for its school portrait season, which is between August and October. For more information contact, Apohh@actionphotosofHawaii-Hilo.com.

If your business has an opening, closing, promotion, retirement, new product release, special event, award, new location, or expansion, please let us know. Email us at newsdesk@Bigislandnow.com