Biz Quickies: IHOP Serving Up Free Pancakes

As part of IHOP’s annual fundraiser for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, all IHOP Hawaii restaurants will give away pancakes and invite voluntary donations for Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, Hawaii’s only CMN hospital, on National Pancake Day, March 4, from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. Everyone can get a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes, live entertainment and a chance to give back to the community by making a suggested contribution of at least $5 that they would have paid for the pancakes, said an IHOP release. You can also donate online. IHOP has one restaurant on the Big Island in Prince Kuhio Plaza, Hilo.

Mushrooms Enter Sam Choy’s Poke Contest
Hamakua Mushrooms is providing the main ingredient in a new category at Sam Choy’s Poke Contest which is — you guessed it — Hamakua Mushrooms. The Laupahoehoe grower produces over 5,000 pounds of specialty and exotic mushrooms a week with an exacting, multi-step growing process that will be seen in a video shown at the festival. Varieties of fragrant, fresh growing shrooms also will be on display. HM’s ali‘i oyster and pioppini mushrooms are sold at Costco, KTA, Safeway, Foodland and Sack ‘n Save, said co-owner Janice Stanga. Call 962-0017.

Big Island Visitor Numbers Mixed
The Big Island had mixed visitor numbers last month compared to the same month last year, the Hawaii Tourism Authority reported. Visitor arrivals to the Big Island declined by 2.9 percent to 130,059 visitors, but total spending increased 8.1 percent to $234.9 million. Big Island visitors also stayed 4.5 percent longer than they did last year.

Economic Development Grants Available
The County Department of Research and Economic Development is soliciting proposals for grants to support sustainable economic development in agriculture, business development, community building, energy, film, and tourism from schools, state agencies and non-profit organizations. The full proposal package, FAQ and application forms are at the County Web site. Hard copies are available in the R&D Department’s Hilo and Kailua-Kona offices.

Burger King Touts Menu Items For Lent
Burger King Hawaii is touting its menu alternatives to meat during Lent, “Whether you observe the holiday or not,” said to a BKH release. “We realize it can be hard to eat light and healthy when you’re on the go, so our fish, chicken and vegetarian sandwiches and burgers give customers the option to watch their diets and still be satisfied,” said Denise Yamauchi, Burger King Hawaii managing director. There are 31 Burger King restaurants in Hawaii, four on the Big Island.

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