Tides of Commerce

By HARRY EAGAR, Staff Writer
Now that the County Council has passed (on first reading) the Maui Business Park II zoning, it appears that another 179 acres have been taken out of HC&S’ farmlands.

Not really so, according to A&B VP Meredith Ching.

“Since 1990, HC&S has added 2,360 acres of cropland; during that same time period, land taken out by A&B Properties for our own development or sold to private third parties has totaled 450 acres.”

The real constraint on Maui agriculture is not land. Water and labor are bigger hurdles. There’s still plenty of land.

ROTARIANS BOOST DENTAL CARE. The Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunrise, along with three Oahu clubs, is supporting the fourth annual dental mission to Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands this week. Dr. Nora Harmsen, DDS, and her assistant, Jinky Agtarap, are at the atoll’s hospital and schools to provide exams and treatment, using a portable, compressor-driven dental kit. Local dentists and wholesale suppliers chipped in, and Continental Micronesia is donating transportation.

CANARY IN THE MINE? Despite its frequent use lately, the word “recession” is generally defined as two consecutive quarters of reduced economic activity. There hasn’t been even one yet (we won’t know about the first quarter of 2008 for a while), but the National Association of Credit Management Credit Manager’s Index was down in March for the first time ever. However, ever for this index goes back only to 2002. The index has been dropping for six of the past seven months but had not gone negative until now. Read it and weep at http://web. nacm.org/cmi/pdf/CMI_March2008.pdf.

BANKERS’ FOOD BANK. For the first time, the member banks of The Hawaii Bankers Association will be collection points for canned food and monetary donations through May 16 for the Hawaii Foodbank. There will be 279 bank branches collecting statewide.

SHOWING ALOHA. Twenty-two Hawaii National Guardsmen and Reservists nominated their employers for the 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The news was bittersweet for one nominee, Aloha Airlines, since it came out the day the airline went under. The award is the government’s highest recognition given to employers for exceptional support of their employees serving in the Guard and Reserve. The Maui Police Department was nominated, too.

BEER FEAST. The Lodge at Koele is offering another beer feast on April 26 with Executive Sous Chef Thomas Bellec and Rich Tucciarone, vice president of brewing operations for the Kona Brewing Co. Cost is $75 plus tax and tip. My son-in-law took me to one of these in Maryland a couple years ago, and it was a revelation, although I’m glad I wasn’t driving. Enjoy Seared Kona Crab Cake with Bell Pepper Aioli and Corn, with Steam Vent Lager; Organic Green Salad with Maui Onion, Venison Pastrami Bits and Citrus Dressing, with Wailua Wheat; Seared Kalua Pork wrapped in Apple Wood Smoked Bacon with Parsnip Puree, Brussels Sprouts Fricassee and Beer Demi, with Pipeline Porter; Warm Brie Cheese with Roasted Pear on Egg Brioche and Beer Glaze, with 3K-Belgian Triple; and Creamy Macadamia Nut Pie with Beer Ice Cream, with Old Blowhole Barleywine.

SERVE AND FORE. Hawaii Golf and Tennis will open a store at Lahaina Gateway Center in late summer. PGA Golf professional Rob McLeay will teach, with the help of the latest simulator for swing analysis.

SHOULD HAVE THROWN A LEI. SS Constitution and Independence may have outlived their usefulness, but they sure were pretty in Kahului Harbor. Sadly, the last news we’re going to get of the Independence comes from the EPA. It has proposed to fine Global Shipping and Global Marketing Systems Inc. $32,500 a day for “exporting PCBs,” to wit, using the tug Pacific Hickory to tow MV Oceanic (ex-Independence) overseas to the shipbreakers. “Federal law prohibits companies from exporting PCBs, including those in ships, that are sent overseas to be scrapped,” said Rich Vaille, associate director for waste program enforcement in EPA’s Pacific Southwest region.

NET PROCEEDS. The 2007 EA Sports Maui Invitational men’s basketball tournament, hosted by Chaminade University, again contributed more than $8 million to the island’s business, according to the Maui Visitors Bureau. That brings the total since 1984 to nearly $130 million. “This tournament has consistently benefited Maui’s economy while showcasing the island’s beauty and culture to the thousands who visit each November and for the millions more who watch it live on national television,” said MVB chief Terryl Vencl. EA Sports figures last year’s event brought in 4,500 boosters, players, officials, reporters, team and game personnel, sponsors, production crews and fans. About a thousand times as many watched from home.

JA LEADERSHIP. Junior Achievement of Maui has named Julie Quintiliani and Barbara Kenrich co-chairwomen for 2008. Quintiliani is also secretary and Kenrich is also treasurer. They are recruiting volunteers to help with classes at Kihei School. No experience necessary, but you must enjoy working with children and be subject to a background check. Send inquiries to barbara@kenrich.com.

THAT’S USING YOUR BEAN. The Maui Coffee Association will present a Seed to Cup Workshop from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Kula Community Center. Emmerich Grosch of Captain Cook Trading Co. on the Big Island will display coffee, cacao and macadamia nut processing equipment, there will be a coffee pulping and hulling demonstration at 1 p.m., and at 2:30 Richard Dinker from the Department of Ag will give a talk on “Improving Green Bean Coffee Quality.” This workshop is geared to the backyard coffee grower as well as the commercial farmer. Taste island-grown coffees. The organizers say it will be fun for anyone interested in coffee, as producer or drinker. It’s free.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING. At 78 and good for another 80, Honolua Store is reopening today with its insides expanded and remade from an old-time plantation general store to an upscale plate lunch specialty diner, with veteran Chef Romeo Arruiza setting up old-fashioned plate lunches alongside deli specials, an array of wines, salads, wraps and an Espresso Bar. The store first opened in 1929. The grand reopening is at 2 p.m.

• “Tides of Commerce” appears on the Money Matters page every other Monday. If you have an item for the column, please call reporter Harry Eagar of The Maui News at 242-6392 or fax the item to his attention at 242-9087. His e-mail address is heagar@mauinews.com.