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Maui County businesses receive revitalization grants

More than $48,000 in Small Business Revitalization grants have been awarded to businesses in Hana and on Lanai and Molokai, the Mayor's Office of Economic Development and Lokahi Pacific announced Wednesday.The businesses come from areas identified as being hardest hit in being able to recover from the recent economic slowdown.The matching grant program requires the business owner to contribute 40 percent to the project, with the grant covering the remaining 60 percent. The grant awards assist businesses with projects they would otherwise be unable to afford. Projects include purchasing ...

Owners group picks architect, contractor for Coco Palms

LIHUE (AP) - The owners of Kauai's Coco Palms Resort have sent most of their reconstruction permit applications to the county and have picked a team to rebuild the hotel."The remainder of the submittals will happen in the next few weeks," said Coco Palms redevelopment group member Chad Waters.Coco Palms has sat in ruins since Hurricane Iniki lashed Kauai in 1992. It's the only major hotel that never reopened after the storm.The group has selected Agor Architects to be the project's architect and Unlimited Construction Services as the contractor.The group is seeking permits under a county ...

Business/In Brief • Oct. 2, 2013

Maui business people to meetA free event called "Business on the Grill with Maui Business Brainstormers" will be held at noon Oct. 22, at the Maui County Business Resource Center at the Maui Mall.Participants are asked to arrive at 11:45 a.m. to mingle and to make sure not to interrupt the meeting.The event will allow business owners to meet other business owners/managers and to share and learn with questions, answers and coaching.For more information and to RSVP, see www.meetup.com/MauiBusinessBrainstormers.*****Personal income increases in 2QHONOLULU - The U.S. Bureau of Economic ...

Hawaii health exchange opens without plan specs

HONOLULU - Hawaii is starting open enrollment under President Barack Obama's federal health care overhaul without consumers being able to compare actual plans and prices.Chief Marketing Officer Rick Budar of the Hawaii Health Connector told The Associated Press on Tuesday that consumers will be able to apply for coverage, but insurers are still testing and reviewing rates in part to make sure they're shown correctly within the system.Budar says he expects actual plans and prices to be up within the month, once they're approved by insurers."We are going to focus on making October the ...

Westin Ka‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas marks 10 years

The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas celebrated its 10th anniversary last month.A hoolaulea was held Sept. 24 at the resort, which included an 80,000 orchid flower drop from a helicopter and recognition of employees who have worked at the resort since it opened on Sept. 24, 2003. There also was balloon sculpting, face painting, popcorn and plate dinners served all evening."In the past 10 years, we have expanded the resort to include new facilities and experiences for guests' enjoyment. Our efforts have not gone unrecognized as our list of awards has steadily grown to include ...

Business/In Brief • Oct. 1, 2013

HONOLULU - Hawaiian Telcom says it's bought a Honolulu data center services company for $16 million in cash.SystemMetrics Corp. provides cloud computing and highly secure data center services to small and medium-sized businesses.Hawaiian Telcom Holdco Inc. said Monday buying the company will allow it to meet accelerating demand for these services and will provide a solid platform for future growth.SystemMetrics will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hawaiian Telcom Services Co. Inc.SystemMetrics currently generates about $8 million in annual revenue.Hawaiian Telcom first announced its ...