No ka 'oi
Advertiser Staff
The National Concrete Masonry Association has conferred its first national award — the 2006 Award of Excellence-Commercial — to a Hawai'i entry: the BISHOP MUSEUM SCIENCE CENTER. Among judges' comments were: "The resulting facility is refined yet durable. It is all functional, yet aesthetic; intriguing and yet open. A complex building in both form and function that has rejuvenated a prestigious museum campus — all made possible through the use of concrete masonry."
Founded in 1899, the museum expanded its campus in 2005 with the first-phase addition of a new Science Adventure Center. Interior galleries house exhibits dealing with life, volcanoes and the deep ocean — a two-story lobby "volcano" the showpiece, signature exhibit.
The bowed-form concrete masonry structure was lauded for preserving views of Punchbowl and Downtown Honolulu, while blocking the visual and auditory "clutter" of the nearby freeway.
HILTON WAIKOLOA VILLAGE was among 100 top properties in the Western United States, Canada and Mexico listed in a recent issue of Smart Meetings magazine as recipient of the publication's annual Platinum Choice Award.
Some 30,000 meeting-professional readers voted on top properties on the basis of various criteria, including service, technology, environment, staff attitude and accessibility.
Hilton Waikoloa Village offers 21 meeting rooms wired for Internet access and eight outdoor venues, and is one of the first Hawai'i resorts to offer upgraded T3 Internet service.
McDonald's manager LIN OI NASH, who operates the restaurant in Enchanted Lake, has received the fast-food chain's national Ray Kroc Award, which recognizes the top 1 percent of McDonald's restaurant managers across the U.S. Last year, Nash won the restaurant chain's Outstanding Manager of the Year award. In less than two years working in the Enchanted Lake restaurant, the 35-year McDonald's veteran has increased the employee base from 15 to 45 workers and increased sales by 14 percent. Nominations for the award, named for McDonald's founder Ray Kroc, are made by McDonald's owner/operators and regional staff.
Bank of Hawaii's WILMA S. KANDA is the first person in the state to be appointed to the Accredited Automated Clearing House Professional Blue Ribbon Panel, by the Electronics Payments Association. The automated clearinghouse network allows electronic movement of funds or information to various checking, savings or loan accounts, including direct payroll deposit and Social Security funds transfers. Kanda, who joined the bank in 1981 as a loan clerk on Maui, is self-service project manager/Automated Clearing House manager and assistant vice president at the bank.
Announcements of businessrelated awards and honors can be sent to: Business Awards, Business Section, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; fax 525-6763; or ayonan@honoluluadvertiser.com. For e-mailed releases, please make sure the information is included in the body of the message, not as an attachment.
