Entries Tagged 'People' ↓

Hawaii fans who watched ABC’s “The Bachelorette” Jillian Harris bid aloha to Reid Rosenthal after their romantic date on Maui will be seeing a lot more of the Hawaiian Islands as season five of the hit romance reality show from Warner Horizon Television wraps up on Hawaii’s Big Island in a two-hour season finale on July 27.

“The feedback from viewers who watched the Maui episode has been incredible with many sharing their excitement about the beautiful scenery, the impressive diversity of activities, and how they now want to visit Hawaii,” said John Monahan, president and CEO of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, the State of Hawaii’s marketing agency for North America who had a major role in bringing this show to the islands. “Hawaii’s Big Island will be a notable contrast with its rich lava landscape, and prominent beachfront resorts. Being home to all but two of the world’s main climate zones, viewers will see just how huge, diverse, and exciting the Big Island really is.”

Jillian and the final two bachelors – Ed Swiderski and Kiptyn Locke – find themselves on incredible final dates that take them across the Big Island highlighted by an aerial tour of Kilauea volcano’s active lava flows with Sunshine Helicopters, landing beside a secluded Hilo waterfall for a private barbecue with KapohoKine Adventures, and discovering a remote black sand beach with Captain Zodiac Rafting Adventures.

After exploring the diversity of the island, the couples continue their dates with dinner and alone time at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, and The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii resorts on the legendary Kohala Coast, the sun-soaked northwest side of the island that was once a popular retreat for Hawaiian royalty.

A private oceanfront estate within Mauna Kea Resort provides the setting for what could be a life changing moment for Jillian as she makes her final decision. As the largest of all of the main Hawaiian Islands combined and home to Maunakea, the world’s tallest mountain, Hawaii’s Big Island is a perfect symbol of the enormous decision to be made there.

Hawaii has been named the top destination for weddings, honeymoons, and romance many times over the years by the readers of the nation’s top bridal publications, news and travel websites, and travel suppliers. Viewers will get a glimpse of the Aloha State’s natural beauty and relaxing atmosphere via two hours of prime time national television.

Does Jillian find her soul mate? Tune in to ABC’s “The Bachelorette” on July 27 for the season finale. For information about the show, visit ABC.Go.com/Primetime/Bachelorette. For information on Hawaii, the Islands of Aloha, visit GoHawaii.com or call toll-free 1-800-GOHAWAII.

eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam today announced the formation of the Ulupono Initiative, a social investment firm dedicated to improving the quality of life for Hawai‘i’s residents through sustainability. The organization will invest in local businesses and philanthropic organizations focused on renewable energy, local food production, and waste reduction.

The Ulupono Initiative seeks to energize the state’s economy and increase its self-reliance through these investments. Local business executives E. Kyle Datta and Robin Campaniano will co-lead the Ulupono Initiative as general partners.

“Pam and I are inspired by the ideas and hard work of the many people leading sustainability efforts in Hawai‘i today,” said Pierre Omidyar, founder and sponsor of the Ulupono Initiative. “We look forward to working with the local community for many years as we discover new ways to improve the quality of life for everyone who calls Hawai‘i home.”

Based in Honolulu, the Ulupono Initiative will make investments in organizations and companies with creative ideas and business models that provide pathways toward sustainability.

“I am honored to be part of this team and look forward to putting my business background to work in a way that will help strengthen Hawai‘i’s economy,” said Campaniano, general partner, Ulupono Initiative. “Our investment strategy is dependent upon finding and supporting innovative sustainability ideas and business models that have the potential to make a significant difference for Hawai‘i.

“To achieve this, the Ulupono Initiative will provide capital and strategic assistance to a variety of organizations, including small and large businesses and philanthropies, on O‘ahu and neighbor islands,” Campaniano said.

Ulupono – meaning to prosper through the right, or pono, path – is a concept already familiar to Hawai‘i’s residents. Across the islands, people are already pioneering ways to change how they power their homes, feed their families, and how much they throw away.

“A truly sustainable island society must be able to consistently and affordably provide its residents with basic necessities like food and energy while also finding ways to effectively manage waste,” said Datta, general partner, Ulupono Initiative. “The Ulupono Initiative will support and help scale local ideas that can help bring about Hawai‘i’s transformation to sustainability and that might also provide a demonstration effect for others.”

The Hawaii Venture Capital Association (HVCA) last week announced the winners of its Technology Entrepreneur of the Year awards. The awards and winners are:

Young Entrepreneur: Lorenz Sell – Blue Lava Technologies, Inc. – ILovePhotos.com – Lorenz is co-founder and CEO at Blue Lava. When he’s not doing deals or spreading the iLovePhotos photo-love, he’s thinking about how to be even lazier about managing his photos. Lorenz keeps Blue Lava a well oiled machine by way of caffeinated food-runs, purchasing new video games, funky personal fashion statements featuring pink, and the occasional fund-raising. He also likes lifting heavy things and eating lots of protein. Lorenz is one of the founders of Beer and Business a periodic mixer for techies, investors and others.

Clean Tech Entrepreneur: Bob King – Pacific Biodiesel, LLC – Bob is a globally recognized leader in community based alternative energy and recently received Governor Lingle’s Innovation Award. The company headquartered on Maui with a track recording of building 10 biodiesel plants in the U.S. and Japan, is currently raising investment for a new Big Island Biodiesel research facility and plant focused on encouraging Hawaii grown feedstocks. 

Digital Media: Jason Lau – TalkStory Productions, Inc. – Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Mr. Lau is a product of Punahou School and the University of California, Los Angeles, and has worked in the financial industry for such companies as Dean Witter Reynolds and Bank of Hawaii. He is currently the President of Honowaii Investment Co., an industrial loan company, and the Managing Partner of Lau Enterprises, a Hawaii investment partnership, and BJM Partners, a private equity fund. He has served on the board of directors of Hawaii Angels, an angel investment group, Hawaii Venture Capital Association (HVCA), and the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF). He is also on the advisory board for the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Hawaii.

Invention: Hank Wuh – Cellular Bioengineering, Inc. – Hank is a kama’aina who returned to Hawaii to found Cellular Bioengineering Inc. (CBI) an accelerator of disruptive technologies with biomedical and biodefense applications. CBI searches for innovative and ingenious ideas which it can nurture and grow into mature products that will change the way the world operates. It has brought forward suites of technology at varying stages of development which have favorably impacted health care and homeland security in our country.

Chief Justice Ronald Moon honored Hawaii island District Court Judge Joseph Florendo as “Jurist of the Year” and presented Incentive Awards to state Judiciary employees during a ceremony held on October 17 in the Supreme Court courtroom. Chief Justice Moon selected Judge Florendo after reviewing nominations from court employees and attorneys.

“Judge Florendo has earned a reputation of being hard-working, fair-minded, compassionate, and not only knowledgeable in the law, but a good student of the law,” said Chief Justice Moon. “His rulings are thoughtful, grounded in the law, and tempered with compassion.”

In addition to his judicial competence, Judge Florendo was recognized for his achievements as Deputy Chief Judge of the District Court of the Third Circuit, a position he has held since March 2007. Judge Florendo’s leadership and collaborative management style helped his staff adapt to major changes in the processing of traffic cases and become proficient with a new computer system.

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Reknown weatherman and surf forecaster George Mason was reported missing this week, and family and friends say they haven’t heard from him in two months. “No signs of foul play were found, and for a while, it seemed to be a simple case of George moving on,” said colleague Jamie DeMatoff. “However, friends and family members have not heard from him since then, and the manner of his disappearance has become more suspicious.” Mason cofounded HighSurfWarning.com with DeMatoff, a local DJ, to provide live updates on surf conditions around Hawaii. Mason had also maintained his own weather blog. But DeMatoff notes that Mason hadn’t filed a surf report or posted a blog entry since early November, and that Mason’s landlord discovered “several boxes labeled with cryptic messages” in his Round Top Drive home.

Mason, who got his Masters Degree in Meteorology from the University of Hawaii, was the first surf forecaster at the Honolulu Advertiser, served as a radio and TV weatherman, and was a weather consultant for several film productions.

HighSurfWarning.com is DeMatoff’s second foray into providing surf information online, having previously worked with the Surf News Network. In a September 2005 interview with the Honolulu Advertiser, DeMatoff described Mason as the “backbone” of their new venture.

DeMatoff has posted additional information and photos of Mason at HighSurfWarning.com. Anyone with information on Mason’s whereabouts are asked to contact police at 621-8442.

Duane “Dog” Chapman is known worldwide for catching criminals who skip out on bail, but jumping bail in Mexico three years ago has now landed the bounty hunter behind bars. Chapman, whose larger-than-life personality is the heart of a popular reality TV series, was picked up by federal marshalls yesterday as government officials responded to an extradition request from Mexican authorities. Chapman’s son Leland and colleague Tim Chapman were also arrested. In 2003, Duane Chapman led a group of bounty hunters and a camera crew to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to hunt down convicted rapist Andrew Luster, who had evaded U.S. law enforcement for over six months. They captured Luster, who was eventually sentenced to 124 years in jail. But bounty hunting is illegal in Mexico, and Chapman and his crew were arrested for kidnapping. They posted $1,500 bail each, but then left the country. International fame and TV series followed, but Mexican authorities have apparently not forgotten the case. Yesterday, prosecutors argued that the men should be held without bail until their extradition hearing, since the case is international. Chapman’s attorney noted, however, that Chapman has a very high profile and strong ties to the community, and would not flee. U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren seemed to concur, but held off deciding on bail until a hearing this afternoon.

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Duane “Dog” Chapman is known worldwide for catching criminals who skip out on bail, but jumping bail in Mexico three years ago has now landed the bounty hunter behind bars. Chapman, whose larger-than-life personality is the heart of a popular reality TV series, was picked up by federal marshalls yesterday as government officials responded to an extradition request from Mexican authorities. Chapman’s son Leland and colleague Tim Chapman were also arrested. In 2003, Duane Chapman led a group of bounty hunters and a camera crew to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to hunt down convicted rapist Andrew Luster, who had evaded U.S. law enforcement for over six months. They captured Luster, who was eventually sentenced to 124 years in jail. But bounty hunting is illegal in Mexico, and Chapman and his crew were arrested for kidnapping. They posted $1,500 bail each, but then left the country. International fame and TV series followed, but Mexican authorities have apparently not forgotten the case. Yesterday, prosecutors argued that the men should be held without bail until their extradition hearing, since the case is international. Chapman’s attorney noted, however, that Chapman has a very high profile and strong ties to the community, and would not flee. U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren seemed to concur, but held off deciding on bail until a hearing this afternoon.

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Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, who plays Mr. Eko on ABC’s filmed-in-Hawaii primetime hit series “Lost,” was arrested early Saturday morning for driving without a license and disobeying a police officer. The 39-year-old London-born actor was stopped for a traffic violation at 2:25 a.m. near Kanekapolei St. and Kuhio Ave. He spent about six hours in jail before posting $1,000 bail. He has been scheduled for a Sept. 26 District Court appearance. Akinnuoye-Agbaje is the third “Lost” cast member to be arrested for traffic violations in Hawaii, but several of his colleagues have at least received citations, as recounted by the Star-Bulletin. Michelle Rodriguez and Cynthia Watros pled guilty following drunk driving arrests in November 2004, and their characters were subsequently killed off in “Lost.” The show’s creators maintain, however, that their DUI arrests had nothing to do with their characters’ fates.

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, who plays Mr. Eko on ABC’s filmed-in-Hawaii primetime hit series “Lost,” was arrested early Saturday morning for driving without a license and disobeying a police officer. The 39-year-old London-born actor was stopped for a traffic violation at 2:25 a.m. near Kanekapolei St. and Kuhio Ave. He spent about six hours in jail before posting $1,000 bail. He has been scheduled for a Sept. 26 District Court appearance. Akinnuoye-Agbaje is the third “Lost” cast member to be arrested for traffic violations in Hawaii, but several of his colleagues have at least received citations, as recounted by the Star-Bulletin. Michelle Rodriguez and Cynthia Watros pled guilty following drunk driving arrests in November 2004, and their characters were subsequently killed off in “Lost.” The show’s creators maintain, however, that their DUI arrests had nothing to do with their characters’ fates.

Recent appointments and achievements of Hawaii’s people, including a Big Island business leader and several Kaua’i board and commission appointees.

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