Hawai'i business briefs

Advertiser Staff and News Services

Trade show puts focus on Hawai'i

Roughly 500 meeting planners and exhibition industry professionals opened their semi-annual gathering yesterday, one that local executives say will showcase Hawai'i as a business destination to people who make decisions on where to hold events.

The International Association for Exhibition Management's mid-year conference and trade show will run through Friday at the Hawai'i Convention Center.

The Dallas-based group represents nearly 3,500 trade-show managers, suppliers and other meetings professionals in 45 countries who buy convention center space.

Sandra Moreno, who heads the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau's meetings division, hailed the event as one that would show off the Convention Center to the influential group and also showcase the state as a serious place to do business.

During the next four years, Hawai'i will host three more convention industry groups: Meeting Professionals International in 2002; American Society of Association Executives in 2003; and Professional Convention Management Association in 2005.

Mauna Loa loses court decision

ML Macadamia Orchards L.P. was awarded a summary judgment in support of claims against its exclusive customer, Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp. The dispute resulted from Mauna Loa's refusal to pay for nuts in accordance with the terms of various nut-purchase contracts that had been in effect between the parties for almost 15 years.

The court ruled that Mauna Loa had wrongfully deducted and withheld more than $1 million in payments due to ML Macadamia Orchards since last October. It is not known whether Mauna Loa will appeal the decision.