Business briefs

Advertiser Staff

Work set to start on center

A local construction executive announced plans to break ground today on a roughly $1.5 million retail center in Gentry Business Park.

Bruce Brodkin, vice president of a local wholesale construction products company and manager of developer Ka Uka Center LLC, said tenants with leases include oil-change service The Auto Spa, Seattle's Best Coffee, Subway and snack shop Munchies.

The 7,400-square-foot project, adjacent to the Waipi'o Gentry Costco, is scheduled to be completed at the end of October.

Lingle TV talk to promote state

Gov. Linda Lingle will promote Hawai'i through satellite interviews with about 25 television stations around the country from the beach in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village tomorrow morning.

Lingle will be interviewed via satellite from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for broadcast feeds to NBC News, FOX News Edge and other stations.

Lingle and Hawai'i Visitors & Convention Bureau President Tony Vericella will promote Hawai'i as a leisure and business destination and discuss cultural traditions such as lei giving and May Day.

The media promotion is part of the visitor bureau's annual "May Day is Lei Day" marketing campaign.

Tech investment money sought

Hawai'i government and business leaders plan to meet with venture capitalists and technology executives in Palo Alto, Calif., next month to encourage investment and promote business opportunities in the Islands.

Ted Liu, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism director, said the May 7 and 8 mission will allow representatives to talk directly to venture-capital brokers. Liu will also host a group of former Hawai'i residents to discuss changes in the state's business sector.