Trade Winds

Advertiser Staff

• The Aloha Festivals ushers in its 57th annual statewide celebration of things Hawaiian with the announcement of a new president, festival theme and dedicated artwork. Veteran retail and visitor industries leader, VALERY O'BRIEN, marketing director for Kamehameha Investment Corp., has been named the festivals' president.

Other new board members include independent fund-raising consultant LOUISE FUNAI; CARLTON KRAMER, vice president of sales and marketing for Hilo Hattie; and POHAI RYAN, Kailua Chamber of Commerce executive director.

Created for the 2003 celebration, scheduled over six weeks in September and October, is the abstract watercolor Hula 'Auana, by Mapuana Schneider, chief executive officer of Fine Wine Imports. It illustrates this year's festival theme, "E Mau Ana Ka Hula I Ke Kanaka," "Hula Lives Through Its People." Information: 589-1771, or alohafestivals.com.

• JIAN ZHOU, cost manager for the San Francisco office of property and construction consulting firm, Rider Hunt Levett & Bailey, has been named to the same position in the firm's Hawai'i office. As such, he will assist owners, design professionals, lenders and contractors in the cost and time control of their projects. He is experienced in a range of project types, including retail, residential, hospital, educational facilities, and corporate offices.

• VIVIENNE GAN, a former broadcast journalist with the morning television show, AM Singapore, and host of the program's food and travel segments, has been named director of communications at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hawaii resort. Most recently, Gan was public relations director of a hotel in Singapore. In her new job, she will be responsible for local, national and international public relations activities, including media relations, community issues and promotional strategies.

• Longtime local television executive, RICK BLANGIARDI, senior vice president and general manager of KGMB and KHON, has been named to the board of directors of the Hawai'i Foodbank. Blangiardi, who began his television career in Hawai'i as a KGMB account executive in 1977, moved up the ranks to local sales and general sales manager; and vice president and general manager of KHNL. Before his current positions, he spent two years as president of the 11 stations in the Telemundo Group in Los Angeles. He is also a past University of Hawai'i assistant football coach. Last year, Hawai'i foodbank distributed 8.5 million pounds of food to 240 charities on O'ahu, and to food banks on the Big Island, Maui and Kaua'i.

• DANIEL H. DEVANEY IV, an associate in the Corporate Department of Cades Schutte, A Limited Liability Law Co., has been made a member of the firm. His practice areas include organization of business and nonprofit corporations, family limited partnerships and other business entities; business contracts; mergers and acquisitions; corporate finance; and general business counseling, including employer policies on drug testing, e-mail and computer use.

Also, the firm welcomed four attorneys:

• CHRIS KEMPNER, an associate in the finance and real estate department, a former writer with the University of Hawai'i Law Review.
• ALLISON MIZUO, an associate in the tax and litigation departments, and former law clerk to federal Judge Alan Kay.
• SHEREE NITTA, an associate in the finance and real estate, and litigation departments, and former editor in chief of the University of Hawai'i Law Review.
• JOSHUA WISCH, an associate in the litigation department, and former administrative editor of the Georgetown International Environmental Law Review.

• Managing the Lili'uokalani Trust portfolio of properties in Kailua, Kona, on the Big Island will be among responsibilities of STEPHANIE P. ANO, recently named property manager of commercial real estate services company, CB Richard Ellis Hawai'i Inc. She will also manage the Kaua'i Village Shopping Center, with tenants Safeway, Longs, A Pacific Cafe, Wyland Galleries and ABC Stores.

• LAURA KINO, a former director of advertising and public relations for Crazy Shirts, has been named marketing and advertising manager for tour and transportation company Roberts Hawai'i. Her career has also included corporate communications and marketing positions with Westin Hotels and Resorts and Richfield Hotel Management. Under the Roberts umbrella of companies are sightseeing tours, dinner cruises, interisland air-room-car travel packages, the Magic of Polynesia show, and school bus system.

Announcements of promotions and job changes can be sent to: Trade Winds, Business Section, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; faxed to 525-6763, or e-mailed to business@honoluluadvertiser.com. Photographs may be included but must be identified on the back.